Freedom of Expression: Interviews With Women in Jazz, a collection of interviews with 37 female musicians of all ages, nationalities, and races and representing nearly every style of jazz one can imagine, was released November 16, 2015.
You can purchase the book via Amazon.
The interviewees, including Terri Lyne Carrington, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Eliane Elias, Anat Cohen, Helen Sung, Diane Schuur, Ellen Seeling, Val Jeanty, Carmen Lundy, Mindi Abair, Cheryl Bentyne, Jane Ira Bloom, Sharel Cassity, Connie Crothers, Jane Monheit, and Sherrie Maricle, speak about their earliest experiences playing music, the years of practice and study required to become a professional musician, and what it means to be a jazz musician in the 21st century. The 320-page book includes a 25-page history of jazz, as well as introductions to each interview, to provide helpful context for readers who are unaware of the contributions by women to the development of this music.
"In the years since the arrival of the 21st century, jazz has evolved into a truly cross-generational, multicultural musical art form that is assimilating an unprecedented array of musical styles and techniques. At the same time, the male-dominated paradigm that has defined the historical narrative of jazz is no more. Women are shaking up the music industry while the general public is becoming much more aware of the contributions female musicians have made to the art of jazz since its inception. Freedom of Expression: Interviews with Women in Jazz documents this profound evolution." — Chris Becker
Review copies, interview requests: beckeresque at gmail dot com
"At long last, an in-depth recognition of the female contributions to jazz. As Dr. Billy Taylor said about the lack of awareness of female musicians: ‘If it isn't written down, it didn't happen.’ Now everyone will know that it did happen and continues to happen. What a great gift to the history of women and music." — Judy Chaikin, director of the award-winning documentary The Girls in the Band
"Finally, a comprehensive HERstory of jazz music! Each of the women interviewed in this book have created strong musical identities while operating under the radar for far too many years. Thanks to Chris Becker, the world can discover the inner workings and creative lives of these fine, deserving jazzwomen. This book is a riveting read . . . an exciting journey into the mind of female genius." — Rachel Z., composer, keyboardist (Steps Ahead, Larry Coryell, Wayne Shorter, Peter Gabriel)
Front cover star: Connie Crothers
Photograph by Peter Gannushkin
Women
In Jazz: The Interviewees
|
|
Mindi
Abair
|
Saxophones
|
Cheryl
Bentyne
|
Voice
|
Jane
Ira Bloom
|
Soprano Sax
|
Samantha
Boshnack
|
Trumpet
|
Dee Dee
Bridgewater
|
Voice
|
Terri
Lyne Carrington
|
Drums
|
Sharel
Cassity
|
Saxophones
|
Anat
Cohen
|
Clarinet,
Saxophones
|
Jean
Cook
|
Violin
|
Connie Crothers
|
Piano
|
Eliane
Elias
|
Piano,
Voice
|
Ayelet
Rose Gottlieb
|
Voice
|
Lenae
Harris
|
Cello
|
Val
Jenty
|
Electronics
|
Jan
Leder
|
Flute
|
Jennifer
Leitham
|
Double
Bass
|
Carmen
Lundy
|
Voice
|
Sherrie
Maricle
|
Drums
|
Jane
Monheit
|
Voice
|
Jacqui
Naylor
|
Voice
|
Aurora
Nealand
|
Clarinet, Sax
|
Iris
Ornig
|
Double
Bass
|
Alisha
Pattillo
|
Tenor
Saxophone
|
Roberta
Piket
|
Piano
|
Cheryl
Pyle
|
Flute
|
Nichole
Rampersaud
|
Trumpet
|
Sofia
Rei
|
Voice
|
Patrizia
Scascitelli
|
Piano
|
Diane
Schuur
|
Voice
|
Ellen
Seeling
|
Trumpet
|
Helen
Sung
|
Piano
|
Jacqui
Sutton
|
Voice
|
Mazz
Swift
|
Violin,
Voice
|
Nioka
Workman
|
Cello
|
Pamela
York
|
Piano
|
Brandee
Younger
|
Harp
|
Malika
Zarra
|
Voice
|
Chris Becker has written about all styles of music for several print and online publications, including Culturemap Houston, Houston Press. All About Jazz, and Sequenza 21. He is also an active composer of music for dance, film, and mixed-media installations.
