Women and Jazz

I have long wondered why women in jazz are frequently limited to (or perhaps choose to) sing or play piano. Frequently, there is no female on the bandstand. This seems to be true in all ethnic and cultural contexts, from Japan to Europe to the USA .

Would anyone care to speculate on why this occurs?

Drummer Leonard King drew my attention to the book Stormy Weather: The Music and Lives of a Century of Jazzwomen by Linda Dahl. It is an essential resource for anyone exploring this subject. (Dahl is also the author of a book on the great Mary Lou Williams, who at the age of 17 was writing most of the arrangements for the Andy Kirk orchestra during the 1930's.)

I would also like to begin a list of women jazz figures who neither sing nor play piano. All-female groups are mentioned, and the individuals are mentioned separately. Dahl's book was a major resource for this list. And please write in and add to it.

Alive! - all female group

Liz Allbee - trumpet

Dorothy Ashby - harp

Vera Auer - vibes

Chelsea Baratz - sax

Willene Barton - tenor sax

Lollie Bienenfeld - trombone

Jane Ira Bloom - Soprano

Karen Borca - bassoon

Barbara Borden - drums

Pauline Braddy-drums

Clora Bryant - trumpet

Jane Bunnett - Soprano Sax

Viola Burnside - tenor sax

Deidre Cartwright - guitarist

Terri Lynne Carrington - drums

Norma Carson - trumpet

Regina Carter - violin

Rachel Cocks (she is mentioned in article on Simon H. Fell) - clarinet

Anat Cohen - clarinet

Alice Coltrane - harp

Elizabeth 'Libba' Cotton - blues guitar and vocals

Claire Daly - baritone sax

Ernestine 'Tiny' Davis - trumpet

Fostina Dixon - bass, clarinet, reeds

Dottie Dodgion - drums

Barbara Donald - trumpet

Susan Evans - percussion

Jane Fair - saxophone

Kali Z. Fasteau - sax, traditional flutes, piano, cello, viola, drum set, etc

Stephanie Fauber - french horn

Jean Fineberg - saxophone, flute, clarinet

Laurie Frink - trumpet

Mimi Fox - Guitar

Marian Gange - guitar

Adele Girard - harp

Rose Gottesman - drums

Corey Hale - harp

Jennell Hawkins - organ

Leora Meoux Henderson - trumpet

Deborah Henson-Conan - harp

Jessie Mae Hemphill - blues guitarist and singer

Heroines - Only album I know of is Cadence Jazz Records 1040 (and it is great)

The Hip Chicks

Robbi Humphrey - flute

Margie Hyams - drums, vibe

Susie Ibarra - Drums

International Sweethearts of Rhythm

Bonnie Jefferson - blues guitar and vocals

Dodie Jeshke - drums

Dolly Jones - trumpet

Carol Kaye - electric bass

Carla Kihlstedt - violin (in tin hat trio)

Joelle Leandre - Bass

Anne LeBaron - harp

Elaine Leighton - drums

Melba Liston- trombone

Ellen McIwaine - blues guitar and vocals

Sarah McLawler - organ

Lynn Milano -bass

Lizzie Miles -

Naomi Millender - cello

Memphis Minnie - blues guitarist and singer

Nicole Mitchell - Flute

Montclair Women’s Big Band

Kathryn Moses - flute

Amina Claudine Myers - organ

Bridget O'Flynn - vibes, drum

Mary Oliver - violin

Mary Osborne - guitar

Mary Fettig Park - alto saxophone

Ann Patterson - alto saxophone

Terry Pollard - vibes

Carline Ray - electric bass, guitar

Vi Reed - alto saxophone

Emily Remler (deceased) - Guitar

Ruth Ritchie - percussion

Matana Roberts — Sax

Pola Roberts - drums

Janice Robinson - trombone

Billie Rogers - trumpet

June Rottenberg - bass

Ali Ryerson - flute

Jenny Scheinman - violinist Sax

Shirley Scott - organ

Jenny Scheinman - violinist

Seattle Women's Jazz Orchestra

Ellen Seeling - trumpet

Elsie Smith - tenor sax, clarinet

Ginger Smock - violinist

Valaida Snow - trumpet

Phil Spitalny and his All-Girl Orchestra

Esperanza Spalding - Bass

Jean Starr - trumpet

Kathleen Stobart - tenor saxophone

Monette Sudler - guitar

B. Taylor - bass

Sue Terry - alto sax

Barbara Thompson - reeds

Tindanga Mama - Organized by Nicole Mitchell (see above)

Suzanne Vincenza on bass

Biggie Vinkeloe - sax

Faye Washington - Flute and reeds

L'Ana Webster - reeds

Bonnie Wetzel - bass

Edna Williams - trumpet

Mary Lou Williams Girl Stars - All woman band

And please help me out with this. I would like this list to get very long; while I don't claim to speak for these women, perhaps some could use more recognition in what could be a lonely artistic context.

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