Reimagining an Architect of Modern Jazz: A Celebration of John Coltrane's Centennial

Reimagining an Architect of Modern Jazz: A Celebration of John Coltrane’s Centennial explores the musical partnership between John Coltrane and vocalist Johnny Hartman under the theme “Rebooting Jazz Music.” Steve Washington and saxophonist Paul Carr lead an evening that pairs a live jazz performance with a reception featuring hors d’oeuvres and an open bar.

Washington brings more than four decades of experience in theater, popular music, jazz, blues, R&B, funk, Latin and Brazilian music, and big-band performance. Carr, a Houston native and Howard University graduate, is a tenor saxophonist, recording artist, educator, and leading advocate for jazz preservation. Together, they present a program honoring Coltrane’s legacy while revisiting the distinctive collaboration between Coltrane and Hartman.

When: Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Showtimes: The reception begins at 6:00 p.m., followed by the performance at 7:00 p.m.

Venue: Arts Club of Washington, 2017 I Street NW, Washington, DC 20006.

Tickets: Admission is $55 for Arts Club members and $65 for nonmembers. The ticket price includes the reception, hors d’oeuvres, and open bar.

Registration: Members may RSVP for the $55 admission, which is charged to their account. Guests must also be registered. The event is open to the public.

Featured performers: Steve Washington and Paul Carr.

Producer: Cliftine Jones.

Steve Washington: Washington began performing through singing and theater groups at Princeton University and went on to appear in professional theatrical productions on land and at sea. During the 1990s, he fronted several prominent Washington-area bands and shared stages with acts including the Marvelettes, the Drifters, the Supremes, the Village People, and Peter Noone. He later worked under Broadway and West End producer Cameron Mackintosh in the 1999 production of “Hey, Mr. Producer,” a landmark Broadway-at-sea production.

Washington has developed a jazz-centered repertoire spanning standards, big band, blues, R&B, funk, Latin, and Brazilian music. He has performed at venues throughout the region, including Blues Alley, the Atlas Theater, the Carlyle Club, Mr. Henry’s, the Katzen Arts Center, the Woman’s National Democratic Club, the Lyceum, and the Arts Club of Washington. He also spent more than a decade headlining cruise ships with his one-man programs “Nat & Sammy Remembered” and “Rhythm, Blues & Broadway.”

His recordings include the 2015 album “Right to Love,” featuring the Thad Wilson Jazz Orchestra, and “Skylark,” recorded in Moscow in 2018 after touring Russia. He has also performed at the North Carolina Jazz Festival and continues to present music in the Washington area and beyond.

Paul Carr: Carr grew up in Houston and was influenced by Texas tenor saxophone figures including Arnett Cobb and Don Wilkerson. A graduate of Howard University, he performed with the Kashmere High School Stage Band under Conrad Johnson and earned recognition at high school and college jazz festivals despite not having private music lessons.

Carr has released eight CDs, including “Standard Domain,” which reached number three on the JazzWeek radio chart and remained there for 16 weeks, and “DC-NYC Organ Sessions,” which reached number nine. His work has taken him across Russia, Europe, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and Central and South America, and he has performed for former President Bill Clinton as well as King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan.

Carr founded the Jazz Academy of Music in 2002, providing camps and year-round ensembles for young musicians, and directs the Gettysburg College Jazz Ensemble. He has helped students gain admission and scholarships to leading music schools, including Juilliard. His honors include the Howard University Benny Golson Jazz Master Award, Montgomery County’s Education Award, recognition as an ABC 7 “Harris Hero,” and selection as a Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalists Association.

Jazz education and festival work: Carr re-established the East Coast Jazz Festival as the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival in 2010 and serves as its executive and artistic director. Held in Rockville, Maryland, during Presidents Day weekend, the festival attracts more than 3,000 attendees and combines performances by major jazz artists with high school competitions, student master classes, and other educational programs. Carr has also presented his “Theoryless Approach to Jazz Improvisation” at national and regional jazz education conferences.

Run time: The full event runs for approximately three hours, including the reception and performance.

Dress code: Business casual.

Accessibility: The event page does not provide specific accessibility information.