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All Blogs → Women's History Month 2019 → San Diego's Jazz 88.3 → Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Emily Remler

Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Emily Remler

Blog Name:Women's History Month 2019

Blog Author:San Diego's Jazz 88.3

Posted on:March 15, 2019

March 15, 2019- Today's Pioneer Women Jazz Instrumentalist: Emily Remler

Emily Remler was a brilliant guitarist whose style was best attributed to Wes Montgomery.

Before her untimely death at 32 she was just about to fully develop her own voice on the instrument.

Remler began playing guitar when she was ten, attended Berklee (1976-1979), and recorded as a leader for the first time in 1980. She played with the L.A. version of the show Sophisticated Ladies (1981-1982) and in 1985 had a duo with Larry Coryell, but otherwise mostly worked as a leader with her own small groups.

After recording bop-oriented dates for Concord, she had a contemporary set for Justice, and toured with David Benoit before her sudden death.

Source: AllMusic

Be sure to tune in all day on Friday, March 15th to hear music from Emily Remler on KSDS-FM/Jazz 88.3.
All Blogs → Women's History Month 2019 → San Diego's Jazz 88.3 → Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Toshiko Akiyoshi

Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Toshiko Akiyoshi

Blog Name:Women's History Month 2019

Blog Author:San Diego's Jazz 88.3

Posted on:March 14, 2019

March 14, 2019- Today's Pioneer Women Jazz Instrumentalist: Toshiko Akiyoshi

A strong yet underrated pianist in the Bud Powell tradition.

Akiyoshi was born in China but moved to Japan in 1946. She played locally (Sadao Watanabe was among her sidemen) and, after being noticed and encouraged by Oscar Peterson, studied at Berklee during 1956-1959.

In 1965, while in New York, she did a radio series and formed a quartet with her second husband, Lew Tabackin.

She moved to Los Angeles in 1970 and put together a very impressive big band which featured such fine soloists as Bobby Shew, Gary Foster, and Tabackin. They recorded several notable albums before Akiyoshi decided, in 1981, to move to New York.

Since their relocation, Akiyoshi and Tabackin have both been quite active although her re-formed big band has actually received less publicity than it did in L.A.

She is also known as an accomplished arranger who is influenced originally by Gil Evans and Thad Jones. She has been particularly notable for incorporating elements of traditional Japanese music into her otherwise bop-ish charts.

Source: AllMusic

Be sure to tune in all day on Thursday, March 14th to hear music from Toshiko Akiyoshi on KSDS-FM/Jazz 88.3.
All Blogs → Women's History Month 2019 → San Diego's Jazz 88.3 → Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Marian McPartland

Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Marian McPartland

Blog Name:Women's History Month 2019

Blog Author:San Diego's Jazz 88.3

Posted on:March 13, 2019

March 13, 2019- Today's Pioneer Women Jazz Instrumentalist: Marian McPartland

Marian McPartland was a significant pianist in jazz. She played in a four-piano vaudeville act in England and performed on the European continent for the troops during World War II. In Belgium in 1944, she met cornetist Jimmy McPartland and they soon married. 

Marian moved with her husband to the United States in 1946, where she sometimes played with him even though her style was more modern than his Dixieland-oriented groups. McPartland eventually had her own trio at the Embers (1950) and the Hickory House (1952-1960), which until 1957 included drummer Joe Morello. 

She recorded regularly for Savoy and Capitol during the 1950s and also made sessions for Argo (1958), Time (1960 and 1963), Sesac, and Dot. Although eventually divorced from Jimmy, they remained close friends, sometimes played together, and even remarried just weeks before his death. She formed her own Halcyon label and recorded several fine albums between 1969-1977. 

Marian McPartland also became famous for hosting her "Piano Jazz" radio program beginning in 1978 and aired up until 2011. She died in 2013.

Source: AllMusic

Be sure to tune in all day on Wednesday, March 13th to hear music from Marian McPartland on KSDS-FM/Jazz 88.3.
All Blogs → Women's History Month 2019 → San Diego's Jazz 88.3 → Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Vi Redd

Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Vi Redd

Blog Name:Women's History Month 2019

Blog Author:San Diego's Jazz 88.3

Posted on:March 12, 2019

March 12, 2019- Today's Pioneer Women Jazz Instrumentalist: Vi Redd

Vi Redd was a bop-based altoist and singer.

She was the daughter of jazz drummer Alton Redd and consequently was surrounded by music during her childhood. She worked the Las Vegas circuit in 1962 then played with Earl Hines in 1964.

She led a group up in San Francisco in the mid to late 60'2 with her husband (drummer Richie Goldberg). She worked with Max Roach and Dizzy Gillespie in 1968 and Count Basie in 1969.

She led albums for United Artists (1962) and Atco (1962-1963), and later appeared on the Gene Ammons/Dexter Gordon duo album The Chase! (1970) and Marian McPartland's Now's the Time (1977).

Source: AllMusic

Be sure to tune in all day on Tuesday, March 12th to hear music from Vi Redd on KSDS-FM/Jazz 88.3.
All Blogs → Women's History Month 2019 → San Diego's Jazz 88.3 → Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Terry Pollard

Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Terry Pollard

Blog Name:Women's History Month 2019

Blog Author:San Diego's Jazz 88.3

Posted on:March 11, 2019

March 11, 2019- Today's Pioneer Women Jazz Instrumentalist: Terry Pollard

Terry Pollard was a pianist from Detroit and rose up in a very active jazz scene.

She was prominent in the late 1940's and 50's. She played or recorded with Billy Mitchell, Johnny Hill, Emmitt Slay and Terry Gibbs to name a few.

Terry recorded with Mary Lou Williams, Coleman Hawkins and  Mercer Ellington to name a few. Later she recorded with Yusef Lateef and Dorothy Ashby.

She only led one recording date, a 1955 session for Bethlehem.

Source: AllMusic

Be sure to tune in all day on Monday, March 11th to hear music from Terry Pollard on KSDS-FM/Jazz 88.3.
All Blogs → Women's History Month 2019 → San Diego's Jazz 88.3 → Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Marjorie Hyams

Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Marjorie Hyams

Blog Name:Women's History Month 2019

Blog Author:San Diego's Jazz 88.3

Posted on:March 8, 2019

March 8, 2019- Today's Pioneer Women Jazz Instrumentalist: Marjorie Hyams

A very important musician in the second-half of the 1940's. Marjorie was a vibraphonist that played in both the bop and swing styles.

She played in Woody Herman's First Herd (1944-45) and was an original member of George Shearing's Quintet in 1949-50.

Marjorie recorded with Flip Phillips, Mary Lou Williams and Charlie Ventura before retiring prematurely in 1950 at the age of 27. 

Source: AllMusic

Be sure to tune in all day on Friday, March 8th to hear music from Marjorie Hyams on KSDS-FM/Jazz 88.3.
All Blogs → Women's History Month 2019 → San Diego's Jazz 88.3 → Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Mary Osborne

Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Mary Osborne

Blog Name:Women's History Month 2019

Blog Author:San Diego's Jazz 88.3

Posted on:March 7, 2019

March 7, 2019- Today's Pioneer Women Jazz Instrumentalist: Mary Osborne

Mary was one of only a handful of adept women electric guitarists in Jazz.

She got her start in the 1940's and was heavily influenced by Charlie Christian and by Les Paul.

Mary recorded with Mary Lou Williams, Coleman Hawkins and  Mercer Ellington to name a few.

She was also featured on Jack Sterling's daily CBS radio program from 1952-1960.

Towards the end of her life she remained active playing with Lionel Hampton at the 1990 Playboy Jazz Festival.   

Source: AllMusic

Be sure to tune in all day on Thursday, March 7th to hear music from Mary Osborne on KSDS-FM/Jazz 88.3.
All Blogs → Women's History Month 2019 → San Diego's Jazz 88.3 → Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Melba Liston

Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Melba Liston

Blog Name:Women's History Month 2019

Blog Author:San Diego's Jazz 88.3

Posted on:March 6, 2019

March 6, 2019- Today's Pioneer Women Jazz Instrumentalist: Melba Liston

Junior Mance once said that Melba Liston is be one of the best jazz musicians, not just one of the best women in jazz.

She was a great section trombonist but made her real mark as an arranger. Most of her work was written for the pianist, Randy Weston.

Melba played in Gerald Wilson's band in the 1940's and also recorded with Dexter Gordon. 

In the 1950's she worked with Dizzy Gillespie and later in the decade formed an all-women quintet. In the 60's she worked extensively with Quincy Jones.

Be sure to tune in all day on Wednesday, March 6th to hear music from Melba Liston on KSDS-FM/Jazz 88.3.
All Blogs → Women's History Month 2019 → San Diego's Jazz 88.3 → Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- International Sweethearts of Rhythm

Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- International Sweethearts of Rhythm

Blog Name:Women's History Month 2019

Blog Author:San Diego's Jazz 88.3

Posted on:March 5, 2019

March 5, 2019- Today's Pioneer Women Jazz Instrumentalist: International Sweethearts of Rhythm

The International Sweethearts of Rhythm was the first integrated all women's band in the United States.

During the 1940's the band featured some of the best female musicians of the day led by Anna Mae Winburn.

They played swing and jazz on a national circuit that included the Apollo Theater in New York City, the Regal Theater in Chicago, and the Howard Theater in Washington, DC.

Source: Discogs

Be sure to tune in all day on Tuesday, March 5th to hear music from the International Sweethearts of Rhythm on KSDS-FM/Jazz 88.3.
All Blogs → Women's History Month 2019 → San Diego's Jazz 88.3 → Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Mary Lou Williams

Pioneer Women of Jazz Instrumentalists- Mary Lou Williams

Blog Name:Women's History Month 2019

Blog Author:San Diego's Jazz 88.3

Posted on:March 4, 2019

March 4, 2019- Today's Pioneer Women Jazz Instrumentalist: Mary Lou Williams

Mary Lou Williams was a composer and was one of the first great woman arranger and pianists. She was respected by her male peers at a time when that wasn’t common. Mary Lou achieved and maintained that level of respect.

Williams was the architect of the sound of Andy Kirk’s Clouds of Joy during the Kansas City era and went on to write for Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Jimmie Lunceford, to name a few.

In the 1940' she s wrote The Zodiac Suite.

In the 1960' she began a spiritual approach with the recording "Black Christ of the Andes."

Be sure to tune in all day on Monday, March 4th to hear music from Mary Lou Williams on KSDS-FM/Jazz 88.3.