The Jazzfest Bonn in 2017, musicians and singers are back inside. This is not the case everywhere: The Jazz is still a male domain. Especially Instrumentalists, are rare. Why?
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Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Ella Fitzgerald
She was the most influential Jazz singer of the 20th century. Century: Ella Fitzgerald began her career in 1935, in the Era of the Swing. Grew up in modest circumstances in the U.S. state of Virginia, conquered you with her impressive vocals, the whole world of talent. To old age she was – the last 74 years. Ella Fitzgerald died in 1996 at the consequences of your Diabetes.
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Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Billie Holiday
Your melody, your vocal color and your Talent to give even the simplest melody with captivating depth that made Billie Holiday, a legend of Jazz. An easy life, she had not: at the age of eleven she was raped, multiple times you have to due to drug possession in court. To this day it is one of the great ladies of Jazz – your self-confessed Fan of Ella Fitzgerald.
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Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Sarah Vaughan
Along with Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan is one of the three most influential singers of Jazz history. In 1943, she filled in for Ella Fitzgerald in a night club – the Start of their steep career. Against the name as a Jazz singer, she has fought it constantly: whether it’s Pop or Jazz, you mastered both in perfection.
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Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Toshiko Akiyoshi
In 1929, in Manchuria-born, emigrated Toshiko Akiyoshi as a child with her parents to Japan. The pianist, composer and Big Band leader linked to Bebop, classical concertos, and the influences of Japanese music. Until today, she is a fixture in the Modern Jazz and plays concerts around the globe.
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Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Carla Bley
Whether with jazz, Opera, or La Paloma-processing – from the 1960s, Carla Bley makes a name for itself as an innovative and contradictory composer. 1936 born in California, she is today known for its shrill, orchestral’s Interpretation of Jazz. 11. May 2016, she celebrated her 80. Birthday.
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Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Nina Simone
Songs like “I Put A Spell On You”, or pieces from the Musical “Hair” Nina Simone also beyond the borders of the Jazz scene. The singer and pianist is today regarded as the leading figure of the Soul. Politically, she was active: Several of the songs she wrote in the 1960s American civil rights movements.
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Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Irene Schweizer
She is a pioneer and a feminist of Jazz: Irene Schweizer (born 1941) from the country whose name it bears. They played already against each standard, and was known as the founder of the Free Jazz in Europe. She started in a rock band – as a drummer. Later, they celebrated as a pianist of international success.
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Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Terri Lyne Carrington
She is the face of modern female Jazz: Terri Lyne Carrington drummer, composer and head of her own label. As a musician, she is known not only for its Groove, but also for your mind: are you committed to improving the Situation of women in music and beyond.
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Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Ella Fitzgerald
She was the most influential Jazz singer of the 20th century. Century: Ella Fitzgerald began her career in 1935, in the Era of the Swing. Grew up in modest circumstances in the U.S. state of Virginia, conquered you with her impressive vocals, the whole world of talent. To old age she was – the last 74 years. Ella Fitzgerald died in 1996 at the consequences of your Diabetes.
-
Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Billie Holiday
Your melody, your vocal color and your Talent to give even the simplest melody with captivating depth that made Billie Holiday, a legend of Jazz. An easy life, she had not: at the age of eleven she was raped, multiple times you have to due to drug possession in court. To this day it is one of the great ladies of Jazz – your self-confessed Fan of Ella Fitzgerald.
-
Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Sarah Vaughan
Along with Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan is one of the three most influential singers of Jazz history. In 1943, she filled in for Ella Fitzgerald in a night club – the Start of their steep career. Against the name as a Jazz singer, she has fought it constantly: whether it’s Pop or Jazz, you mastered both in perfection.
-
Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Toshiko Akiyoshi
In 1929, in Manchuria-born, emigrated Toshiko Akiyoshi as a child with her parents to Japan. The pianist, composer and Big Band leader linked to Bebop, classical concertos, and the influences of Japanese music. Until today, she is a fixture in the Modern Jazz and plays concerts around the globe.
-
Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Carla Bley
Whether with jazz, Opera, or La Paloma-processing – from the 1960s, Carla Bley makes a name for itself as an innovative and contradictory composer. 1936 born in California, she is today known for its shrill, orchestral’s Interpretation of Jazz. 11. May 2016, she celebrated her 80. Birthday.
-
Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Nina Simone
Songs like “I Put A Spell On You”, or pieces from the Musical “Hair” Nina Simone also beyond the borders of the Jazz scene. The singer and pianist is today regarded as the leading figure of the Soul. Politically, she was active: Several of the songs she wrote in the 1960s American civil rights movements.
-
Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Irene Schweizer
She is a pioneer and a feminist of Jazz: Irene Schweizer (born 1941) from the country whose name it bears. They played already against each standard, and was known as the founder of the Free Jazz in Europe. She started in a rock band – as a drummer. Later, they celebrated as a pianist of international success.
-
Women in Jazz: leading figures of a male domain
Terri Lyne Carrington
She is the face of modern female Jazz: Terri Lyne Carrington drummer, composer and head of her own label. As a musician, she is known not only for its Groove, but also for your mind: are you committed to improving the Situation of women in music and beyond.
“Put on a sexy Outfit, then the men have to watch what!” or “We actually expected a man.” – Sentences like this has heard of Shannon Barnett in their career often. The Trombonist of the WDR Big Band occurs in the program of the Jazzfest Bonn in this year, in addition to Viktoria Tolstoy, Rebekka Bakken, and several other musicians. Today you will feel in good hands in the Jazz scene. It was not always so: Long as she has accompanied the feeling, always against the prejudice of the weak, naive woman fight. The Australian musician is also confirmed by what is still visible: “women are under-represented in the Jazz strong – particularly as Instrumentalists.”
Peter Materna, artistic Director and managing Director of the Jazzfest Bonn
A study of Jazz musicians in Germany from the year 2016 shows the black and white: Only 20 percent of the German jazz musicians are women. And in a Genre that is actually as open and tolerant, so Peter Materna, Saxophonist and the managing Director of the Jazzfest Bonn: “Jazz is a way of life: We are open for everything!” For instruments such as drums or electric guitar men decide, however, is still mainly. The cliché of singing Jazz-Lady is still real, with 86 percent of respondents vocals as the main instrument, are women. Why?
Jazz: black and male?
The phenomenon is as old as time – as a jazz expert, Annette Hauber in their 1988 article written on “women in Jazz” describes: Since the middle ages, women have it hard to get access to all the reputable arts, such as painting or music. Whilst you solve from the age of 17. Century, the castrati in Opera and concert halls, the major Items of the instruments will stay with you, but still denied. Vocals and piano belong to the General education for young women – apart from the feminine well-respected harp with other instruments such as Horn or timpani are considered not to be appropriate for the “weaker sex”.
As the Jazz at the beginning of the 20th century. Century in the USA, he is first and foremost two things: black and male. He is the medium of expression for the black underclass in the United States. For women with a double Dilemma: they are suffering under the General discrimination of women. For other black musicians are in a difficult position: The marketing of music is still in the hands of white men. It comes to well-paid Jobs, or record deals, are black musicians at the end of the list.
The legacy of the story: A vicious circle
Exceptions, such as the singers of Ella Fitzgerald or Billie Holiday to shape the Genre today. But you know Lill Hardin, the pianist and wife of the Star-trumpeter Louis Armstrong? Or Trombonist Melba Liston, who shared with Jazz greats such as John Coltrane and Duke Ellington on the stage? The Problem is that The General Public can reach only a few of the female protagonists of the Jazz-history.How can this unequal image, today explain?
Shannon Barnett, a composer, a vocalist and Trombonist with the WDR Big Band
“People often start during adolescence, to learn an Instrument and play Jazz,” says Shannon Barnett, which was also as a teacher of trombone. “For girls it can be a big challenge: to Improvise a Solo play, a little risk – many young girls do not want to stand out from the crowd.” There is a lack of role models that engage young women animated, trombone or percussion.
Another cause is economic: According to the Jazz study, men are in a partnership, more artistic profession than women. “Sometimes, the fees for Jazz-musician the 50 to 100€. Another reason why women are in Jazz, such rar. If you are mothers, feel responsible for your family more often than men. You can’t play at night in the Clubs,” confirms Peter Materna.
The Jazz-women
But there is good news: especially in the younger generations, the proportion of Jazz music is increasing. “Today, there are much more women targeted instruments, make music, or to important positions at record companies, Labels, and Festivals occupy. Girl see now that there is a place for you,” says Barnett.
The singer Jasmin Tabatabai occurs at this year’s Jazz Festival in Bonn
Act as the Trombonist and composer was needed anyway. The same is true for the state support, says Peter Materna: “women are just as good musicians as men – in some areas they are even more interesting. Against the unequal distribution you can do something, by ensuring a wider financing of the public sector.”
The signs today are good for women in Jazz. The images in the minds that need to change and are only: The woman in Jazz is not only the elegant singer in an evening dress, but also the ecstatic drummer with beads of sweat on the forehead.
The Jazzfest Bonn presents this year, several internationally renowned musicians: The singer Jasmin Tabatabai is celebrating the opening concert on 12. May her Jazz debut with the David Klein Quartet. Also China Moses, the daughter of Jazz Diva Dee Dee Bridgewater, pianist Julia Kadel, and many more musicians are going to play.