History of the Women in Jazz Festival
1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002
Mary Lou Williams set a high standard for jazz musicians. Composer, pianist, arranger, teacher, music historian (she contributed to all of the evolving styles of jazz, from ragtime through and beyond bebop), a role model, and a humanitarian – she was the quintessential jazz master. A sensitive, caring, self effacing performing artist, she shared her vast experience and musical skills with fellow artists such as Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Thelonius Monk, Bud Powell, and Ben Webster. Yet she still found time to teach inner city children how to experience the joy of making music.The Kennedy Center Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival is our attempt
to showcase some of the many contemporary women musicians that Mary Lou
would have applauded and encouraged.
-- Dr. Billy Taylor
Mary Lou Williams Women in
Jazz Festival 1996
- April 29, 1996
- The Uptown String Quartet
Renee Rosnes Quartet
All-Star Ensemble (Terri Lynn Carrington, Carol Chaikin, Carmen Lundy, Elisa Pruett, Patrice Rushen)
Geri Allen Trio
Diva -- No Man’s Band
- April 30, 1996
- Dorothy Donegan
All-Star Ensemble (Lynee Arriale, Dottie Dodgion, Rebecca Coupe Franks, Debbie Keefe, Mary Anne McSweeney)
Jane Ira Bloom Ensemble
Shirley Horn Trio
Toshiko Akiyoshi
Panelists: Penny Tyler, Laurel Wicks, Lorraine Gordon, Cobi Narita, Nnenna Freelon, Dan Morgenstern, Antoinette Handy, Fr. Peter O’Brien, Sally Placksin
May 1, 1996
-
NNENNA Freelon
Eliane Elias Trio
All-Star Ensemble (Lolly Bienenfeld, Cindy Blackman, Joanne Brackeen, Fostina Dixon, Ingrid Jenson, Miriam Sullivan, Dottie Anita Taylor)
Marian McPartland
DeeDee Bridgewater
Maria Schneider Jazz OrchestraPanelists: Rachel Lewis, Becca Pulliam, Rhonda Hamilton, Marquita Pool-Eckert
Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival 1997
May 1, 1997 
- Straight Ahead
Carla White and Her Trio
Trudy Pitts and Friends
Maria Schneider Jazz Orchestra
- May 2, 1997
- Jazzberry Jam
Patti Bown and Friends
Shirley Scott Trio
Jay Clayton Project
Diva -- No Man’s BandPanelists: Fr. Peter O’Brien, Dr. Billy Taylor, Valerie Capers, Maria Schneider, Marion Hayden, Melba Liston, Carol Comer
-
May
3, 1997
- Valerie Capers Trio
Fostina Dixon and Winds of Change
Tania Maria
Jane Bunnett Sextet
Ann Patterson’s Maiden VoyagePanelists: Nancy Ann Lee, Lynda Bramble, Candy Shannon, Susan Berlowitz, Dr. Billy Taylor
Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz
Festival 1998
- May 23, 1998
-
Joyce
DiCamillo Trio
Holly Hofmann's Four Women Only
Nnenna Freelon
Terri Lyne Carrington Quartet
Regina Carter QuintetPanelists: Candy Shannon, Ahnee Sharon Freeman, Penelope Williams, Carline Ray
- May 24, 1998
- Piket - Cuenca - Parrott
Leni Stern
Marlena Shaw Quartet
Renee Rosnes
Bobbi HumphreyPanelists: Candy Shannon, Regina Carter, Cheryl Goodman, Jill Maxi Schreibman, Michelle Taylor
-
May
25, 1998
- Lorraine Desmarais Trio
Amina Claudine Myers Trio
Virginia Mayhew Group
Vanessa Rubin Quartet
Ann Patterson's Maiden VoyagePanelists: Candy Shannon, Geraldine de Haas, Louise Holland, Fran Richard, Leni Stern
Mary Lou Williams Women
in Jazz Festival 1999
-
- May 6, 1999
- Akua Dixon Quartette Indigo
Roseanna Vitro Quartet
Sarah Jane Cion
Jeri Brown
Rachel Z: The Room of One’s Own Project
- May 7, 1999
- Cecilia Smith Quartet
Nancy Marano Quartet
Lee Shaw Trio
Ernestine Anderson
Rebeca Mauleon and Round Trip
- May 8, 1999
- Sumi Tonooka Trio
Jamie Baum Quintet
Ingrid Jensen
Chris Connor
Diva - No Man's Band
Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival 2000
- May 11, 2000
- Deanna Witkowski
Claire Daly Quartet
Sherrie Maricle and Five Play
Flora Purim
Marian McPartland
- May 12, 2000
- Deborah Weisz Quintet
Jane Ira Bloom Quartet
Kitty Margolis
Sharp Five Quintet
Trudy Pitts and Friends
- May 13, 2000
- Sylvia Cuenca Group
Joanne Brackeen Trio
Sheila Jordan Quartet
Nicole Yarling 4-Tet
Ann Patterson's Maiden Voyage
Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival 2001
May 10, 2001
May 11, 2001
May 12, 2001
