https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2018/11/07/jazz-educator-musician-has-a-vision-to-bring.html
Jazz musician has vision to revive Bohemian Caverns
Rebecca Cooper2 hours ago
Davey Yarborough, longtime jazz director at the Duke Ellington School of the Performing Arts and founder of The Washington Jazz Arts Institute, poses next to a mural by Howard Theatre that depicts him playing the flute. Yarborough hopes to revive another one of the U Street… more
Joanne S. Lawton
A product of D.C. Public Schools and Howard University, D.C. jazz musician Davey Yarborough promised his Howard mentor upon graduation that he would “pay it forward” — and he’s been doing that for the past 30 years as a jazz program director and band leader at the Duke Ellington School of the Arts.
And though he’s about to retire, he’s not quite done with his promise. Next up? He wants to revive legendary jazz club Bohemian Caverns, a monument to the musical genre in the District that closed in 2016.
The idea is still in its very early stages — Yarborough refers to it as a “dream” rather than a plan — but he’s working on a feasibility study to determine exactly how much money he would need to raise through a capital campaign.
Bohemian Caverns, located at 11th and U streets NW, opened in 1926 in the heart of what was known as Black Broadway. In its heyday, it hosted musicians of international acclaim, including Ellington himself as well as John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Cab Calloway.
Bohemian Caverns is located at 2001 11th St. NW. It has been for lease for more than two years.
Joanne S. Lawton
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