Women of Jazz, African American Music, American Art Form, Jazz, Terri Lyne Carrington, Tomeka Reid, Melissa Aldana, Camille Thurman, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMN

For Women in Jazz, a Year of Reckoning and Recognition | The New York Times

African American Music, Jazz Music ... Posted by: KOLUMN Magazine Staff

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For Women in Jazz, a Year of Reckoning and Recognition | The New York Times

Giovanni Russonello, The New York Times



[dropcap]For[/dropcap] 77 hours straight in mid-September, the bassist and vocalist Esperanza Spalding broadcast live on Facebook as she wrote, rehearsed and recorded an entire album. The project, titled “Exposure,” was meant as a challenge to herself, but it became a display of dauntless prowess and grand ambition.

Viewers watched — usually a few thousand at a time — as Ms. Spalding demonstrated complex parts to her pianist, or decided whether to keep or ditch each take. “Exposure” showed that it was possible to turn the technical, obsessive process of recording jazz into a public spectacle. This could have fascinating implications. [mc4wp_form id=”6042″]

That recording studios are among the most male-dominated spaces in the music industry and Ms. Spalding was often the only woman in the room felt like an afterthought at best.

Maybe it bears mentioning, though, that “Exposure” was one of many arresting statements made by female jazz instrumentalists this year. It has been a period of painful revelation and reckoning for women in the workplace across the country, and the same was true for jazz. But 2017 also felt like a moment of progress.

Possibly for the first time, festival presenters could no longer get away with booking one or two female musicians next to a heap of men. “The awareness of it not being equitable for men and women in jazz has really come to a bit of a head,” said Terri Lyne Carrington, 52, an esteemed drummer who has long spoken out about sexism in the music industry. “As far as it resulting in more female instrumentalists becoming recognized — whether it’s albums or festivals or gigs — that’s steadily getting better.”

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Women of Jazz, African American Music, American Art Form, Jazz, Terri Lyne Carrington, Tomeka Reid, Melissa Aldana, Camille Thurman, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMN

Women of Jazz, African American Music, American Art Form, Jazz, Terri Lyne Carrington, Tomeka Reid, Melissa Aldana, Camille Thurman, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMN

Women of Jazz, African American Music, American Art Form, Jazz, Terri Lyne Carrington, Tomeka Reid, Melissa Aldana, Camille Thurman, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMN

Women of Jazz, African American Music, American Art Form, Jazz, Terri Lyne Carrington, Tomeka Reid, Melissa Aldana, Camille Thurman, KOLUMN Magazine, KOLUMN

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY & CULTURE | WASHINGTON, DC

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans. To date, the Museum has collected more than 36,000 artifacts and nearly 100,000 individuals have become charter members. The Museum opened to the public on September 24, 2016, as the 19th and newest museum of the Smithsonian Institution. (Website).

CLICK TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE | The New York Times