A Very Merry ALX Jazz Fest

Swing into the holiday spirit with A Very Merry ALX Jazz Fest!

The enchanting sounds of jazz will fill the air at the George Washington Masonic National Memorial as the culmination of the ALX Jazz Fest 2025 season. Featuring live music, art, and poetry. Grab your friends and family, and make it a night to remember!

Join us for the Pre-Mingle in the Grand Masonic Hall from 5-7 p.m. or the Jazz Concert itself in the Memorial Theater from 7-8 p.m. Beer and wine will be available to purchase in the Grand Masonic Hall before the concert by Port City Brewing Company.

Tours of the Memorial's iconic Observation Deck are available to purchase near the Jazz Fest check-in area from 5-7 p.m. (before the concert begins).

- Mingling, DJ Set, Drinks with Port City, and viewing of Art Projects in the Masonic Hall:

5-7 p.m.

• Art projects and activities by David Amoroso, Bex Novak, and Saya Behnamo
• Live mingle music by KayaZhanna Donaldson (5:30–6:30 p.m.)
• Food for sale by local vendors
• Beer and wine for sale by Port City Brewing Company
• Visits with Santa Claus
• Tours of the Masonic Observation Deck for sale by Masonic staff

- Jazz Performance in the Memorial Theater: 7-8 p.m.

• Celebrate "A Charlie Brown Christmas" with the Eric Byrd Trio

About The Eric Byrd Trio

For 25 years The Eric Byrd Trio (EBT) has brought the spirit of swing, bebop, gospel, and the blues to audiences worldwide. Winners of the Maryland State Arts Council Independent Artist Award, the Trio has also received a Governor’s Citation from Larry Hogan honoring 20 years of global performances. Their recording Twenty earned the 2022 Washington Area Music Award (Wammie) for Jazz Recording of the Year, and their newest release, Echoes of Arrival (August 2025, Two for the Show Media), marks an exciting new chapter with support from Chris DiGirolamo of Two For Teh Show Media and Shaunna Machosky of Jazzdog Promotions.

EBT is a proud member of the Maryland Performing Artist Touring Roster, recognized for their artistic excellence and professionalism. Their body of work includes seven acclaimed studio and live albums, as well as their expanded 8-piece project, The Eric Byrd Trio: Brother Ray Band, a tribute to the genius of Ray Charles.

Collectively, the Trio has shared the stage with icons such as Wynton Marsalis, Randy Brecker, Charlie Byrd, Mike Stern, Bob Berg, Yolanda Adams, Vanessa Rubin, and Jon Secada. Each member is also a seasoned educator with advanced degrees in music history, African American music, and jazz performance. Their commitment to education has led them to present clinics and workshops worldwide, often through U.S. Embassy sponsorship as Kennedy Center/U.S. State Department Jazz Ambassadors.

The Eric Byrd Trio has performed at prestigious venues and festivals including the Montreux Jazz Festival, and in countries across South America, Europe, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Whether on stage or in the classroom, their mission remains the same: to honor the tradition of jazz while pushing it forward with energy, soul, and authenticity.

Artists Featured During the Pre-Mingle

David Amoroso

David Amoroso shows his admiration for Latin culture through his artwork. His artistic passion is divided between painting, photography, and block and screen prints. Although the majority of David’s work is dedicated to painting iconic portraits of everyday people, he also represents Mexican pop culture through his work. His involvement within the Latino art community has allowed him to create Mexican altars for Día de los Muertos and Guatemalan Alfombras de Aserrín. His art has brought him to exhibit and work in the DC Metro area, California, Arizona, North Carolina, Mexico, Central and South America. @amorosoart

Bex Novak

Bex Novak has been transforming people into artwork for nearly two decades. She is honored to paint in the magnificent and historic space of the Masonic Memorial. Her model’s designs are inspired by the space and are created with the intention to spread holiday joy. Photos with her artwork (the models) are welcomed and encouraged! @bexnovak

Saya Behnam

Saya Behnam is an Iranian-American artist with more than 20 years of experience in fine art. She lives in Virginia, and her studio is at Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. Her art practice is inspired by nature. She believes in and practices Biophilic Design, which recognizes how much human physical and mental well-being relies on the quality of our relationships with the natural world.

By using natural elements and inspiration from nature, she likes to juxtapose time and space, birth and death, and sacred or fractal geometry patterns observed in natural forms for the structures of growth, energy, decay, chaos, and order. @sayabehnam

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Host or Publisher City of Alexandria Office of the Arts