kenny weir Posted April 11, 2003 Report Share Posted April 11, 2003 An in-office conversation with a colleague inspired me to think about this. Note, the key word is "influential". Not best, favourite, most famous or biggest selling, but influential. My list: Lil Armstrong Diana Krall Billie Holiday Marian McPartland Billie Holiday Carla Bley Bessie Smith Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brownie Posted April 11, 2003 Report Share Posted April 11, 2003 More women of jazz influence: Mary Lou Williams Nica de Koenigswarter Helen Keane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EKE BBB Posted April 11, 2003 Report Share Posted April 11, 2003 If we allow singers.....here they come Ella and Sarah A few more: -Marilyn Crispell -Jane Ira Bloom -Alice Coltrane -Toshiko Akiyoshi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed S Posted April 12, 2003 Report Share Posted April 12, 2003 (edited) Geri Allen - what can you say? First as part of M-base, then Ralph Peterson's group as well as on her own she has demonstrated versatility fro mainstream to the avante garde. She's creative, versatile, and exciting to listen to. Someone who's pretty influencial in the Montreal area - Lorraine Desmarais. She's well respected and has contributed mightily to the Canadian and particularly the Montreal jazz scene. She's a ceative improviser and handles a variety of styles - hard bop, swing, fusion - equally well Jane Bunnett - I'd say she's been instrumental (no pun intended) in bring the music, rhythms, and musicians of Cuba to the forefront and keeping them there. Made some pretty nice records too. Edited April 12, 2003 by Ed Swinnich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P.D. Posted April 12, 2003 Report Share Posted April 12, 2003 It might be more interesting to know why you consider the person influential Lil .. because she pushed Louis' career moves.. though I think he would have gone that direction by himself, maybe a little later though Billie because she was the platform for a lot of singers who followed Diana Krall ? are you saying she opened up a door for young, attractive ( at least when made over ) singers???? can't be a musical influence. Or because the record companies are all looking for another like her... in that case... Norah Jones... 5 grammies.. the talent scouts have got to be out scouring the bars and clubs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rooster_Ties Posted April 12, 2003 Report Share Posted April 12, 2003 (edited) Probably not incredibly 'influential', but two unique jazz women that I really like are... June Tyson (vocalist for Sun Ra for nearly 30 years) Ingrid Jensen (who I think is sometimes a supurb trumpeter) And also, Joanne Brackeen, who is probably slightly more 'influential' than either Tyson or Jensen. Oh yeah, how could we forget... Edited April 12, 2003 by Rooster_Ties Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael Fitzgerald Posted April 12, 2003 Report Share Posted April 12, 2003 I doubt it was the intention, but I have problems with the idea of separating out women - put them in the ghetto, give them their own list and then we won't have to worry about them the rest of the time. Same thing with Black History Month. In my field of public school education, I see it all the time. The grant money goes to those who use the right buzzwords and we see token acknowledgment. "The greatest female guitarist/vibraphonist/whatever in the history of jazz!" It's demeaning, isn't it? So many amazing artists have had the same kind of bad treatment. Joni Mitchell, the greatest female singer-songwriter. In terms of my own work, I've done a lot of research on Abbey Lincoln, Shirley Horn, and Renee Rosnes - for the same reasons I study anyone - because their music is great and individual. I don't worry so much about "influential." I think that the "behind the scenes" world is very much worth mentioning, as others have done - Lorraine Gordon of the Village Vanguard (and formerly Blue Note Records), and a number of managers, including Gladys Hampton, Maxine Gregg, JoAnne Jimenez, and (though I don't like much of what she's done) Mary Ann Topper. Because these people aren't in the spotlight, they aren't as well known, but I think they'd rate high on a list of people in such positions, whether female or not. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bright Moments Posted January 11, 2007 Report Share Posted January 11, 2007 I doubt it was the intention, but I have problems with the idea of separating out women - put them in the ghetto, give them their own list and then we won't have to worry about them the rest of the time. Same thing with Black History Month. In my field of public school education, I see it all the time. The grant money goes to those who use the right buzzwords and we see token acknowledgment. "The greatest female guitarist/vibraphonist/whatever in the history of jazz!" It's demeaning, isn't it? So many amazing artists have had the same kind of bad treatment. Joni Mitchell, the greatest female singer-songwriter. In terms of my own work, I've done a lot of research on Abbey Lincoln, Shirley Horn, and Renee Rosnes - for the same reasons I study anyone - because their music is great and individual. I don't worry so much about "influential." I think that the "behind the scenes" world is very much worth mentioning, as others have done - Lorraine Gordon of the Village Vanguard (and formerly Blue Note Records), and a number of managers, including Gladys Hampton, Maxine Gregg, JoAnne Jimenez, and (though I don't like much of what she's done) Mary Ann Topper. Because these people aren't in the spotlight, they aren't as well known, but I think they'd rate high on a list of people in such positions, whether female or not. Mike well mike (wherever you are) that sure was a thread ender! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flat5 Posted January 14, 2007 Report Share Posted January 14, 2007 Kate Smith Ella...somebody There have been really good women in jazz but they don't usually get famous. The sith' is better in classical music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceH Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 Melba Liston, especially on the power of her arrangements for Randy Weston & others. ...Not to mention her toast! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 I've done this before on some board: Lucille Rollins Dolly McLean Lorraine Gillespie Laurie Pepper Sue Mingus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Tapscott Posted January 16, 2007 Report Share Posted January 16, 2007 Melba Liston, especially on the power of her arrangements for Randy Weston & others. ...Not to mention her toast! And her terrific playing. Melba's "Reverie" solo on the new Quincy Jones Jazz Icons DVD is great. A very nice, full sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 (edited) Joni Mitchell, the greatest female singer-songwriter. What do folks here think about Joni's run of jazz-influenced 1970s recordings? I've been thinking about checking them out (HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS, MINGUS, COURT & SPARK, DON JUAN, etc.). Edit: I see there's been some previous discussion here. Edited January 28, 2007 by ghost of miles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted January 28, 2007 Report Share Posted January 28, 2007 Shirley Scott - making the tenor/organ combo acceptable/successful. And where would we be without tenor/organ combos? MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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