page_title: Women in music
section_title: Jazz
hierarchical_section_title: Women in music / Instrumental performers / Jazz
caption_attribution_description: [Portrait of Mary Lou Williams, New York, N.Y. ca. 1946]
context_page_description: Women in music describes the role of women as composers, songwriters, instrumental performers, singers, conductors, music scholars, music educators, music critics/music journalists and in other musical professions. As well, it describes music movements, events and genres related to women, women's issues and feminism.
  In the 2010s, while women constitute a significant proportion of popular music and classical music singers, and a significant proportion of songwriters, there are few women record producers, rock critics and rock instrumentalists. Notable women artists in pop, such as Bjork and Lady Gaga have commented about sexism and gender discrimination in the music industry. Additionally, a recent study led by Dr. Smith announced that "...over the last six years, the representation of women in the music industry has been even lower".
context_section_description: Historically, the majority of well-known women performers in jazz have been singers, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Diane Schuur and Dinah Washington. Culture Trip notes that women in jazz have been "too often confined to the role of chanteuse." However, there are many notable instrumental performers. In some cases, these musicians are also composers and bandleaders:
  Toshiko Akiyoshi (b. 1929): bandleader, pianist, arranger, composer
  Regina Carter: jazz violin
  Melba Liston: trombonist and arranger
  Vi Redd (b. 1928): alto saxophonist
  Melissa Aldana: tenor saxophonist
  Emily Remler: jazz guitar
  Mimi Fox: jazz guitar
  Sweet Emma Barrett
  Terri Lyne Carrington (drums)
  Carla Bley (piano)
  Mary Lou Williams (piano)
  Billie Pierce (piano)
  Jeanette Kimball (piano)
  Lovie Austin (piano and bandleader)
  Joelle Khoury (piano and composer)
  Shirley Horn
  Eva Cassidy
  Ruth Brown
  There have also been all-female jazz bands such as The International Sweethearts of Rhythm and all female orchestras such as the Hour of Charm Orchestra. Often, during World War II, these all women's groups would entertain the troops while the male musicians served. However, after the war, these girls groups were thrown aside, as male musicians returned and the public favored the "normalcy" it brought, and the over sexualization of females in music returned.
  Some of these musicians helped shape jazz music and American culture. When June Norton was young, she wanted to pursue classical music, in hopes that one day she could join the opera. However, this did not seem possible, so she began to pursue popular music. Norton became the first black woman in the region of Washington DC to appear singing in TV commercials marketed towards southern states. This led to her accomplishments of many awards including the 1962 Achievement Award from the National Association of Colored Women, the TV Personality of the Year award, the 1962 Emphasis Award from the National Association of Market Development, and the 1962 Singer of the Year Award from the YMCA. She later stepped away from the spotlight and began a career as a counselor and married Thomas C. Cuff. She spent the rest of her working years helping underprivileged youth and female prisoners.
  Another female pianist, composer, and vocalist made significant contribution to jazz and the American culture. Shirley Horn (1934–2005) recorded more than 25 albums and worked as a side musician for Stuff Smith, Toots Thielemans, Charlie Haden, and Oscar Peterson. She practiced at the Howard University Junior School of Music, and later received offers from Juilliard University and Xavier University, but opted to remain in Washington DC, marry, and have a child. She continued to tour and play gigs constantly. Her first recording was part of Stuff Smith's 1959 release, Cat on a Hot Fiddle. Her debut recording, Embers and Ashes attracted a large amount of attention and helped her to realize she wanted to be a concert pianist after all. A few months after this, Miles Davis contacted Horn and told Village Vanguard in New York City that he wanted Horn to open for him, and that he refused to play if this was not a possibility. This is when Horn's fame and reputation began to rise. She continued to work with Mercury Records and Verve Records. She received many awards including a Grammy Award in 1999 for Best Jazz vocal album for I Remember Miles, five Washington Area Music Awards, an honorary music degree from the Berklee College of Music, and a 2004 NEA Jazz Master Fellowship and Award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
caption: Mary Lou Williams (1910–1981) was a pianist, composer and arranger who played jazz, classical and gospel music. She wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements and recorded more than one hundred records.
exif: {}