Freedom of Expression: Interviews With Women in Jazz released November 16, 2015

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

About the Author
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.