Performers to Be Jazzed About

If you can drag your children away from their Wiis tomorrow -- because is virtual tennis really exercise? -- they might just find inspiration in the acts at the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival's new family showcase on the Mall, a day outdoors with young and gifted performers from across the country.

The Jazz 'n Family Fun Day offers a stage for some of the youngest virtuosos in jazz. Last year, acts such as Washington's own Nasar Abadey performed with his 16-year-old son, also a drummer, as his opening act; and pint-size pianist Tony Madruga performed with backing players who had barely reached adolescence themselves. But the groups played in venues in different corners of the city, so you could catch one act, but not likely two.

This year, the show brings its seven acts together at a free outdoor show at the Washington Monument, so you can see the teeny-tiny percussionists of the Louisville Leopard Percussionists in the same place as Berklee College of Music's La Timbistica salsa/Latin jazz outfit and Mexico's Na'Rimbo. (The new showcase doesn't replace the festival's free annual Jazz on the Mall day with adult performers; that returns Sunday.)

The Leopard Percussionists, 60 children between age 7 and 12 hailing from Louisville, will be the youngest performers of the day. But, says founder and Artistic Director Diane Downs, "just because they're little people doesn't mean they're not capable of accomplishing amazing things." Indeed, to hear these kids play "Take 5" entirely on percussion is pretty stunning. (HBO Family has made a special about the group, founded in 1993, and the percussionists once even opened for alt-country band My Morning Jacket.) Did we mention they've learned songs by Santana and Duke Ellington by ear ?

The kids learn jazz because "that's what I like," admits Downs, a music teacher. But she says that because so much of jazz is improvisational, it also lends itself to young performers: "Part of it is written down, but most of it isn't. You have a few rules, and you only have to keep the groove. It's the perfect thing to start teaching kids when they're little."

The Jazz 'n Family Fun Day, featuring performers Miss Lucy Lion, Cathy Fink and Marcy Marxer, Alona Lee and U.S. Army Blues in addition to face painting, an instrument petting zoo and portrait opportunities, is tomorrow. Free. Noon-6 p.m. (The Leopard Percussionists perform at noon; La Timbistica at 4:40 p.m.) Sylvan Theater, Washington Monument grounds, 15th Street and Independence Avenue SW. For rain cancellation info, call 202-232-3611.

The Duke Ellington Jazz Festival continues through Tuesday with free and ticketed performances across the city. For a full schedule, visit http://www.dejazzfest.org.

SAVE THE DATE

ON STAGE "Beakman's World" for the Adult Set? Paul Zaloom may be the host of the long-running kid-friendly TV science show, but he is also a satirist and puppeteer. It's the latter that brings him to Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center next week for three nights of his adult-themed show "From the Jolly and Insane Mind of Zaloom," a night of "toy theater" featuring "The Abecedarium" (with Zaloom and nightclub puppeteer Lynn Jeffries) and "The Punch and Jimmy Show," Zaloom's spoof on puppet theater. Leave the kids at home (the show isn't recommended for those younger than 18) and stick around afterward for the nightly talks with the artists. $35; students, $7. Oct. 8-10 at 8 p.m. Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, Route 193 and Stadium Drive, College Park. 301-405-2787 or http://www.claricesmithcenter.umd.edu.

CONCERT Smashing Pumpkins Who exactly are the Pumpkins these days? Only Billy Corgan and Jimmy Chamberlin continue; gone are James Iha and D'Arcy Wretzky, replaced by performers whose faces haven't been on the cover of Rolling Stone. And gone, too, are some of the great anti-commercial notions of 1990s rock: The upcoming Pumpkins single will be released via . . . Guitar Hero. Here is what's new and interesting: Corgan, Chamberlin and Co. are on the road to mark 20 years of the Pumpkins this fall, and they're planning two-night shows in many of the cities they're visiting, including Washington. Night 1 will be themed "Black Sunshine," Night 2 is "White Crosses," and no songs will be played both nights. In other words, the shows will be different experiences, to encourage fans to attend both nights. The tour lands at DAR Constitution Hall at 8 p.m. Nov. 11-12. $58.50 each night. 18th and C streets NW. 202-397-7328.

THE DISTRICT

Today

THE SCENE Pink Line's Latest: The Space Invaders Closing Party Tonight at Dissident Display gallery on H Street NE, the Pink Line Project (a local foundation boosting the arts and artists) hosts a party to mark the closing of the exhibition exploring "futurism and the African art legacy": You can catch dancer Holly Bass performing her work "Pay Purview," see art by Ayo Ngozi and the gallery's Eric Brewer, imbibe, listen to DJ Adrian Loving (also a Dissident member) and generally get your Friday night on in a creative environment. Free. 7 p.m.-midnight. 416 H St. NE. 202-332-3346.

FILM All Roads Film Festival The festival -- which celebrates indigenous and vanishing cultures with art, film and music representing 20 cultures from 15 countries -- continues with tonight's free concert by Somalian hip-hop artist K'naan in the courtyard at National Geographic. Other highlights from the festival, which continues through Monday: Tomorrow at 4:30 p.m., see the "New Warriors" screening of three films, featuring "What Was Promised," a documentary about the women in Iraq's security forces. Sunday at noon, see the "Women Hold Up Half the Sky" screening, including "As We Forgive," the award-winning thesis film by AU grad student Laura Waters Hinson about the tense peace in Rwanda. Films are $9 per program; four-day festival pass, $56 (the photo exhibition is free). Tonight's free concert is at 9:30 p.m. Grosvenor Auditorium and the courtyard at the National Geographic Society, 1600 M St. NW. 202-857-7700 or for a full schedule and tickets, visit http://www.nationalgeographic.com/allroads.