National Black Women in Jazz and the Arts Day, celebrated annually on March 1, is a holiday that is dedicated to jazz, fine, visual, performing, and auditory arts in all its glory.
The day is specifically held on the first day of National Women’s History Month because it honors all existing and previous African-American female artists only. This day was established by the Georgia organization, Black Women In Jazz.
HISTORY OF NATIONAL BLACK WOMEN IN JAZZ AND THE ARTS DAY
When we think jazz, we think American musical innovation. We think of the dance-oriented music of the 1920s to modern avant-garde jazz music. From the inception of jazz music in the early 20th century, black women have played important roles in this genre.
The earliest female figures were often pianists because playing the piano was deemed ‘appropriate’ for women. Plus, many of these women performed in churches. In fact, in the South, jazz music first appeared in gospel-influenced African-Americans, and this probably led to many black women taking on roles as pianists.
Trombonist and arranger Melba Liston is one of the women featured in a new documentary about female instrumentalists in jazz, The Girls in the Band.
Sexism in the U.S. music industry took many female performers to Europe and Asia, making jazz a global phenomenon. By the 1920s, women had been experimenting with a range of activities. Now, they became vocalists and instrumentalists. Not famous, not yet, but experimentation was beginning to take hold.
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As World War II came around, so too did opportunities for all-female jazz bands to thrive. The men were fighting in the military, and women now took their place. While such bands were not uncommon, their popularity hit a major stride in this era. The most popular band of that time was the International Sweethearts of Rhythm.
They were initially marshaled to play in local dances and parties to secure funds for a school. They took off, and soon, other all-women black jazz bands followed in their footsteps. It was not all hunky-dory. The media, press, and society still saw jazz as a male-dominated sector, and women were encouraged to drop this lifestyle.
Women’s suffrage and the emergence of multiple famous black jazz musicians slowly turned the tide. The genre itself underwent many transformations, transitioning into today’s styles.
Female jazz artists added their musical concepts, new vocal styles and challenged stereotypes across the board. They became inspirations for future generations of women striving to succeed in a gender-disparate world.
Many young white fans and musicians discovered the richness and beauty of jazz and black culture through jazz music, especially during the first half of the 20th century.
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