Unlike college sports, there is no Title IX program for women in jazz. Those who wish to pursue that line of endeavor have to elbow their way into what remains essentially a male-dominated profession (or art) and keep climbing the ladder one rung at a time. True, women have made notable inroads in recent years and are no longer looked upon as simply "band singers," as they once were; but their numbers remain woefully small, even though their talent on a wide range of instruments can no longer be denied. There are even all-female big bands that can hold their own in any company, the most conspicuous of which is the New York City-based ensemble DIVA, led by the excellent drummer Sherrie Maricle Sherrie Maricle
b.1963 . On the US West Coast there is, among others, the Montclair (CA) Women's Big Band, co-led by Jean Fineberg and Ellen Seeling, which brings us to the point of this brief essay.

Not only does the Montclair WJO espouse a high standard of musicianship, it believes in sharing its expertise and artistry with the next generation, hence its involvement each year for the past four in the Jazzschool Girls' Jazz & Blues Camp for girls in grades 6-12, apparently the only summer jazz camp in the world for girls only with an all-woman faculty. The week-long camp is being held this month at the Jazzschool in Berkeley, founded in 1997 by Susan Muscarella who serves as executive director as well as president and dean of the Jazzschool Institute. The goals for the Jazz & Blues Camp are admirable: to provide a supportive atmosphere in which young female musicians can hone their musical skills; to encourage friendships among young female musicians; and to foster enhanced self-esteem and confidence. Some of these girls may be the Regina Carter Regina Carter
b.1966
violin s, Esperanza Spalding Esperanza Spalding
b.1984
bass, acoustic s, Terri Lyne Carrington Terri Lyne Carrington
b.1965
drums s, Diana Krall Diana Krall
b.1964
piano s, Claire Daly Claire Daly

sax, baritone s, Anat Cohen Anat Cohen

sax, tenor s and Maria Schneider Maria Schneider

band/orchestra s of tomorrow. Anyone who has been lucky enough to see and / or hear today's world-class female musicians will no doubt applaud the Jazzschool's camp for introducing another generation of young women to the beauty and wonders "America's classical music."

Speaking of Women in Jazz...

A number of women placed high in the 60th annual Critics' Poll, which appears in the August issue of DownBeat magazine including Nicole Mitchell Nicole Mitchell
b.1967
flute , who won as best flutist, and Schneider, best composer, arranger and big band. Anat Cohen was named best clarinetist, placed fifth on soprano sax and fourteenth on tenor, while Jane Ira Bloom Jane Ira Bloom

sax, soprano earned second place behind Branford Marsalis Branford Marsalis
b.1960
saxophone on soprano. Spalding won a third-place vote on acoustic bass, was second behind Christian McBride Christian McBride
b.1972
bass on electric bass, and placed third behind Vijay Iyer Vijay Iyer
b.1971
piano and Robert Glasper Robert Glasper
b.1978
piano as Jazz Artist of the Year. On the other hand, I've heard Spalding sing and am frankly puzzled by her third-place finish among female vocalists, trailing Cassandra Wilson Cassandra Wilson
b.1955
vocal and Gretchen Parlato Gretchen Parlato

vocal but ahead of Dianne Reeves Dianne Reeves
b.1956
vocal , Dee Dee Bridgewater Dee Dee Bridgewater
b.1950
vocal , Tierney Sutton Tierney Sutton
b.1963
vocal , Karrin Allyson Karrin Allyson

vocal , Krall, Roberta Gambarini Roberta Gambarini

vocal and others. Carter earned the nod as best violinist, Ingrid Jensen Ingrid Jensen
b.1966
trumpet was in tenth place on trumpet, Mary Halvorson Mary Halvorson

guitar fourth on guitar, Jane Bunnett Jane Bunnett
b.1955
sax, soprano eighth on soprano and sixth on flute, Daly fifth on baritone, Geri Allen Geri Allen
b.1957
piano eleventh on piano, Hiromi Hiromi
b.1979
piano ninth on keyboard, Amina Claudine Myers Amina Claudine Myers
b.1942
piano eighth, Barbara Dennerlein Barbara Dennerlein
b.1964
organ, Hammond B3 tenth and Rhoda Scott Rhoda Scott
b.1938
organ, Hammond B3 twelfth on organ, Marilyn Mazur Marilyn Mazur
b.1955
percussion tenth on percussion. Carla Bley Carla Bley
b.1938
piano placed twelfth among composers, fifteenth among arrangers.

Halvorson, Hiromi and Parlato were listed among the rising stars, Tineke Postma Tineke Postma
b.1978
saxophone likewise on soprano and alto sax, Tia Fuller Tia Fuller

saxophone on alto sax and flute, Grace Kelly Grace Kelly
b.1992
sax, alto and Sharel Cassity Sharel Cassity

saxophone on alto, Cohen on tenor, Lauren Sevian Lauren Sevian
b.1979
sax, baritone on baritone, Ali Ryerson Ali Ryerson

flute and Holly Hoffman on flute, Helen Sung Helen Sung

piano on piano, Hiromi on piano and keyboard, Patrice Rushen Patrice Rushen
b.1954
keyboard on keyboard, Dennerlein, Myers and Rhoda Scott Rhoda Scott
b.1938
organ, Hammond B3 on organ, Halvorson on guitar, Linda Oh Linda Oh

bass on bass, Carla Dihlstedt, Mary Oliver Mary Oliver
and Susie Hansen on violin, Allison Miller Allison Miller

drums on drums, Peggy Lee Peggy Lee
1920 - 2002
vocal (cello) on miscellaneous instrument, Satoko Fujii Satoko Fujii
b.1958
piano as composer, Chie Imaizumi Chie Imaizumi

composer/conductor as arranger. Still largely outnumbered by the men but gaining ground rapidly.

And that's it for now. Until next time, keep swingin.'..!

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