This compilation of early female jazz singers and musicians contains those who will be familiar and those, perhaps, who will be less so. The recordings have been previously issued, mainly on 78 rpm records since the performances span 1924-1948, but some may have been issued or reissued on LP and not all are readily available. What this CD does is conveniently assemble them all in one place and, perhaps, provide an introduction to some of the artists.
It is a wonderful collection that helps dispel some long-held myths about women’s not being capable jazz musicians, other perhaps than piano players and singers. These are certainly well represented here, but also included are other fine talents, some playing instruments less-often encountered in jazz such as Adele Girard on harp and Marjie [more often given as “Margie,” but she insisted on the “j”] Hyams on vibes. Female jazz drummers are often given short shrift, but one has only to listen to Pauline Braddy on drums with the International Sweethearts of Rhythm here in “Honeysuckle Rose” to hear how mistaken (if not misogynistic) such dismissal is. Indeed, one could say the same about the entire band—they could have fared very well in any cutting contest.
While a majority of the tracks have a woman at the eighty-eight, all showcase different kinds of configuration from solo instrument/singer to full blown orchestra. Joh
