#teri lyne carrington

[losercomputers]

Some of My Fav WOC Jazz Artists!

As it is officially the last day of Women's History Month, I thought it would be fitting to close it off by giving some of my favorite (and arguably underrated) WOC jazz artists some very well-deserved recognition!

Una Mae Carlisle (born December 26, 1915 – passed November 7, 1956) -

A truly talented jazz pianist, composer, and vocalist that specialized primarily in swing and crooner styles. With her voice highly resonant, leaving behind a lingering sweetness, and careful attention to detail in her piano-playing, Una Mae was not only one of the first WOC jazz composers to have her work end up on billboard charts, but her achievements are parallel to/went beyond the bounds of those other more conscientiously documented jazz performers in the early 20th century.

Discovered by Fats Waller at the young age of 17, Una Mae Carlisle had an early start in the entertainment industry with her true roots being in the little state of Ohio. Despite her early compositions and playing styles being heavily inspired by Waller, starting in the mid-late 1930s and continuing until her passing, Una Mae would go on to have her own solo career outside of touring and recording with him. In turn, she traveled across the states and even made her way throughout Europe and the UK (though eventually returning to the states and settling down in Harlem, New York).

Her achievements spanned from things such as her compositions becoming hits that proceeded to be performed and recorded by other highly-regarded jazz artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Billie Holiday, etc, and taking residencies in big and bustling clubs around the world. She would do work in Paris, London, Amsterdam, and New York where she would appear and perform in several films, and worked alongside record labels such as Capitol Records and Bluebird Records. Eventually, in her later years of life, Una Mae would go on to become the first African-American woman to have her own radio program, named “Agile fingers and a voice that lingers," broadcasting to stations across different parts of the US.

There's a lot that I've left out as I could dedicate an entire essay to her, but please give her a listen and be prepared to feel like you're falling in love.

Teri Lyne Carrington (born August 4, 1965) -

A force to be reckoned with in the world of contemporary jazz, drummer, composer, activist, and educator, Teri Lyne Carrington, in my eyes, is a genuine SUPERHUMAN. She has and continues to breathe new life into the genre and has made significant contributions to expanding what jazz is all about.

As a lifelong musician, Teri Lyne Carrington, started her career as a professionally accounted for jazz artist at the young age of 10 and attended the Berklee College of Music at only 11. Throughout her career, Teri has worked and toured with other big names in jazz such as Cassandra Wilson, Stan Getz, Pharaoh Sanders, Herbie Hancock, and Wayne Shorter, and can also be recognized in other parts of the entertainment industry such as performing on several late night TV shows .

Teri lyne Carrington may also be recognized as the first woman ever to win a Grammy award in the Best Jazz Instrumental Album category. However, she didn't do this just once, but SEVERAL times. She would recieve Grammy's for "The Mosaic Project," "Money Jungle: Provocative in Blue," "Waiting Game," and her most recent album "new STANDARDS vol.1" (LIKE I SAID, A FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH)

Her artistry is not to be questioned and neither is her character! Teri has made archaic efforts in amplifying the voices of and creating an inclusive, safe, and welcoming space in the jazz world for marginalized groups. LISTEN TO THIS COOL ASS LADY!!!

​Melissa Aldana (born December 3, 1988) -

Highly influential and a true master of her craft, Chilean jazz saxophonist, Melissa Aldana, evokes a sort of poetic and soul-touching aura through her playing and does a superb job of not just performing jazz but feeling and speaking jazz.

Melissa got the ball rolling as a professional saxophonist by first playing jazz clubs as a young teen in Santiago, Chile. As she gained traction, she was eventually lead to study at the Berklee College of Music and would then move to New York City post-graduation, and during this time, was under the guidance of other respectable musicians such as Bill Pierce, Greg Osby, and George Coleman.

Outside of her musical education, Melissa Aldana has gone to the lengths of achieving things such as winning Altazor National Arts Award of Chile, being the first female musician, youngest musician, and South American musician to win the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition, performing in multiple credible jazz festivals around the world, AND has won a Grammy for Best Jazz Performance.

Just like Una Mae Carlisle and Teri Lyne Carrington, Melissa Aldana's work ethic and eagerness to always keep learning and widening her perspectives is more than admirable.

These women make me so excited for the future directions of jazz and the incoming lineage of influential and innovative female jazz performers. As the genre evolves, it is figures like these outstanding women that unfailingly serve as a reminder as to how important women are to the arts and how we will forever stand as symbols of possibility.

Have a beautiful April~

[friarparksoulclub]

(via https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dUzbeAlyH4)

Terri Lynne Carrington - Come Sunday featuring Natalie Cole and Billy Dee Williams. Uploaded by Concord Music Group

Here is my tribute to Natalie Cole- A recent great peformance for Teri Lyne Carrington’s Mosaic Project performing Duke Ellington’s ‘Come Sunday’. Introduction is spoken by Billy Dee Williams (for Star Wars Fans- he played Lando)