From Spanish to Japanese, and everything in between
The wife of John Coltrane, Alice Coltrane had no need to live in her husband's shadow. She led a long and illustrious career as a jazz composer, and is largely responsible for introducing the harp to the genre. Coltrane's career was also marked by her lifelong mission to combine music and spirituality in a way never attempted before.
A bassist, singer, and bandleader who has been taking the world of modern jazz by storm for more than a decade, Esperanza Spalding excels at seamlessly combining classic techniques with new, fresh energy.
Melba Liston was a pioneer and an inspiration in the male-dominated jazz groups of the mid-20th century. Not only was Liston one of the first musicians to break the barrier of female-only and male-only bands, she also wrote pieces for other jazz legends like Dizzy Gillespie.
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, in 1910, Mary Lou Williams was one of the earliest heroines of jazz music. Williams penned hundreds of original compositions, and was looked up to by the likes of Miles Davis and Dizzy Gillespie.
Japanese-American pianist and composer Toshiko Akiyoshi is a fascinating figure in the world of jazz. Her distinct style wonderfully blends Japanese instruments and traditions with the hard-bop sounds of the '50s.
Rhoda Scott is largely responsible for popularizing the Hammond organ in jazz. Born in 1938, Scott's talent was first recognized by Count Basie, who employed her at his Harlem club.
Lil Hardin Armstrong is the unsung hero behind Louis Armstrong's career. She was an established pianist and composer before her husband was, and was one of the very earliest superstars of jazz, a fame she used to help kickstart her beloved Louis' career.
A leading figure of the free jazz movement of the 1960s, pianist and composer Carla Bley has pushed the boundaries of jazz for decades, excelling in styles from big band to avant-garde.
One of the most celebrated voices in not just jazz but in music in general, Ella Fitzgerald is rightfully called the "First Lady of Song." Truly no one can hold a light to her soft yet unbreakable voice.
An early champion of the trumpet, Valaida Snow left the United States to find fame in Europe and Asia, where she became one of the most popular performers of her time.
A true heroine of Harlem, Billie Holiday was at one time the most popular performer in New York, and left behind a legacy that endures to this day. While her life was checkered with drug abuse and run-ins with the law, Holiday's mark on music and culture will never be forgotten.
Una Mae Carlisle, a prolific singer, composer, and pianist, made history not once but twice. First, when she became the first Black woman to be credited as composer on a song to chart on Billboard, and again when she became the first Black woman to produce and host a show on national radio.
Clora Bryant was one of the premier trumpeters (or trumpetiste, in her own words) of the mid-century Los Angeles jazz scene. She was a frequently featured member of the all-female International Sweethearts of Rhythm (pictured).
Born in Chicago in 1922, Donegan flourished against all odds in the hostile and male-dominated nightclub scene of the era. Her talent and tenacity not only won her the performance spots she deserved, but also recording deals at rates comparable to those of her male colleagues.
Terri Lyne Carrington is one of the most prolific and celebrated percussionists in jazz. Over the years, Carrington has laid down rhythms behind Dizzy Gillespie and Wayne Shorter, and was a member of Herbie Hancock's band for a decade.
An iconic voice of early recorded music, Josephine Baker was an instrumental member of the Harlem Renaissance, but later adopted France as her home, where she became one of Europe's most sought-after performers.
Violinist Regina Carter, a native of Detroit, has led a colorful career playing alongside a wide range of artists, from Lauryn Hill to Dolly Parton. She is one of only a few renowned musicians keeping the art of jazz violin alive.
A champion of introducing electronics into jazz, soprano saxophonist Jane Ira Bloom added to her already impressive legacy when she was commissioned by the NASA Art Program to compose original pieces for the space agency inspired by neuroscience, the first project of its kind.
Bertha Hope's career, while admittedly sporadic, has earned her a place of high respect in the jazz community. Although she made an admirable name for herself playing alongside her late husband, pianist Elmo Hope, during the mid-20th century, it wasn't until the 1990s that Bertha Hope was recorded as a band leader.
In 1962, Vi Redd made history as the first woman to headline a jazz festival. Despite this incredible triumph, the sexism so deeply embedded within the music industry prevented her from reaching the fame she deserved, and she was only able to record three albums during her career.
A pioneer of the use of the electric guitar in jazz, Mary Osborne rose to fame during the 1940s and '50s as a musician with an unparalleled feel for the blues.
The "First Lady of Flute," Bobbi Humphrey was also the first woman to be signed as a solo artist to the prestigious Blue Note Records label.
Tia Fuller has used her exceptional saxophone talents to find all sorts of fame for herself. While best known for being a permanent member of Beyoncé's touring band, Fuller's virtuosic playing was also featured in Pixar's 2020 animated hit 'Soul'.
One of the most famous figures in all of music, Nina Simone had a voice and style that was like no other in her time, and attempts to emulate it are continued to this day.
An early female figure in jazz, singer Maxine Sullivan was born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, in 1911. She paved the way to success for later performers like Ella Fitzgerald.
Far and away the most famous and sorely missed jazz singer of the 21st century, Amy Winehouse reached superstar status practically overnight. During her tragically short life, she revitalized the art of jazz singers and made it mainstream. Her influence on popular music can still be felt today.
A beloved figure of the 20th century, Etta James remained one of the most popular singers in America for most of her career after she broke into the mainstream.
Rightly named the "Queen of the Blues," Dinah Washington was also frequently referred to in the press as the most popular Black recording musician of the 1950s. Her recording of 'Unforgettable' has immortalized her and her unmistakable voice as one of the greatest blues recordings in existence.
Sources: (JazzArts Charlotte) (The New York Times) (Jazzfuel)
See also: The best jazz clubs around the world
The career of Jutta Hipp was one of the brightest and briefest in the history of jazz. A refugee of World War II, Hipp arrived in America in 1954 and was last recorded in 1956, before resigning to work in a clothing factory for the rest of her life. Within those two years, she became the first female band leader to be recorded by the legendary Blue Note Records.
Since its birth in the Southern United States near the end of the 19th century, jazz has grown and flourished into one of the most dynamic and expressive forms of music ever to grace our ears. From its height in popularity in the swanky bars and clubs of New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, jazz quickly took the world by storm and has been inspiring millions across the globe ever since. The likes of John Coltrane and Miles Davis are constantly celebrated, but it's about time we give more of the spotlight to the incredible women who have contributed to the evolution of one of music's most fascinating genres.
Read on to learn about the virtuosic women of jazz.
The wonderful women of jazz
A jazzy journey through music history
MUSIC Musicians
Since its birth in the Southern United States near the end of the 19th century, jazz has grown and flourished into one of the most dynamic and expressive forms of music ever to grace our ears. From its height in popularity in the swanky bars and clubs of New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, jazz quickly took the world by storm and has been inspiring millions across the globe ever since. The likes of John Coltrane and Miles Davis are constantly celebrated, but it's about time we give more of the spotlight to the incredible women who have contributed to the evolution of one of music's most fascinating genres.
Read on to learn about the virtuosic women of jazz.