The DC Jazz Festival (DCJF) is proud to announce the addition of internationally acclaimed bassist, composer, and media personality Marcus Miller and his extraordinary band to the 2025 DC JazzFest at The Wharf, taking place August 27 – August 31, 2025 over Labor Day Weekend.

Tickets are available now at dcjazzfest.org.

A true force in contemporary jazz, Marcus Miller is set to bring his powerhouse band to DC JazzFest 2025. The legendary bassist, composer, and producer has worked with icons like Miles Davis, Beyoncé, David Bowie, Herbie Hancock, and Aretha Franklin. A two-time GRAMMY winner, Miller helped shape the sound of modern jazz and R&B—producing Miles Davis’ “Tutu” and co-writing hits like “Power of Love/Love Power” and “Jump To It.”  With credits spanning blockbuster film scores (“School Daze”), Saturday Night Live, and his current SiriusXM show “Miller Time,” he continues to captivate audiences worldwide. Miller’s DC JazzFest set promises to be a standout moment of DC JazzFest at The Wharf during Labor Day Weekend.

“Marcus Miller is a singular force in modern music and a brilliant addition to our 2025 lineup,” said DCJF CEO Sunny Sumter. “We are thrilled to present his extraordinary artistry to DC audiences.” 

DC JazzFest at The Wharf will bring together a dynamic lineup of jazz legends, rising stars, and boundary-pushing global artists including NEA Jazz Masters Eddie Palmieri, Ron Carter, Branford Marsalis, Gary Bartz, and Marshall Allen leading Sun Ra Arkestra, alongside acclaimed vocalists Lalah Hathaway and Cécile McLorin Salvant plus John Scofield, Emmet Cohen, Matthew Whitaker, Keyon Harrold, The Baylor Project, The String Queens, and more to be announced. 

“The 21st edition of the DC JazzFest will present a stunning array of artistic expressions from a broad range of jazz and jazz-informed styles, representing the true 21st century state-of-the-artform,” said DCJF Artistic DirectorWillard Jenkins.  

The festival will also shine a spotlight on the exceptional talent of the DMV’s own jazz community including The Strings Queens, Corcoran Holt, the JazzDC Orchestra directed by Allyn Johnson, Birckhead, Christie Dashiell, Paul Carr, Herb Scott, Akua Allrich, Todd Marcus, Charles Covington, Leigh Pilzer, Joshua Bayer, and many more.

DC JazzFest’s marquee weekend will take place across six stages at The Wharf, DC’s stunning waterfront destination, offering breathtaking riverside views, top-tier hotels, over 80 shops and restaurants, and convenient access via Metro, highway, and water taxi.

For more information, full lineup announcements, and to purchase tickets, visit dcjazzfest.org.

About DC Jazz Festival: The DC Jazz Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that celebrates America’s original musical art form by presenting year-round programs and performances. Our mission is to present internationally renowned and emerging artists in celebration of jazz, unify diverse communities and enable connections between artists and audiences, advance jazz and music education, provide performance opportunities for DC-based musicians, and highlight DC as a major and vibrant center for jazz. With dozens of performances in venues across the city, the annual DC JazzFest is one of the world’s largest music festivals. This international event attracts jazz lovers from around the world to the nation’s capital. The 2025 DC JazzFest will take place citywide, August 27 – August 31. dcjazzfest.org