Are there any famous jazz instrumentalists who are women? I can’t think of any. It seems that whenever I try to name a famous female jazz musician, I can only come up with singers.
Having studied music, I have indeed known some female jazz instrumentalists, but I can’t think of any famous ones.
Lil Armstrong, Marian McPartland, Marylou Williams and Norma Teagarden were all piano players I believe. Armstrong wrote the song “Just For A Thrill.”
Sister Rosetta Tharpe was a guitar playing singer in Lucky Millinder’s band and as a solo.
Pianist/harpist Alice Coltrane
Pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi
Guitarist Mimi Fox
Flutist Bobbi Humphrey
Keyboardist Gayle Moran
Alice Coltrane, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Geri Allen, Lori Andrews, Lynne Arriale, Dorothy Ashby, Lovie Austin. That covers some of the letter A.
And since I have them on my mind and don’t want to run down the list that far, Carla Bley and Esperanza Spaulding.
Women piano/organ players are big, and two of the above play harp. There are fewer women on horns, probably more on drums.
There’s also Billy Tipton, about whom The Master has written. I’d link to the column, but I’m posting from my phone and can’t.
One of the great mysteries of jazz is why there aren’t more female instrumentalists (another is why there aren’t more male singers, but there’s more of them than the other).
And another is why all jazz radio DJs are so painful to listen to.
Same reason there aren’t as many women in rock. They can’t deal with life on the road. Women are social and can’t be away from their clique for extended periods of time. There are also issues with trying to find a hookup.
Guitarist Emily Remler.
Huh? Have you ever been on the road? It’s all about a moving clique. It’s about finding a group of people that you can stand being with, living and working together 24/7 for weeks or months at a time.
I’m friends with a married couple who are in a band and they spend more time together than anyone this side of the Hensel twins.
Esperanza Spalding has gotten a lot of press over the last few years.
Terri Lyne Carrington, drummer. If you’re old enough, you may remember her from The Arsenio Hall Show. It’s how I know her.
Would Nora Jones count? A singer, yes, but also a pretty fair pianist. And her style is definitely jazz-y.
Candy Dulfer. Start with Saxuality.
Kaki King, amazing guitarist in the Preston Reed style. I don’t like her vocals at all, though, so start with one of her early albums like Everybody Loves You.
Wow, I have not heard of one of those people except Lovie Austin.
Ah yes, how could I have forgotten Billy Tipton? Though many people thought she was a man.
Bass player, Tal Wilkenfeld. She plays with Jeff Beck, but also has a solo jazz project. She’s amazing, and hot.
It wasn’t until I saw the sublime Blossom Dearie in concert that I realized she played the piano herself. Made me love her even more (and I didn’t think that was possible).
They both sing as well as play, but they’re no slouches on their instruments, and they’re pretty well known in their genres, including Grammy nominations (and awards for Krall).
Rather than just a list of names, Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz archive will provide you with hour-long shows that feature interviews and performances. An excellent NPR series featuring one of the great female jazz people.
I’ve spent hours enjoying these shows. Rarely do they disappoint.