(Washington, DC) – Today, Mayor Muriel Bowser invites residents, commuters, and visitors to experience January Jazz Jam, a free live instrumental jazz concert series at Union Station. Throughout January, local musicians will perform every Tuesday and Wednesday in January from 4 to 6 pm at The Stage, located in the historic Main Hall, transforming the evening commute into a vibrant and welcoming cultural experience.
“Union Station is one of the busiest and most important gateways in our region, and we want people who come through the station or arrive here in DC to have a welcoming experience – and a uniquely DC experience,” said Mayor Bowser. “January Jazz Jam will bring live local music to residents, visitors, and commuters, and that’s a great way to start the New Year at Washington Union Station.”
January Jazz Jam is presented in collaboration with the Union Station Redevelopment Corporation (USRC) and Sing for Hope, and is sponsored by the DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music and Entertainment (OCTFME) and the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities (CAH). Throughout January, rotating performances by DC-area jazz musicians will highlight the depth and diversity of the region’s jazz community. Featured performers include the Herb Scott Trio, MilesDevon Music, the Duke Ellington School of the Arts Jazz Combo, and the Wesley Biles Trio.
“OCTFME is proud to sponsor January Jazz Jam as part of our continued investment in local creatives,” said LaToya Foster, OCTFME Director and DC Film Commissioner. “By supporting live instrumental jazz in a high-visibility public space, we are ensuring DC musicians are hired, paid, and showcased while enhancing quality of life for residents and visitors.”
Timed to coincide with the evening rush, January Jazz Jam will transform Union Station into a warm, inviting cultural space, giving commuters a moment of calm and connection.
“Jazz is the heartbeat of Washington, DC, and there is no better way to celebrate our city’s rich musical heritage than by bringing live performances into the daily lives of residents,” said Aaron Myers, Executive Director of the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities. “By activating Union Station with the sounds of local artists, we are not just enhancing the commute; we are ensuring that the arts remain a visible, accessible, and vital part of our public spaces.”
Travelers are invited to pause by the stage or enjoy the music while dining at nearby restaurants, including East St. Café and the newly opened Wolfgang Puck Bar & Bites. Visit unionstationdc.com/dining for a full list of dining options. The series also aligns with Union Station DC’s ongoing transformation into a modern, multi-modal transportation and cultural destination.
“As Union Station continues to evolve, experiences like January Jazz Jam bring immediate, human-centered impact to that transformation,” said Jennifer Seo, Program Manager at Union Station Redevelopment Corporation. “This series enhances the daily journey for our riders and reinforces Union Station as a welcoming gateway to the nation’s capital.”
January Jazz Jam reflects a growing global movement to activate major transportation hubs and public spaces with live music.
“Arts are a civic utility—as essential to a city's health as its transit or physical infrastructure,” said Sing for Hope Co-Founders Monica Yunus and Camille Zamora. “Live music can turn routine travel into a joyful experience of creative welcome and community. We're honored to partner with Mayor Bowser and USRC to bring that sense of connection to the heart of DC.”
Since 2015, Mayor Muriel Bowser has made supporting the arts and creative economy a hallmark of her tenure, championing initiatives like 202Creates Month and Art All Night which showcase local talent and strengthen DC’s cultural and economic vitality. DC’s creative economy generated over $15 billion in economic activity and supported more than 50,000 workers in 2023, according to the most recent data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the National Endowment for the Arts.
For more information on January Jazz Jam, visit Union Station’s events page here.
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