Women in Jazz

[Ian Thumwood]

John

Don't know if you were aware of this singer but here is a record by Cab Calloway's older sister Blanche. According to Schuller, she was supposed to have been an influence upon her borther's own unique singing style. she reminds me a bit of the tracks Sister Rosetta Tharpe made with Lucky Millinder. Here is a track by her romping big band:-

[John Wright]

Ian, yes, I know of and have heard Blanche Calloway, she made about thirty records with her own band in 1931-1935, and certainly sounds like Cab picked up on her style, there's also a rare Vocalion from 1929 that she made with Reuben Reeves'band, you can hear one side on youtube, the other side was Moanin' Low.

[John Wright]

And another lady jazz singer, an Australian who made records in Britain in the 1930s, Marjorie Stedeford

[Byas'd Opinion]

Brazilian pianist and singer Eliane Elias. Personally I prefer her as a pianist to a singer, but others may disagree.

"Swept Away", an instrumental set she co-led with Marc Johnson, was one of my favourite releases of last year: http://player.ecmrecords.com/johnson

[John Wright]

Ivy Benson. Brit who led an all girls band 1939-.... Have to say all the records I have by her band are a bit sweet, but there's some impressive arrangements going on and she always does a cool solo, she was cool before cool.

On youtube a typical recording is How Sweet You Are but for a showcase 'jazz' clip look at this

[gurnemanz]

Kate Westbrook on tenor horn in the Mike Westbrook band comes to mind.

[Old Grumpy]

Barbara Thompson and Paraphernalia are who introduced me to jazz, along with Andy Sheppard. Many happy evenings in the Solent Suite, under the Guildhall in Southampton as a student in the 70s...



aah - them were't days

OG

[Serial_Apologist]

Barbara Thompson and Paraphernalia are who introduced me to jazz, along with Andy Sheppard. Many happy evenings in the Solent Suite, under the Guildhall in Southampton as a student in the 70s...



aah - them were't days

OG

Andy Sheppard was only just about around in the late 70s - in the band Sphere, (not his band btw). I think he played more excitingly back in them daze...

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

and remember, Andy played loadsa with ...

[Alyn_Shipton]

Picking up on the Blanche Calloway references above, her career was quite remarkable, including hiring such upstarts as Ben Webster as he was starting out. I have done what I think is the most comprehensive research on her yet in a recent book about her brother. http://ukcatalogue.oup.com/product/9...o#.UT3ako7-JSU