Jazz in The Parks: Gracie Jay with Opener Music With Mr. Rob

The region’s most acclaimed jazz musicians are returning to the ever-popular Jazz in The Parks on the Great Lawn this summer! Bring your neighbors and friends for the city’s favorite laid-back summer evenings – listed by magazine as one of the area’s top five outdoor spots to listen to live music just last year! Bring your own picnic, blanket and refreshments, and enjoy popular local food vendors and giveaways, including some delicious Atlantic Barbeque! Stop by the wonderful restaurants around the Marketplace, just a block away up 12th Street. Pick up charcuterie (or a pizza!) at Whole Foods, delicious takeout from Paraiso, or bring the latest one-of-a-kind flavor from The Charmery's Saturday Sundae dessert lab.

The events start at 5 pm with a children’s performer (get ready to dance!), followed at 6 pm by the headliners.

Dates:

• Jazz in The Parks Presents: Mark Meadows, Kids Opener Baba Ras D, June 6, 5-8 pm, Great Lawn
• Jazz in The Parks Presents: Rockwell Shapiro, Kids Opener Marsha Goodwin-Wood, July 11, 5-8 pm, Great Lawn
• Jazz in The Parks Presents: Gracie Jay, Kids Opener Music With Mr. Rob, August 22, 5-8 pm, Great Lawn
• Jazz in The Parks Presents: Langston Hughes II, Kids Opener The Great Zucchini, Sept 26, 5-8 pm, Great Lawn

See below for more information on each artist!

Enjoy beverages and food from vendors and retailers on site; feel free to bring your own picnic, blankets, chairs, and water. Friendly pets allowed on leash.
In case of inclement weather, cancellations will be announced no later than 1 hour before the show. We encourage RSVPs through Eventbrite or following The Parks DC on @theparksdc for the latest updates.

Location: The Great Lawn is located at the center of the campus. Enter from 16th Street NW, or enter from Georgia Avenue at Butternut Street NW, and follow Main Drive around to the grassy area. 1301 Main Drive NW.

How to Get There: Parking is limited on campus, so walking, scooting, biking, buses, and trains are recommended. The Parks at Walter Reed is a 12-minute walk from the Takoma Metrorail Station on the Red Line, and more than a dozen bus lines run up 16th Street NW and Georgia Avenue NW. Bike parking is available on campus. Some parking is available in on-street spots; please follow the signage.

About the Artists:

June 6: Mark Meadows

Acclaimed jazz composer, pianist, music director, vocalist, jazz instructor, & actor, Mark G. Meadows is a man on a mission: to create a unifying sound that breaks through social barriers. There’s something for everyone in his music, which harmonizes pop, gospel, R&B, hip hop, funk, and jazz. With his lyrics, suffused with meaning, and his velvet voice, Meadows cuts through the noise to speak to all. You can hear his genius in his 4 self-produced albums, Be the Change (2019), To the People (2016), Somethin’ Good (2014), and A Child is Born (2008). Debonair on the stage, he is an entertainer of the highest caliber. The son of a gospel and jazz vocalist, Meadows began his musical odyssey at the age of three with the gift of a toy keyboard. At age five, he started formal piano lessons under the tutelage of renowned Russian classical pianist and pedagogue Rosalie LeVant. Then, at age 13, he expanded his training to include jazz piano with the equally renowned Julie Bonk. After graduating from the famed Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Meadows went on to earn two bachelor’s degrees in psychology and jazz piano from Johns Hopkins University. Afterwards, he decided to focus on music for the first time, and went on to earn a Graduate Performance Diploma in jazz piano from the prestigious Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore.

In August 2016, Meadows made his acting debut as the titular role in the Washington, D.C., premiere of the hit Broadway musical Jelly’s Last Jam at the Signature Theatre. Since then, he's been immersed in the theatre scene, successfully combining the raw, spontaneous nature of jazz with the story-telling, heavily produced nature of theatre.

Increasingly in demand around the globe, Meadows has performed alongside world-renowned artists, including Usher, Cynthia Erivo, Renee Fleming, Kendrick Lamar, Kamasi Washington, Angelique Kidjo, Bobby McFerrin, The NSO, Ledisi, Terence Blanchard, Nicholas Payton, Kurt Elling, Sean Jones, and Warren Wolf. He has headlined at premier venues, including Jazz at Lincoln Center and Smalls Jazz Club in NYC, Blues Alley, Bohemian Caverns, The Warner Theatre and The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.; and the Music Center at Strathmore in North Bethesda, MD. Mark music directed, orchestrated, and performed for Cynthia Eviro’s US Tour.

In 2018-2019, he performed, acted, and music directed Signature Theatre’s “Soul Divas” Cabaret, “Motown Christmas” Cabaret, “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, “Unforgettable, a Tribute to Nat King Cole” Cabaret, “HittsvileUSA - Motown” Cabaret, “Motown 2: The Reprise” Cabaret, and Creative Cauldron’s “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill”. When his demanding schedule allows, Mark continues to tour with his group, Mark G. Meadows & The Movement.

Mark currently serves as Associate Music Director/Conductor, and pianist for “The Outsiders'', nominated for 12 Tony Awards in the 2024 season, and winner of 4 Tony Awards including “Best Musical”. Mark is credited with additional arrangements for the show. He also is the pianist and music director for Cynthia Erivo.

Mark uses his artistry to bring forth a positive message of love, joy, and hope to his audiences.

Kids Opener: Baba Ras D

Baba Ras D is an early childhood educator, author, musician and Rock Star to kids of all ages! Always a favorite, his live music performances center on positivity and community. Baba Ras D is a beacon of inspiration and a testament to the transformative power of self-discovery. Born during the height of the Civil Rights era in Washington, D.C., his early life was shaped by a diverse tapestry of faith-based expressions, from A.M.E. Baptist and Evangelical Christian to Catholic and Traditional African Religions. This rich multicultural upbringing ignited his passion for music and creative self-expression, while spiritual retreats and revivals instilled in him a profound reverence for the Spirit, the Ancestors, and the Supernatural.

One of Baba Ras D’s most remarkable contributions to society is the creation of The HARAMBEE Experience, an “Early Childhood Elevation Activity and Play Program.” For over three decades, HARAMBEE has been a nurturing space where young scholars celebrate learning through movement and songs. Baba Ras D’s motto, “Pass the Peace, so the Peace can increase" underscores his commitment to instilling values of harmony, unity, and growth in the hearts of countless children.

With a strong foundation of service to the youth, Baba Ras D has now embarked on a mission to promote mental wellness and the power of positive thinking. He recently released his first memoir, Stay In Your Light: 21 Days of Fasting on The Journey Towards Self Mastery. In this enlightening work, he encourages readers to reflect, remember, realign, recommit, reconnect, restart, restore, and ultimately return to balance. Stay In Your Light offers profound insights into the transformative potential of love emanating from the inner source of light. In a world that often grapples with chaos and discord, Baba Ras D stands as a guiding light, inspiring others to find their inner light and purpose on the journey to self-mastery.

July 11: Rockwell Shapiro

Rockwell Shapiro is an award-winning pianist/composer, educator, and community organizer based in Baltimore, Maryland. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Rockwell’s earliest musical experiences came from studying classical piano. Rockwell’s first role-model was his mother, a pianist herself, who immersed Rockwell in the sounds of Beethoven, Mozart and Bartók. As he began expanding his musical palate, Rockwell became enamored with jazz music, drawing inspiration from local legends emerging as international jazz sensations.

Now working in Baltimore as a pianist, composer, and music educator, his music delves into a wide variety of styles from all corners of the globe, including Brazilian, hip hop, Afro-Caribbean, rock and electronic music. His compositions have received great recognition, including an honorable mention for the Herb Alpert Young Composers Award, and have been performed by jazz greats like Kris Funn, Allison Miller and Tim Green. Playing across the world — from Shenzhen to Paris to New York — he’s had the privilege of playing beside jazz greats like David Sanchez, Mike Rodriguez and Charanee Wade.

In 2025, Rockwell was awarded the Jazz Camp West Fellowship. It sponsors one rising artist under thirty to hone their skills as an artist in La Honda, California, where he worked side-by-side with legendary pianist Orrin Evans.

When he’s not behind a piano, Rockwell works as a community organizer, fighting for police reform and economic justice in Baltimore. Alongside his studies at the Peabody Conservatory, he simultaneously studies Political Science at Johns Hopkins University. In 2024, he was awarded the Hugh Hawkins Research Fellowship, conducting archival research and oral interviews to illustrate how jazz and other Black musical styles gained recognition in primarily-white classical conservatories.

Kids Opener: Marsha Goodwin-Wood

Marsha Goodwin-Wood is a singer and an award-winning songwriter, as well as a guitar player and teaching artist with Wolf Trap. While she normally performs and teaches the younger crowd, her positive music spans generations. Her background includes directing musicals and even an unusual profession for a music artist - a former cognitive neuroscientist. While writing her Master’s thesis, she bought her first guitar and started performing at open mics around Cambridge, MA, and started a path that has inspired multiple families to enjoy the science of music.

As the leader of DC-based kindie (kid + Indie) band, Marsha and the Positrons, she is known for her clever original songs that mix science facts with messages about kindness and friendship. Her music has won a Parents’ Choice Gold Award, a National Parenting Products Award, and a host of other songwriting awards. Her album Energetic was released in 2023. Energetic is a collaborative album, weaving together contributions from a talented group of musicians and kindie artists. Previous albums include Positronic (2018, Parents’ Choice Gold Award, NAPPA Award) and Gravity Vacation (2012). Marsha and the Positrons songs are playful, educational, and entertaining for both kids and grown-ups. Marsha always brings her signature positive energy to stages and loves to inspire curiosity about science through her music.

August 22: Gracie Jay

Gracie Jay is a multi-talented arranger and vocalist. Knowing from a young age that she wanted to be a musician, Gracie received her Bachelors degree in Vocal Performance and Professional Music from Berklee College of Music. In 2020, she received her Masters degree in Arranging and Composition from North Carolina Central University under the tutelage of Joey Calderazzo, Branford Marsalis, and Brian Horton.Part of a rare, niche category of talented female vocalists, Gracie Jay is a powerful force on stage, simultaneously writing and arranging for the same large-ensembles she masterfully sings for. Gracie has performed and recorded with artists including Cyrille Aimee, Nicholas Payton, Camille Thurman, Jamison Ross and more. Her written works have been performed by groups including the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Next Generation Big Band, and the New Guard Big Band.

In addition to her success as an arranger and jazz vocalist, Gracie works on a number of side projects including her role as the lead singer for the Colorado-based band, J-Calvin, Public Opinion of North Carolina, and of course her own solo and group projects. Hired for her diverse artistic contributions, Gracie is known for elevating every group she’s invited to. Performances with these groups include the Tucson Jazz Festival, French Quarter Festival, Telluride Jazz Festival and more.

Music education has always been a part of Gracie’s career. She actively hosts classes and workshops, and directs choirs and large ensembles. Gracie dedicated three years to working with young musicians as the music director at Academy Del Sol, a K-8 charter school. She recently served as an adjunct professor at Loyola University of New Orleans.

is a multi-talented arranger and vocalist. Knowing from a young age that she wanted to be a musician, Gracie received her Bachelors degree in Vocal Performance and Professional Music from Berklee College of Music. In 2020, she received her Masters degree in Arranging and Composition from North Carolina Central University under the tutelage of Joey Calderazzo, Branford Marsalis, and Brian Horton.Part of a rare, niche category of talented female vocalists, Gracie Jay is a powerful force on stage, simultaneously writing and arranging for the same large-ensembles she masterfully sings for. Gracie has performed and recorded with artists including Cyrille Aimee, Nicholas Payton, Camille Thurman, Jamison Ross and more. Her written works have been performed by groups including the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra, Next Generation Big Band, and the New Guard Big Band.

In addition to her success as an arranger and jazz vocalist, Gracie works on a number of side projects including her role as the lead singer for the Colorado-based band, J-Calvin, Public Opinion of North Carolina, and of course her own solo and group projects. Hired for her diverse artistic contributions, Gracie is known for elevating every group she’s invited to. Performances with these groups include the Tucson Jazz Festival, French Quarter Festival, Telluride Jazz Festival and more.

Music education has always been a part of Gracie’s career. She actively hosts classes and workshops, and directs choirs and large ensembles. Gracie dedicated three years to working with young musicians as the music director at Academy Del Sol, a K-8 charter school. She recently served as an adjunct professor at Loyola University of New Orleans.

Kids Opener: Music with Mr. Rob

Music With Mr. Rob is a performer and music educator with 10+ years experience, who specializes in early childhood music education. He uses performance experience to create highly engaging and interactive music education experiences. As an educator, Mr. Rob teaches early childhood music for DC Public Schools. His classes focus on high-quality musical experiences that support child development and learning through play and movement. He also plays in the drum line for the Washington Commanders.

Mr. Rob's Animal Band EP is now streaming and his musical education podcast, A Strange Arrangement, can be found on spotify.

September 26: Langston Hughes II

Langston Hughes II is a saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, bandleader, and educator whose radiant tone, emotional clarity, and spiritual grounding have made him one of the most compelling young artists of his generation. Originally from Prince George’s County, Maryland, and now based in New York City, is an alum of both the historic Howard University and the famed Juilliard School. Hughes brings together the worlds that shaped him — The Blues, black gospel influences, the Washington D.C. jazz lineage, and the rigor of New York’s jazz scene — into a singular, deeply expressive voice.Hughes’s musical journey began in the church, drawn to the voices and the transformative emotional truth of gospel music. He picked up the saxophone at age 10.

Though he initially entered Howard University as an engineering major, he quickly realized music was more than a passion — it was his calling. Under the mentorship of Charlie Young III, Cyrus Chestnut, Fred Irby III, Saïs Kamalidiin, and others, he found the discipline, honesty, and artistic identity that still guide him today. By his senior year, he had become a sought-after voice in the D.C. scene, performing regularly while developing the lyrical sound that would become his signature. A chance encounter with saxophonist Bruce Williams inspired him to apply to The Juilliard School, where he would earn his master’s degree in Jazz Studies.

After beginning his studies at Juilliard, Hughes caught the attention of Wynton Marsalis and Ulysses Owens Jr., leading to opportunities to sub with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, including covering Ted Nash and Sherman Irby on an extended tour. The experience affirmed a truth he carries with him: “If you stay true to who you are, you’ll shine through.”

Since then, Hughes has become a dynamic presence on the New York jazz scene. He has toured or performed with artists such as Wynton Marsalis & the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Cyrus Chestnut, Ulysses Owens Jr.’s Generation Y Band and has appeared at major venues and festivals including Blues Alley, Keystone Korner, The Kennedy Center, Smalls, Chris’ Jazz Café, the DC Jazz Festival, and others. His versatility across saxophone, flute, and clarinet has also led to work on Broadway and Off-Broadway, including A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical and Just in Time: The Bobby Darin Story. He is a former Strathmore Artist in Residence and a Betty Carter Jazz Ahead alumnus.

Hughes’s story is deeply intertwined with FAME (Foundation for the Advancement of Music & Education). A former student in the FAME Jazz Band, he has spent the past decade evolving from participant to teaching artist to mentor — and now, Artistic Director of the FAME Jazz Band.

Through FAME and his private studio, Hughes has taught dozens of students, led workshops across the country, and built educational programs that focus equally on technical mastery, artistic development, and community impact. His leadership is both artistic and personal — rooted in gratitude for the mentors who shaped him and a commitment to lifting up the next generation.

Kids Opener: The Great Zucchini

The Great Zucchini is an award winning children’s entertainer who has been a staple in the DC metro area for over 25 years. The Great Zucchini is described as the funniest and most magical Preschool and Kindergarten entertainer, performing a colorful magic show where every child is a star and guaranteed to laugh. He performs his hands-on, interactive magic shows for more than 700 groups a year.

In addition to appearing at hundreds of schools and thousands of birthday parties throughout Maryland, Virginia, and DC, The Great Zucchini has also entertained at the 9:30 Club, DC Improv, Arlington Cinema Drafthouse, Historic 6th and I Synagogue, ABC 7 “Let’s Talk Live,” numerous embassies, Jammin’ Java, Avalon Theatre, and Celebrate Fairfax.

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