Celebrating 7 years of Musical Service!

As of May 1, 2014, we have 267 members, 142 musicians!  Join us, today!

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR

Dear WIJSF Members: First, I send light and love to the people who suffered loss of any kind, during the tornadoes that hit Kansas, Oklahoma, and Alabama. Those suffering from pollen asphyxiation, I know what you’re going through but rain dampened it some here in Atlanta, as the storm passed us by. On the bright side, we have some new members and they are busy working to produce music and opportunities for women musicians and composers. New members Jean Fineberg and Ellen Seeling direct the Jazzschool Community Music School Girls Jazz & Blues Camp in Berkeley, GA. May 1st was amazing with Amazing Musicwomen being honored by the Black Women in Jazz & Fine Arts Awards at the Four Seasons Hotel on 14th Street in Atlanta, GA. The atmosphere was consistent with the honors bestowed on a prolific group of women whose musical prowess is of the highest caliber.  It was an elegant affair!  [SEE JOAN’S PHOTOS HERE]

Lobby of the Four Seasons HotelElegant Venue for Black Women in Jazz Awards

Mimi JohnsondotnetBest Film/Theater/Performer

JoAnna Johnson and Joyce Spencer Best Violinist and Saxophonist

Best Theater Performer Mimi Johnsondotnet, Mistress of Ceremony Jonna Johnson, and Lady Jazz Master Joan Cartwright

[SEE JOAN’S PHOTOS HERE]

Sha Battle’s vision for the Black Women in Jazz & Fine Arts Award manifested, elegantly!

[SEE JOAN’S PHOTOS HERE]

BWIJ Awards sponsor Wanda Evers of WMPR 90.1 Radio Station in Jackson, MS, with Mimi Johnsondotnet, and Diva Joan Cartwright

Most of us began our careers as young children.   Gerrianne Brizan performed with the IDs in Queens, NY

Yvette Devereux is a Triple Threat!

CALLS TO ACTION

Of 134 NEA Jazz Masters, only 15 women or 11% received that honor and the $25,000 honorarium that also comes out of tax payers pockets.  So, to counteract this inequity, I’m suggesting to each of you to NOMINATE A WOMAN MUSICIAN for the NEA JAZZ MASTER AWARD, now!!!

Since April 4, 188 people have supported this Call for a Symposium on Women in Arts at the White House in 2015.  Please sign the petition for this Symposium on Women in Arts and share it. Click the image

Let us help to bring awareness and solutions!

This is a joint fundraising idea. Your thoughts on this are appreciated.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Article on accomplishments of Immediate Past VP Stan Alston

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Happy Birthday, Shirley Horn, May 1

Click image for Maxine Sullivan’s page

FEATURE STORY: COUPLES

These WIJSF members and their spouses have been added to celebrate SPRING! Watch the video of more couples, below

Emma and Malcolm Black

Saskia Laroo and Warren Byrd

How often do we see women musicians struggling to maintain a home, marriage, and children? Well, since Spring is in the air, meaning that LOVE is in the air, we’re paying tribute to the husbands of 15 of our members, who stand by their lady, through the ups and downs of being in this tumultuous Music Industry. For instance, Lenore Raphael said, “Joel is essentially my tour manager. He books the travel arrangements, hotels, routes to drive, and is very emotionally supportive as well. He even contacts people he knows in the area about my performances and, no, he is not available to work with other artists!”  Featured are Afrikkanitha, Carol Garrett, Donna Singer, Lenore Raphael, Kathy Yolanda Rice, Joyce Spencer, Debbie Pierce Taft, Mzuri Moyo, Rory Ranucci, Linda Dachtyl, Kristen Elizabeth, Lyn Moore, Ragan Whiteside, Sandra Kaye, and Yvette Norwood-Tiger. This video tells herstory.

NEW CD RELEASES

Susan Warmington with legendary guitarists Ernest Ranglin (l) and Maurice Gordon (r) in Kingston, Jamaica, W.I. preparing to record.Susan reported that “I was a bit upset when this happened a couple weeks ago, but I am able to talk about it now. While travelling through Miami Airport, security broke my Master CD with my just recorded songs on it clean in half. I have been told that CDs can make bombs so I guess that’s why they did it. All’s well that ends well as my Producer Richard Browne sent me my songs online and now they have been Mastered for clean listening. At this time I am waiting for them to be licensed for public listening. Years ago I would have been in trouble, now I am just glad for the internet.”

Musicians use many methods to fund their projects. Bobby Ramirez has launched a Kickstarter Crowd Funding site to fund his next music project.Donate at this link.

UPCOMING EVENTS

South Florida Jazz Events calendar! Thanks Jeannette Pina!

Sixth Annual JCMS Girls’ Jazz & Blues Camp
Directed by Jean Fineberg snd Ellen Seeling

Get tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/rivablue-mimijohnsonnet-live-rockin-the-planet-with-our-talent-event-tickets-2882755399

CONGRATULATIONS! Toni Byrd

Lenore Raphael

Promoting the NEW RECORDING

“Love Notes-A Tribute To Oscar Peterson”

Lenore will be on tour in May in the U.K.

 FRIDAY May 2   12:30 PM – 3 PM

The Spice of Life

6 Moore Street, Soho, London

* * *

SATURDAY May 3rd   8:30 PM 

For the Marlow Jazz Club

Christ Church

Oxford Road, Marlow, Bucks

www.marlowjazz.co.uk for info and tickets

THURSDAY, MAY 8th 9 PM

Casa da Musica

Porto, Portugal

www.casadamusica.com

with Alberto Jorge, bass and

Peter Ingram, drums

FRIDAY-SATURDAY MAY 9th

The Jazz Club

Lisbon, Portugal

* * * * *

Saturday, May 17, 2014  6 p.m St. James-Myrtle Presents Jazz Singer Nick Mathis, Producer and soloist, Dr. Robert Hemphill, Director of El Paso Metropolitan Choir “Musical Tribute to Mothers” St. James-Myrtle United Methodist Church 1128 Lomaland Drive, El Paso, TX 79907 – 915.595-3141 Co-Produced by Juliet Hart, Robert Doc Hemphill, Musical Director, and Nick Mathis, Performer * * * Tuesday 27 May  7:30 pm Northampton Jazz Workshop featuring Nicki Mathis in concert with Paul Arslanian’s Green Street Trio: George Kaye, Jon Fisher. The concert set starts at 7:30 pm, followed immediately by the jam session until 10:30.  $10 minimum charge for food/beverage is waived for sitting in musicians and singers. The Loft at the Clarion Hotel (413) 586-1211, 1 Atwood Dr (Rt. 5 at Exit 18 off I 91), Northampton, MA.

COMING UP IN JUNE!

June 14 @ 8 p.m. the Amazing Musicwomen Ensemble will perform at ArtServe, 1350 E. Sunrise Blvd., Fort Lauderdale, FL 

Get your tickets by clicking the photo

MEDIA BLITZ

Joan Cartwright co-hosted this podcast with Judy Joy Jones at BlogTalkRadio about the movie at www.femmethemovie.com

YOUR STORIES: Members please submit photos, fliers, and announcements to Joan Cartwright at divajc47@yahoo.com

by the 28th of each month. JOIN OUR ORGANIZATION, TODAY! www.wijsf.org