Mario Wellmann Trio - Chilean Jazz Series
Mario Wellmann Trio presents *Ecos del Sur*, a program of original music from Chilean guitarist and composer Mario Wellmann’s debut album as a leader. Recorded in New York City with Grammy-winning engineer Joseph Branciforte, the project brings contemporary jazz together with rhythmic and melodic traditions from Chile and Latin America. The Blues Alley engagement is part of Chilean Jazz Week, co-presented with the Embassy of Chile, and offers an early live presentation of the album ahead of its scheduled late-2026 release.
Wellmann is based in New York City and Austin and is currently a PhD Fellow in Music at Columbia University. His playing emphasizes lyricism, narrative, and contemporary guitar textures. He has performed in the United States, South America, and Europe, sharing stages with Kurt Elling, Sinne Eeg, and Allison Wedding. His recent credits include four acclaimed sideman recordings, two DownBeat Awards, and appearances at venues and festivals including The Django, Jazz Forum Arts, Nublu, Soapbox Gallery, the Elkhart Jazz Festival, and clubs in Santiago and elsewhere in Chile. The performance features Wellmann’s guitar with an all-star trio; the page does not identify the other trio members.
When: Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Showtimes: September 15 at 7:00 PM and 9:30 PM; September 16 at 7:00 PM
Tickets: $30, plus a $7 fee
Venue: Blues Alley, 1073 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007
Program: *Ecos del Sur*, original music by Mario Wellmann
Lineup: Mario Wellmann, guitar, with an all-star trio. The additional musicians are not named on the event page.
Background: The album was funded by Chile’s Fondo de la Música, the country’s equivalent of the National Endowment for the Arts, and was recorded in New York with Joseph Branciforte, whose credits include work with Immanuel Wilkins, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Julian Lage.
Artist background: Wellmann holds a Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies from the University of North Texas and studied with Davy Mooney, Noel Johnston, Philip Dizack, Helen Sung, and Paul Bollenback, among others. From 2021 through 2024, he recorded with the Alexa Torres Quartet, Simeon Davis Group, UNT Jazz Singers, and UNT Latin Jazz Lab. His work has appeared in publications and media outlets including Strings Magazine, All About Jazz, Voyage Austin, Baltimore Jazz, and Chilean national press.
Presented by: Blues Alley in partnership with the Embassy of Chile as part of Chilean Jazz Week
Doors: Doors open at 6:00 PM for the 7:00 PM performance and at 8:45 PM for the 9:30 PM performance.
Seating: Seating is first come, first served at the door.
Food and beverage minimum: A $15 food-and-beverage minimum per person applies and is not included in the ticket price.
Ticket policy: All sales are final. Tickets are not refundable or transferable.
Recording policy: Photography and recording of any kind are prohibited during the performance.
Audience etiquette: Guests are asked to keep conversation to a minimum during the performance.