Except for female vocalists, jazz has traditionally been dominated by men. Among instrumentalists, the early breakthroughs have mostly been by women pianists, such as Mary Lou Williams (1910–1981), who was also an important composer and arranger, as is Toshiko Akiyoshi (born in 1929). Marian McPartland (1918 – 2013) was not only a talented pianist but also the host of NPR Radio’s long-running Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz. Trombonist/arranger/composer Melba Liston (1926-1999) was also an important figure.
In recent years, though, women have become more prominent on virtually all the instruments, from clarinet/sax player Anat Cohen, the trumpeters Ingrid Jensen and Bria Skonberg, the saxophonists Grace Kelly and Melissa Aldana, the drummers Terri Lyne Carrington and Cindy Blackman Santana, the violinist Regina Carter, to the bass players Esperanza Spalding and Linda Oh. (Santana will be at Jazz Standard on Aug. 9-10 and Aldana will be at Mezzrow Jazz Club on July 26.)
My prediction for upcoming star is the extraordinary flute player Elena Pinderhughes, currently playing in trumpeter Christian Scott’s group.
Recent CDs feature established female jazz artists--Jane Ira Bloom, Mala Waldron, and Deborah Latz. Avery Sharpe is male but his new CD honors Sister Rosetta Tharpe, a pivotal figure in American music who died in obscurity.
Jane Ira Bloom
