Kalí Rodríguez-Peña feat. Dayme Arocena - Cuban Jazz Series
Pianist Kalí Rodríguez-Peña teams up with vocalist Dayme Arocena for a single evening as part of the Cuban Jazz Series at Blues Alley. The duo presents a program titled "Latin Louie and Ella," blending the classic songbooks of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald with Cuban jazz sensibilities. Rodríguez-Peña, a Latin Grammy-nominated bandleader, trumpeter, composer, and educator, is recognized as a leading voice among New York City’s young Cuban musicians. His sound fuses traditional Cuban motifs with jazz classicism influenced by Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, and Freddie Hubbard. Born and raised in Havana, he began studying trumpet at age 14 under mentor Bobby Carcasses and later earned a full scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music, studying under Jon Faddis and Stefon Harris. He has performed alongside Wynton Marsalis, Arturo O’Farrill, Paquito D’Rivera, Chucho Valdés, Michel Camilo, Esperanza Spalding, and many others. His album *Mélange* (2022) was released on Truth Revolution Records, and his music appears on Showtime’s *Let the Right One In*. Dayme Arocena, a celebrated Cuban vocalist known for her powerful, soulful interpretations, joins him for this special collaboration. The event is co-presented with the Embassy of Cuba.
When: Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 7:00 PM. Doors open at 6:00 PM for the 7:00 PM show.
Showtimes: One performance at 7:00 PM. (Note: The venue typically has two shows on other nights; only one show is listed for this date.)
Tickets: $30 general admission, plus a $7 service fee per ticket. A $15 food and beverage minimum per person is not included in the ticket price. All sales are final; no refunds or exchanges. Tickets are non-transferable.
Seating: First come, first served at the door. No reserved seating.
Ages: Not explicitly listed, but likely all ages (typical for Blues Alley, though late shows may have restrictions). No age limit is stated in the policy details.
Venue: Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20007. An intimate jazz supper club in Georgetown.
Parking/Location:
Blues Alley is in Georgetown. Street parking and nearby garages are available. The venue is accessible by Metro (Foggy Bottom-GWU station is about a 15-minute walk).
Accessibility:
Blues Alley is a historic building; note that the entrance has a few steps. Contact the venue directly for specific accessibility accommodations.
Policies:
No photography or recording of any kind is permitted during the performance. Audience members should keep conversation to a minimum.
Note: The event is also listed as "Kalí Rodríguez-Peña feat. Dayme Arocena Sings 'Latin Louie and Ella'" in the raw text, suggesting the program will feature interpretations of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald classics through a Cuban jazz lens.