Rick Whitehead Jazz Trio

Rick Whitehead Jazz Trio brings a long-established Washington, D.C.-area jazz partnership to Hank Dietle’s Tavern. Led by guitarist Rick Whitehead, the trio combines carefully arranged material with open-ended improvisation, featuring John Previti on bass and Nick Ruggieri on drums. Their performances are known for close musical interaction, technical command, and expressive depth.

The group was formed in 1994, soon after the death of guitarist Danny Gatton, and has performed at prominent regional venues such as Blues Alley, Bohemian Caverns, the Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, and the Smithsonian Jazz Club. The trio’s debut album, *Live in Captivity*, received the 1998 Washington Area Music Association Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Subsequent releases include *Live in Captivity, Again* from 2001 and *So There We Were…* from 2006. Whitehead contributes lyrical guitar lines, Previti brings a swinging bass style shaped by work with Gatton and Charlie Byrd, and Ruggieri supplies rhythm informed by his Berklee training.

When: Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Showtimes: 8:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.; the cover charge is listed for the 8:00 p.m. performance.

Tickets: $10 cover

Lineup: Rick Whitehead, guitar; John Previti, bass; Nick Ruggieri, drums

Run time: Approximately two hours, based on the listed 8:00–10:00 p.m. schedule

Venue: Hank Dietle’s Tavern

Address: 11010 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852

Online feature: The event page includes a live performance video from Hank Dietle’s Tavern.