Top 12 Legendary Women

[K-Dub]

I'm doing some research on the women that have had the most influence on Jazz. Any input would be well appreciated, whether it be a 1-12 list or why you think these women deserve to be on this list. Could really use the help,

Thanks
Kevin

[Derek Taylor]

Off the top of my head & only in loose order (Pannonica’s the wildcard). Kind of interesting that over half are singers.

Mary Lou Williams
Lillian Harden-Armstrong
Bessie Smith
Billie Holiday
Ella Fitgerald
Betty Carter
Marian McPartland
Abbey Lincoln
Jeanne Lee
Sarah Vaughn
Anita O’Day
Pannonica de Konigswarter

[walto]

FWIW, there was once a lengthy women in jazz thread. I can't remember if it's on the new board or would be in the archives here.

[Pete C]

Originally posted by Derek Taylor
Off the top of my head & only in loose order (Pannonica’s the wildcard). Kind of interesting that over half are singers.

Mary Lou Williams
Lillian Harden-Armstrong
Bessie Smith
Billie Holiday
Ella Fitgerald
Betty Carter
Marian McPartland
Abbey Lincoln
Jeanne Lee
Sarah Vaughn
Anita O’Day
Pannonica de Konigswarter

Great list, Derek, though as much as a love Jeanne Lee & Abbey Lincoln, I'm not sure they'd make the final cut in this context.

Add Melba Liston, for sure.

Nica makes sense in this context. I'd also add the woman (whose name I forget) who managed Errol Garner and marketed him as a "concert artist."

[Nate Dorward]

Perhaps Helen Keane should be mentioned.

[Derek Taylor]

Pete, excellent call on Melba. I’d forgotten about her.

[Jazzmoose]

Guys, pardon my ignorance or failing memory (at this stage, it's a toss up...), but who is Jeanne Lee? Obviously I should know if she makes this list.

[Nate Dorward]

I'm not sure about whether the late Jeanne Lee had a lot of "influence" in jazz....but she was undoubtedly one of the finest singers in the music.

Lionel Hampton's wife (I forget her first name at the moment) should be added to the list maybe. She ruled the band with an iron will & tight purse I gather.

[Valerie]

Originally posted by Pete C
Nica makes sense in this context. I'd also add the woman (whose name I forget) who managed Errol Garner and marketed him as a "concert artist."

Martha Glaser?

Originally posted by Derek Taylor
Off the top of my head & only in loose order (Pannonica’s the wildcard). Kind of interesting that over half are singers.

Mary Lou Williams
Lillian Hardin-Armstrong
Bessie Smith
Billie Holiday
Ella Fitzgerald
Betty Carter
Marian McPartland
Abbey Lincoln
Jeanne Lee
Sarah Vaughan
Anita O’Day
Pannonica de Konigswarter

Hope you don't mind my edits.

"Legendary" is such an abused term. This is not a reflection of my personal taste, but I would definitely not include Betty Carter, Abbey Lincoln, Jeanne Lee, Marian McPartland, or Nica, none of whom really influenced the music. Some of the ladies on your list certainly helped to generate interest in the music, others were an inspiration to younger performers, but if we are talking about real musical influence and credible legendary status, the list becomes considerably shorter.

I would include Lil Armstrong, Billie, Bessie, Anita, Sarah, Mary Lou, and Ella as having either excerted strong influences on other artists or played a role in giving directions. Lovie Austin is someone else who rarely receives the credit due her--as musical director for Paramount Records and Chicago's Avenue Theatre, Lovie was a guiding force. I would also put Annie Ross up there before Jeanne Lee or Betty Carter.

If we are just talking about terrific female artists, this list could easily stretch beyond the bottom of a sizeable monitor screen.

[Pete C]

Originally posted by Valerie
Martha Glaser?

Sounds right.

[Sweety]

How about Peggy Lee and Nina Simone, Peggy made is allright for white chicks to sing jazz, and Doris Day sang jazz before she got cute. Nina Simone influenced jazz in the way Billy did, you just had to love such a raw wild voice.

Who is that woman who runs the Vangard? I was reading about her in a JAZZIZ issue recently
Not suprising to see that Singers take up so much space, there were not too many woman involved in jazz and still arn't, its a very blokey industry.

I know there is a lot of controversy over Dianna Krall, but as a modern day influence you have to include her, whether you like her or hate her she has "sexed' up the whole immage of jazz and brought it to a whole new Audience. And the trickle down effect of that, must be giving all us chick singers more work. My producer on my last Album John Morrison told me the other day, he has a big band called "Swing City" that someone requested that song by Dianna Krall I've Got you under my Skin, so they just played it in a bossa Nova!! I can Guarantee those people would probably never listened to Jazz previous, and maybe they will buy another jazz record from another artist.
Sweety

[Pete C]

Originally posted by Sweety
Peggy made is allright for white chicks to sing jazz

Mildred Bailey precedes her by at least 10 years, and you could probably call Connee Boswell a jazz singer, and maybe Lee Wiley.

[Pete C]

Originally posted by Sweety
Who is that woman who runs the Vangard? I was reading about her in a JAZZIZ issue recently

Lorraine Gordon. Before she was married to Max Gordon of the Vanguard, she was the wife of Alfred Lion of Blue Note.

[hornplayer]

Originally posted by Sweety
My producer on my last Album John Morrison told me the other day, he has a big band called "Swing City" that someone requested that song by Dianna Krall I've Got you under my Skin, so they just played it in a bossa Nova!! I can Guarantee those people would probably never listened to Jazz previous, and maybe they will buy another jazz record from another artist.
Sweety

someone requested that song by Dianna Krall I've Got you under my Skin very interesting quote, Sweety.... apparently then, someone was introduced to this classic by Cole Porter who had never heard it before, and hence, identifies it with Diana.

Not so strangely, that's exactly the effect she hoped her music would have. Guess it's working.

Count me among Diana's many fans... tho I think it's far too early to include her in the company being discussed here.

[Pete C]

Originally posted by hornplayer
someone requested that song by Dianna Krall I've Got you under my Skin very interesting quote, Sweety.... apparently then, someone was introduced to this classic by Cole Porter who had never heard it before, and hence, identifies it with Diana.

I guess Sinatra lost ownership when he died.

[mke]

Originally posted by Pete C
I guess Sinatra lost ownership when he died.

That's just the way it goes, baby.

[Pete C]

How about honorary mention for Jazzy Mary? I hear she's a piece of work.

Ma Rainey should be in the mix.

[Pete C]

Originally posted by John L
Ma Rainey should be in the mix.

And maybe Mamie Smith, if only for being in the right place at the right time.

"Mamie Smith was the first to record blues songs in 1920 with her versions of Perry Bradford's "Crazy Blues", and "It' s Right Here for You" on Okeh Records. The record was a wild success, selling over a million copies in less than a year, and finally ending up selling over two million copies. After this it dawned on record companies that there was a lot of money to be made selling what was then called "race records" to various minority groups in big cities. The success of "Crazy Blues" prompted other record companies to also try to find other female blues singers that could match the sales of "Crazy Blues". It was a very important record, because it opened the doors of the recording industry to African-Americans, whether they were Blues, Jazz or popular singers or musicians. Smith herself really wasn't that much of a Blues singer. She was more of a vaudeville performer, although she included Blues and Jazz numbers as part of her act..."

http://www.redhotjazz.com/mamie.html

Bessie Smith
Lee Wiley
Sarah Vaughan
Billie Holiday
Ella Fitzgerald
Carmen McRae
Ethel Waters
Mildred Bailey
Peggy Lee
Aretha Franklin

[Gentle Giant]

Dinah

[jazzy mary]

Originally posted by Pete C
How about honorary mention for Jazzy Mary? I hear she's a piece of work.

Pete, you know yourself that I am. But in a *good* way , right!! I'm legendary, all right, but I don't think I'd make the top 12.

[hornplayer]

Toshiko Akiyoshi.

[Valerie]

Originally posted by hornplayer
Toshiko Akiyoshi.

I'll second the votes for Toshiko and JM!! LOL!!

[jazzy mary]

I 3rd (?) the vote for Toshiko!

[Dibble]

Who influenced me? There was only one singer who influenced me. I tried to sing like her all the time, because everything she did made sense musically, and that singer was Connie Boswell. When I was a girl, I listened to all the singers, white and black, and I know that Connie was doing things that no one else was doing at that time. You don’t have to take my word for it, just check the recordings made at the time and hear for yourself.” - Ella Fitzgerald


I love all the suggestons too..and I am learning so much from this topic..thanks..

I dont feel qualified to enter any others but ..new to me is Nellie Lutcher..what sauce she had..

Dont know if it is strictly jazz per se..wouldnt assume..but then Im a learner

I like it here..my credit card doesnt though!!

[Pete C]

Nellie Lutcher is considered a Rhythm & Blues singer, and one of the great ones. So was Dinah before she started doing some jazz sides in the mid-50's.