Why Women in Jazz South Florida?
Although the blues, the root of jazz, was born from the tears of African women in America and brought to the forefront of popular culture by them as well, black women musicians have been marginalized in the music industry by both dominant white males and their black male counterparts. WIJSF, INC. is dedicated to keeping the music and stories of female musicians alive and in your face!
August 2, 2008
Bob,
I've had so many people say derogatory things to me and about me that it all should just roll off my back. But I believe everything that comes out of people's mouths is what they really mean. You were not teasing me when you said, "Joan, stop hustling." You said what you felt from your heart. If you think I don't like being teased, then, don't tease.
Being a female musician is so much stress and tension and men and laypeople haven't a clue what it feels like.
No, I don't like you or anyone else "teasing" or "putting me down" or "trying to control" me for what I am doing to keep my life afloat.
These are desperate times for many, many people. Most of the musicians I know have a woman by their side, through thick and thin. Out of five women singers I know, only one has a husband, and he piles on her more than she can handle, domestically.
It's not a joke anymore. If I were a man, my music would be played by hundreds of musicians. But, because I'm a woman, I'm hustling to get others to even know that I compose music. Other than the blues that I've written, it's like pulling teeth to get musicians to play my music. You nor Brad have ever even looked at the music in my book and said, "Hey, Joan, let's try this song."
In China, the musicians played about 5 of my songs for the three months we were there. We had ONE rehearsal in the beginning, but I made copies of the songs and they played them. I'm not talking about the blues, but the swing songs and ballads. You have both of my CDs. Have you ever just played with any of my songs? LONELIBLUE, DREAMIN', NO LOVE???
But if Lonnie or Ira Sullivan wrote them, you'd be all over them. I'm over this whole GOOD OLE BOYS CLUB thing in the music.
Conclusion: I'll be "hustling" until the day I close my eyes or until the day I meet a man that has more to offer me than I have to offer him and is willing and generous enough to provide for me.
Love and music,
Diva Joan Cartwright
WOMEN
IN JAZZ SOUTH FLORIDA, INC.
MUSICWOMAN
MAGAZINE
8/2/08 bvjazz@bellsouth.net wrote:
Hey
You really don't like when I tease you, now. Do you?
Bob V
Yes, but I must ask you why you said to me, "Joan, stop hustling!"
Bob, do you really think I can live off of $100 a month?
I must sell CDs and books to make ends meet. My rent is $1240 a month and I don't have a husband or a wife (smile) supporting me. I think you need to rethink the comments you make. Sometimes, they are a little unsettling. I would appreciate it if you would clarify.
On that same note, the man who bought my book last night is a musician and his three sons are musicians and one of them is a Ph.D. Musicologist at a university and he was telling me that he will share my information with his son to see if he would bring my WOMEN IN JAZZ PRESENTATION to his college.
I'm not a penny-ante kind of person. You know that, but there is NO ONE contributing to my welfare, but me. I do hope you understand that and also, I hope Christine understands that it is our right as musicians to sell our CDs at the gig because, truly it is the only time we have to do that.
Several people I know who are signed to labels really get ripped off by the record company. On the other hand, I've managed to stay off the welfare rolls by selling my CDs and now having my book is an extra help.
P.S. If you find me a rich husband who will not try to control my life at every turn, I'll be happy to stop hustling.
Love and music,
Diva Joan Cartwright
Judy,
Just want to express one thing about what you said that CP said, "Joan is not Kim."
We are each unique creations of the I AM Presence. No two of us are alike. It is so debasing, when another person compares two singers, painters, artists, writers, etc. No two of us has the same make up, genes, DNA, talents, skills, goals, vision, etc.
This is a HUGE problem on the planet and I don't allow people to compare and contrast me with other singers simply because most people who do this have no sensibility. They have nothing better to do than compare other people with other people and this makes no sense at all. So, that is just my opinion and I needed to get that said.
Kim Nalley is a beautiful woman and a good
singer. It's as if a vocalist from the great post-war blues and
jazz combos had been transported to the end of the century."
Blues Access Magazine
Yes, this is good press. But, has she written her own songs or is
she just mimicking other vocalists?
Judy, I am a composer. My first composition, SWEET RETURN took four years to compose and was recorded on Atlantic Records in 1983 by Freddie Hubbard and the Kool Jazz All-Stars of 1983, in Manhattan. My book, IN PURSUIT OF A MELODY contains 40 original songs and has the potential to yield me 4 more CDs of original music.
ORIGINAL MUSIC!
I've been COMPARED to Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Carmen McRae and others, but. . .I AM ORIGINAL, Judy!
I AM A CONSUMMATE MUSICIAN. I hold a B.A. in Music and Communications. I am an author, educator, founder of WOMEN IN JAZZ SOUTH FLORIDA, INC. for which I built the website and, now, thanks to Ombassa, Ade and YOU, I have an online radio show promoting other women who compose and perform jazz and blues. www.blogtalkradio.com/musicwoman
No, I AM NOT KIM and more than that. . .
KIM IS NOT JOAN!
I will not allow others to define me.
Love and music,
Diva Joan Cartwright
WOMEN IN JAZZ SOUTH FLORIDA, INC.
MUSICWOMAN MAGAZINE
August 2, 2008
JOAN I SAID AND ILL SAY IT AGAIN, THE WORLD STOPPED, WHEN I HEARD YOU SING. I love the
smooth quality of your voice and I felt it came from God. You
were born with it. Period. All the schooling in world didn't give
you that voice. God had the voice in ya 'fo' you
took your first breath.
And for me, and I mean this with every fiber in my being, Joan Cartwright, out of the many (and you know what a networker I am) people I have known in the yrs. since I started painting after nearly dying in the confines of a hospital bed at age 31, 30 yrs ago, YOU have given back more than. . .only 2 people besides you, I have known, in all this time, not in what you gave/give Joan, but how/why you give, because it is who you are. Your soul, your heart, like your voice, I feel you were born with a HUGE capacity to love.
You opened in me, my heart, my higher self. You said, 'I am going to be a doctor.' You reminded me to go for it, to reach for my own star, not your star but my own and, when I say you gave, I don't mean in traditional ways.
I see the soul I hear with my soul and paint with my soul, what came through was the soul of Joan Cartwright and two others, in thirty years, touched me this way. By being themselves, by being Joan Cartwright, that's what reminded me to be the best me I can be.
I have many varied
talents and interests as you do. We are both older and very
determined and I am pleased to know us both! Corby is extremely alone
at this moment. The club closed and the singer he has helped for the last
ten years is gone. He doesn't know what will happen. He is lost.
He will find his way. Corby will. But we came in his life at a rather fragile moment. I
consider the hand of the divine offering Corby, you and me as gifts in so many ways.
Corby is a dear soul and does the best 'corby' on this entire earth. we do the 'best Joan and
Joy' on this earth. [Older message from Judy Joy]
July 9, 2008
Joan, why not write a book or spoken word mp3 about 'women in jazz' if you haven't already. Figure the world can name maybe 3 (at tops) female painters throughout history; no sculptors, no opera composers, very few librettist and a handful of composers that have been women. Colleges wouldn't even list painters that were women in their History of Art textbooks, until the nineties.
My book has a chapter on WOMEN IN JAZZ - IN PURSUIT OF A MELODY
July 8, 2008
There seems to be a magnetic attraction between Rene Marie and risk. When her career was just taking off, she ignored the owner of a prestigious Chicago jazz club when he ordered her to stop "insulting jazz" with her original songs and stick to the standards. [Nooooo!] And she recently walked away from a recording contract with a major independent jazz label because she wanted to have total artistic control over her CDs. [See controversy about this singer]
JC's Notes:
Of course, we all know that club owners are NOT MUSICIANS, not most of them, at any rate. Did anyone tell the ones who are not that all STANDARDS used to be someone's original music?? I am laughing out loud, here!!!
Good grief. Being a musician on this planet is terrifically difficult, especially when you are dealing with left-brainers.
When I was performing in Shanghai, China, May to July 2006, the club manager told the drummer, who spoke very little English, to tell me that I could only sing one of my originals per set! Now, I'm sure no club owner or manager would ever have said that to Miles, Dizzy, Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard, Lee Morgan, Grover Washington Jr., George Benson, Ray Charles, Joe Zawinal, Joe Sample, George Duke, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Fats Waller, Eubie Blake, Art Tatum, Jay McShann or any of the hundreds of men who were encouraged to play their original music.
As Judy Joy says,
above, "throughout
history; no sculptors, no opera composers, very few librettist and a
handful of composers that have been women" are document in
"his-story". This only means that we MUST write
"HER-STORY!" and that's what www.wijsf.org
is allllllll about. Be sure to visit this link often - JAZZWOMEN.
June 12, 2008
Today, I was dismayed by a program at the Arscht Center for the Performing Arts entitled Jazz Roots, a Larry Rosen Series, which had one woman, Patti Austin, on the bill. Known as a pop singer for decades, Patti never was billed as a jazz singer, until recently.
My question is where are the true jazz/blues singers and instrumentalists and why are they always omitted from the program?
Also, why are black women not represented on Rosen's committee?
In addition to sending a message to the Chief of Staff and Program Director of the Arscht Center, I copied the message to Blanche Williams of the First Annual National Black Women's Town Hall Meeting, requesting that this subject be broached at the meeting on July 11, in Washington, D.C.
May 28, 2008
What was it like recording Joni Mitchell's songs?
Before, I almost never paid attention to lyrics. I’m so bad that when I hear a song that’s sung, English is gibberish. I don’t hear it. I mean, I would have to translate it from whatever the thing is that I hear to intelligible English. Because I hear it as a sound.
So, what does this say about all the women who sang jazz before Hancock was born and migrated to the Miles Davis camp? -- JC
April 17, 2008
WIJSF, Inc. was officially incorporated on March 12, 2007. During the past year, Director Joan Cartwright presented Women in Jazz as Artist-in-Residence for the Pan African Bookfest in Broward County, Florida, and at York College in Jamaica, NY.
On May 8, 2008, we filed our application for 501(c)(3) tax exempt status, to enable us to accept tax-deductible memberships and donations; write grants; and raise funds to continue to educate the world about the contributions of women who make jazz and blues music.
Read our Newsletters. . .
February 7, 2007
Hello Joan!!!
I’m not sure if you remember me, you probably would remember my face. My girlfriend and I used to come to see you all the time when you were regularly performing at the jazz place in Hollywood ; we were “Wanda & Wilma.” I also attended a seminar you held at FIU and spoke with you regarding my experience at Bethune-Cookman College where I was the first female trumpeter there, and the resistance and backlash I had to deal with because people didn’t want to change the all male tradition of the marching band.
I believe you had a jazz series you were organizing at that time, and you asked me to remain in touch; however, I admit I’m not sure where I kept your information, probably in a “safe place.”
I just ran across your website as I was surfing the Net, and was so delighted! I’ve had you in mind as I was just recently speaking with a gentleman who is on the board of directors of a music organization and I was asking whether you ever performed for them, but he wasn’t sure. So I’m going to forward your website to him.
In the meantime, I would love it if I can speak with you because I am now the president of the Bethune-Cookman Alumni Band and on behalf of this organization, I would love it if you would be willing to collaborate with us with regard to writing some grants, setting up and promoting some events, and/or even serving on our board of directors.
I am sure you are extremely busy, but at your convenience, I would greatly appreciate a telephone call to set up a meeting.
In the meantime, I hope all is well with you.
Very truly yours,
Wanda Wright
Re: The Permanent Delegation of the U.S. To UNESCO - Unesco Mission Jazz Gallery
Alvin Queen,
It is wonderful that you are an ambassador for Jazz to UNESCO. Just one problem with this.
This is UNACCEPTABLE! I am really disappointed.
My song does NOT change. Women hold up half of the sky and they've been instrumental in bringing Jazz music to the world, equally as much as men have.
This needs to be rectified as soon as possible.
Joan Cartwright, Founder
WOMEN IN JAZZ SOUTH FLORIDA, INC.
Joan,
Does this mean I must have a women in my group, if I decide to use a man. I was contact by a friend of mind to put this group together and that's what I did, There no reason to expose this to the rest of the world, using me as an example.
I would like for you to explain this to me more clearly, because it seams very negative on my behalf.
Best regards
Alvin
Dear Joan,
I concur completely with your observation and related comments. It certainly is not negative to simply point out the obvious - and sexual imbalances in music worldwide needs addressing yesterday. Until the problem is solved there is absolute no reason to accept "business as usual" anytime before this brand of prevailing injustice is rectified.
Peace profound,
Karlton Hester
To: Joan's comment below
" NO COMMENT" -- Alvin Queen
Alvin,
I do not know the circumstances of how this came about.
What I do know is that women are systematically omitted from the Jazz scene in almost every way possible. This MUST be rectified. Musicians must understand the importance of including women in these situations. Women have been left out for far too long.
If you feel my response is "negative", imagine how we feel when we see these situations happening constantly and NO ONE is speaking out about it. As the founder of an organization with the mission of promoting women in jazz, I believe it is my DUTY to bring this omission to light.
I do NOT mean to insult or downgrade you in anyway because I had no idea how the appointment came about and you know that. What I do know is that all musicians must consider this a serious issue. The world consists of men and women. The jazz scene consists of men and women. However, women are left out so often that it is now "normal" to omit them at every turn. If you were asked to put the band together, you could have invited a woman to join you as a singer. It is only fair that women are represented, globally, on the Jazz Scene.
I am sure I am not the only person you send the link below to. Others need to know what is happening, when it is happening. We live in a high-tech world where information is disseminated, rapidly. Hopefully, inequities like this can be rectified just as rapidly.
Sincerely,
Joan Cartwright, Founder
WOMEN IN JAZZ SOUTH FLORIDA, INC.
Dear Mr. Queen:
I really appreciate the time you took to answer me so thoughtfully. Even more, I appreciate your forwarding my comments to others. While I can understand why any band leader might not use any singers, I'm not clear on why women musicians would not be considered, but I compliment you for your honesty.
Joan Cartwright had no idea that I would write you. You are among many people I have written and to whom I write on an ongoing basis, not only in my own interests, but on behalf of the issue of need for the inclusion of women. As for whoever pays a salary, when a delegation is publicized as a US Delegation, then those of us who lack access to the opportunity made available to others should bring the issue to the attention of both those who do the hiring or appointing and those who, albeit unintentionally, are beneficiaries of institutional sexism in this case. I act on behalf of people of color subjected to racism in much the same way.
I have taken the time to read your biography and listen to the 2 songs in mp3 files on your website. Of course, they are great. Your intro to Nutsville reminded me a bit of Art Blakey's intro on Night In Tunisia which I saw him perform at the original Birdland many years ago--though Nutsville is a quite different tune. I enjoyed them both.
Like you, I come from inner city projects, in my case from Philadelphia. I had uncles who were Baptist pastors and come from a long line of Gospel singers there. But I can assure you that there are many women with talent who are simply shut out because we are women. It was true then and it's true now. For that reason, I have begun a global effort to discourage the hiring of bands that never hire women. That is not to say that any band must always hire women, but that if women are never hired, consideration should be given to the possibility that women are being excluded for reasons unrelated to music. I am simply promoting equitable consideration. The idea seems to be catching on. Like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I have a dream that one day women will be accepted for their talent, not excluded for their gender.
Again many thanks for you outstanding courtesy in responding to me. I do appreciate that.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Brooks
Dear Mrs. Brooks,
I will try to answer some of questions even thou I don't know if it would help. I have been in the business for over 40 years and I have rebuild my life over here living in Geneva, Switzerland with out the help of any Americans a broad.
My salary does not come from America. I have nothing against adding women in my band, but I definitely do not use women within the format of my music (specially) singers and when I decide to use one on either performance or recording, I will definitely be sure to let you know.
The group which was put together are locate people who are also living in Europe in are the best of friend that I have over here who did such a beautiful job with me for UNESCO and I will use them again if I have to.
I feel that this definitely ridiculous on the behalf of my so call friend Mrs. Cartwright because she feels eliminated, so she deciding to try to create problem for her own people who just mite try to give her a chance, but at this level I don't believe this will ever happen.
I will be sure to forward this email message along with the one that Mrs. Cartwright has addressed to me with all your email address on it to UNESCO and also the American Embassy in Paris, just to see if they will help all of you or put your name on a list in not doing anything for you, that's up to them.
I hope that I was able to answer some of your questions and my thought are still the same, have nothing against women, but my group does not require a female vocalist.
Thanks once again for your time and patience
Alvin L. Queen
Geneva, Switzerland
http://unesco.usmission.gov/CL_04162007_JazzGallery.cfm
www.alvinqueendrummer.com
www.myspace.com/alvinqueendrummer
"Melba Liston is one of the best jazz musicians, not just one of the best women in jazz." --Junior Mance
". . .people didn’t want to change the all male tradition of the marching band."
--
Wanda Wright, President
Bethune-Cookman Alumni Band
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2008
HEAR TRUDY PITTS with MUSICWOMAN
Organist Trudy Pitts handled herself formidably in an arena of musicians made up mostly of men.
Tony Monaco, Pete
Fallico (Doodlin' Lounge), Gen Ludwig, Trudy Pitts, Lonnie Smith
Joan Cartwright has been the leader of hundreds of musicians in her band JAZZ HOTLINE
George Gray (d), Diva JC, Yoichi Uzeki (p), Tom Zlabinger (b)Like Black Elk said of the Bison, Women are that "divine feminine, creating earth principle that is central to the lives of our families and loved ones." -- Raining Deer
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