Home » Jazz Articles » Big Band Report » Ladder Is High, Women Keep Climbing
Ladder Is High, Women Keep Climbing
ByNot only does the Montclair WJO espouse a high standard of musicianship, it believes in sharing its expertise and artistry with the next generation, hence its involvement each year for the past four in the Jazzschool Girls' Jazz & Blues Camp for girls in grades 6-12, apparently the only summer jazz camp in the world for girls only with an all-woman faculty. The week-long camp is being held this month at the Jazzschool in Berkeley, founded in 1997 by Susan Muscarella who serves as executive director as well as president and dean of the Jazzschool Institute. The goals for the Jazz & Blues Camp are admirable: to provide a supportive atmosphere in which young female musicians can hone their musical skills; to encourage friendships among young female musicians; and to foster enhanced self-esteem and confidence. Some of these girls may be the Regina Carters, Esperanza Spaldings, Terri Lyne Carringtons, Diana Kralls, Claire Dalys, Anat Cohens and Maria Schneiders of tomorrow. Anyone who has been lucky enough to see and / or hear today's world-class female musicians will no doubt applaud the Jazzschool's camp for introducing another generation of young women to the beauty and wonders "America's classical music."
Speaking of Women in Jazz...
A number of women placed high in the 60th annual Critics' Poll, which appears in the August issue of DownBeat magazine including Nicole Mitchell, who won as best flutist, and Schneider, best composer, arranger and big band. Anat Cohen was named best clarinetist, placed fifth on soprano sax and fourteenth on tenor, while Jane Ira Bloom earned second place behind Branford Marsalis on soprano. Spalding won a third-place vote on acoustic bass, was second behind Christian McBride on electric bass, and placed third behind Vijay Iyer and Robert Glasper as Jazz Artist of the Year. On the other hand, I've heard Spalding sing and am frankly puzzled by her third-place finish among female vocalists, trailing Cassandra Wilson and Gretchen Parlato but ahead of Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Tierney Sutton, Karrin Allyson, Krall, Roberta Gambarini and others. Carter earned the nod as best violinist, Ingrid Jensen was in tenth place on trumpet, Mary Halvorson fourth on guitar, Jane Bunnett eighth on soprano and sixth on flute, Daly fifth on baritone, Geri Allen eleventh on piano, Hiromi ninth on keyboard, Amina Claudine Myers eighth, Barbara Dennerlein tenth and Rhoda Scott twelfth on organ, Marilyn Mazur tenth on percussion. Carla Bley placed twelfth among composers, fifteenth among arrangers.
Halvorson, Hiromi and Parlato were listed among the rising stars, Tineke Postma likewise on soprano and alto sax, Tia Fuller on alto sax and flute, Grace Kelly and Sharel Cassity on alto, Cohen on tenor, Lauren Sevian on baritone, Ali Ryerson and Holly Hoffman on flute, Helen Sung on piano, Hiromi on piano and keyboard, Patrice Rushen on keyboard, Dennerlein, Myers and Rhoda Scott on organ, Halvorson on guitar, Linda May Han Oh on bass, Carla Dihlstedt, Mary Oliver and Susie Hansen on violin, Allison Miller on drums, Peggy Lee (cello) on miscellaneous instrument, Satoko Fujii as composer, Chie Imaizumi as arranger. Still largely outnumbered by the men but gaining ground rapidly.
And that's it for now. Until next time, keep swingin.'..!
New and Noteworthy
1. James Morrison, Snappy Too (Morrison Records)
2. Aschaffenburger Big Band, Second Take (Main-Echo)
3. Stan Kenton / U Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Double Feature, Vol 3 (Tantara Productions)
4. JazzMN Big Band, Enriching Life with Jazz (Self Published)
5. NYJO, A Christmas Carol in Six Movements (Stanza Music)
6. NOVA Jazz Orchestra, Who Sez You Can't Dance to Be-bop? (Self Published)
7. Jim Manley, Eight (Victoria Company)
8. Clare Fischer Big Band, Continuum (Clavo Records)
9. Big Band Burghausen, Blue Truth (B'Jazz)
10. Red Bank Jazz Orchestra, Strike Up the Band! (Hip City Jazz)
11. Deutsche Oper Berlin Big Band, Premiere (Mons)
12. Kansas City Jazz Orchestra, Live on the Plaza (KCJO Records)
13. Harry Smallenburg Jazz Ensemble, Just What I Was Thinking (Self Published)
14. Eyal Vilner, Introducing the Eyal Vilner Big Band (Gut String Records)
15. University of Northern Iowa Jazz Band One, Let Go (Self Published)
Comments
Tags
Big Band Report
Jack Bowers
United States
Sherrie Maricle
Regina Carter
Esperanza Spalding
Terri Lyne Carrington
Diana Krall
Claire Daly
Anat Cohen
Maria Schneider
Nicole Mitchell
Jane Ira Bloom
Branford Marsalis
Christian McBride
Vijay Iyer
Robert Glasper
Cassandra Wilson
Gretchen Parlato
Dianne Reeves
Dee Dee Bridgewater
Tierney Sutton
Karrin Allyson
Roberta Gambarini
Ingrid Jensen
Mary Halvorson
Jane Bunnett
Geri Allen
Hiromi
Amina Claudine Myers
Barbara Dennerlein
Rhoda Scott
Marilyn Mazur
carla bley
Tineke Postma
Tia Fuller
grace kelly
Sharel Cassity
Lauren Sevian
Ali Ryerson
Helen Sung
Patrice Rushen
Linda Oh
Mary Oliver
Allison Miller
Peggy Lee
Satoko Fujii
Chie Imaizumi