We are very excited about this edition, jam packed with incredible women!

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We are dedicating this edition to our team member Sandra Booker who sadly passed away a short time ago after losing her battle with cancer. Sandra was a fierce advocate for the unseen and the unheard and was never afraid to question, challenge and speak out. She was fearless. This edition is full of fearless women. Women who are changing the landscape both in front and behind the scenes.

Our magazine is free and available to everyone! It is interactive and you will find links to buy albums, books, visit websites and more! Due to the stunning photography we are honoured to include, the magazine is best viewed on a large screens – ipad/latop etc – rather than a phone, but you can open it on all devices. You can also download as a pdf to read at anytime.

Our team for this magazine is Isabel Marquez, Monika S Jakubowska, Germana Stella La Sorsa, Tatiana Gorilovksy, Kim Cypher, Paulette Jackson, Fiona Ross and Fiona Mctaggart. We are also thrilled to have guest contributors including Dr Bradley Stone, Nick Lea, Vuyo Giba and the award winning Jane Cornwell!

Interviews includes Syreeta Thompson Endea Owens UK Black Female Photographers Community Vidya ****Sally Greene OBE Brigitte Behara Tulani Kowalski Bridgewater Lisa Rich Laura Impallomeni and we introduce a new partner Talent Banq.

Welcome to the next episode of our podcast series’ The Notes Between’ with Lara Eidi. Conversations exploring everything behind and about the world of songwriting! Our theme music ‘Breathe Love’ is from Lara Eidi herself available here

In this episode, Lara talks to songwriter Fini Bearman

Available on Spotify Apple and all major podcast platforms

Fini Bearman  is a London-based singer, songwriter, composer & multi-instrumentalist. Her music melds diverse influences from jazz, folk and contemporary songs into an 'arresting and uniquely personal' sound.  Working both with and without words, incorporating her love of improvised music, Fini’s voice ‘effortlessly moves between a light precision and warm soulfulness is unmistakably her own’.   Her 4th album 'La Loba’ in October 2020 and received glowing reviews and praise from peers and critics including **** from Jazzwise (Editors Choice), allaboutjazz, The Arts Desk (album of the year), and more. This album was an opportunity to explore new songwriting avenues as a solo artist, recording the songs at her home studio in south east London, playing all the instruments (piano, tenor guitar, mandolin, ukulele, charango, tenor saxophone, percussion… all except cello; played by the wonderful Zosia Jagodzinska).

Her fifth studio album, ‘Last Night of The World’ is due for release on Pastiche Records, Autumn 2024, and features a veritable feast of musical brilliance; Tom Cawley, Robin Mullarkey, James Maddren, Matt Calvert, Al Cherry, together with guests Alice Zawadzki, Josia Jagodzinska, Gareth Lockrane, George Crowley & Gwilym Simcock.  

Over the past years Fini has worked as both soloist and collaborator/side-woman, touring festivals & venues  including Ronnie Scotts, The Sage Gateshead, Kings Place, The Barbican, The A-Trane (Berlin), Cafe Mercedes Jazz (Valencia), Manzioli (Izola, Slovenia) and even New York venue Dizzys (Jazz at the Lincoln Center). Festival highlights include the London Jazz Festival, Manchester Jazz Festival, Cambridge Jazz Festival, 'Jazz Voices' in Lithuania and ’Voicingers'  in Poland. Fini has been supported by the Arts Council & Musicians Benevolent Fund and has been nominated for awards including Best Jazz Vocal Album (Deutsche Jazzpreis 2023) & London Jazz Singer of the Year (Global Music Foundation).

Athens born to Lebanese Canadian parents, Lara Eidi is an artist that thrives on being different. As an independent artist, singer and multi- instrumentalist, she has carved a path for herself that continuously aimed at reshaping and developing her voice as a storyteller. An accomplished and reputable singer-songwriter, pianist, recording artist and jazz- folk vocalist of her own accord based in London and Athens. Her music has gained her critical acclaim as a genre bending artist (BBC Artist, 2020), described as “a singer with true gift of a voice, a kind soul, and a captivating presence.” (Jazz UK). At the heart of her being as a multi-disciplinary artist, she is sought after as a composer for vocal film scores, writes as a freelance music journalist, and is in demand as a creative workshop leader. Her music seeks to elevate and heal, and as a result, she creates genre- defying songs with a great emphasis on story telling. Her latest album ‘Sun’, her long awaited debut album, is all about pulling the threads of her folk, acoustic rock and jazz-classical upbringing to her message of hope, empowerment, and freedom. As a soloist, her recent debut performance at the infamous Royal Albert Hall, singing select pieces from Greece and Lebanon form the MedievalByzantine Traditions sees Lara engaging on a series of select and innovative performances with the SAUDHA Indian Classical Music Assocation. 

Lara Eidi website

Our new Women in Jazz Media Playlist is now out: Volume 3!

We publish a new playlist each month and try to share a wide range of women from across the world - new releases, legacy artists, new and established artists and also some women we think you should know about but maybe don't!  We keep it to 15 artists per playlist to give you time to discover, listen and share these incredible women. 

You can listen here on Spotify 

As always we would encourage you to buy directly from the artist where possible, and all the links are on our site here:

Ashaine White   Camille Thurman   Endea Owens   Anita Wardell  

Jo Harrop    Alexa Torres   Emily Francis    

Dottie Dodgion    Kim Cypher  Aya Ishida   Turiya

Valaida Snow     Jihye Lee  Faye Patton   Rosa Brunello

Do please get in touch if you have music you would like us to include - either your own or recommendations. We are especially keen to share music from female instrumentalists and composers.

We are delighted to have Tina Carr joining us for our Jazz Sisters: A celebration of vocal jazz, benefit event for Anita Wardell!

What a night it will be with seven brilliant artists performing at this special event to celebrate jazz vocalists and women in the jazz industry to raise money for renowned jazz vocalist Anita Wardell. Vimala Rowe, Lily Dior, Esther Bennett, Diana Torti, Fiona Ross and Tina Carr will bring their unique artistry to a range of jazz standards in an evening full of jazz tradition and elegant atmosphere, accompanied by one of the UK’s most loved pianists, Wendy Kirkland.

Tina Carr is a London-based jazz singer, a newcomer in the jazz scene with a warm authentic vibe. “Tina has a very distinctive voice – a stunning debut… she has leapt into the world of music with both feet  (Jumoke Fashola, Radio London)

‘I sang from childhood, never had any formal music training and chose not to make my working life in music.  But I always knew I had it in me. A few years ago, I began listening again. I listened at work, at home, in the car, in the street, at concerts, gigs, jams, opening my ears to music across every genre. It took me over.  I threw in the day job and - finding my voice - began to sing again. An older voice maybe – but a true one.’

We caught up with Tina to ask her a few questions ahead of the event.

Who are some of the great jazz vocalists you are inspired by?

I have a love of great women singers, from Nellie Lutcher to Carmen Macrae to Annie Ross to Sheila Jordan to Jessye Norman (The latter wasn’t a jazz singer of course – but it was hearing her amazing voice that made me want to sing again)

What can we expect to hear from you tonight and how did you decide on your song?

A kind of dark lullaby...I wanted to sing a song of …comfort. (and one where there's a chance I won't forget the words!)

Have you seen Anita perform – can you tell us a little about her performance

I’ve seen Anita several times – she is a warm and wonderful performer. I love her energy, wit and her vocal dexterity - and how she moves her voice around and around and brings us all in.

What does it mean to you to take part in this event?

I really feel honoured to be part of an occasion which is celebrating the great talent of Anita Wardell, who makes the best music she can and helps many others to do the same.

As a founding Board member of Women in Film and Television, I experienced just how much strength there can be when women support, work, share and are solid together. There’s nothing like it. I’m currently on the advisory Board of the Marie Colvin Journalists’ Network which supports Arab women journalists. We are lucky to have the freedoms we have at a time when women in other countries are losing everything they had gained. We are lucky to have our Voices. In every way.

Click here to find out more about Tina

Tickets for our Jazz Sisters: A celebration of vocal jazz here

Welcome to the latest episode of ‘In Conversation With’ with host and producer Hannah Horton, with our theme tune Surfing Thermals from our host, Hannah too! In this episode, we welcome Wendy Kirkland

Our podcasts are named as one of the Top 15 Women In Media Podcasts on the web by Feedspot and you can also find our podcasts at number 9 in the top 60 Best Jazz Podcasts in FeedSpot!

You can listen on Spotify here

You can listen on Apple Podcasts here

Pianist and singer Wendy Kirkland has been a mainstay of the UK Jazz scene since the late noughties, but it was her first album, Piano Divas, released in 2017 that began her ascent to wider recognition as a “Singing Pianist”, as dubbed by Jazz Journal. The ability to sing at the same time as comping and craft solos on the piano or unison piano/voice scat lines is her forte, with influences such as Diana Krall, Eliane Elias and Dena DeRose. Further accolades were given for her 2019 release The Music’s On Me, dubbed “a huge leap forward” by Jazz Views. Both albums prompted ACE funded tours all over the UK and constant radio airplay ever since.

During lockdown from March 2020, Wendy and guitarist/bassist husband Pat Sprakes entertained with a daily dose of Latin American music on Facebook which they entitled Latin Lockdowns. After 86 such performances they decided it was time to move on to other musical endeavours, but were amazed and pleased to receive daily messages from people who described the videos in such terms as “a ray of sunshine” in their lockdown situations.

Wendy will be performing at our special event on June 27th to celebrate jazz vocalists and women in the jazz industry to raise money for renowned jazz vocalist Anita Wardell. Five outstanding vocalists from the British jazz scene, Vimala Rowe, Lily Dior, Esther Bennett, Diana Torti and Fiona Ross will bring their unique artistry to a range of jazz standards in an evening full of jazz tradition and elegant atmosphere, all accompanied by Wendy!. Women in Jazz Media presents: Jazz Sisters: A celebration of vocal jazz

Wendy’s musical career began at age 10, when she started taking piano lessons. She won a scholarship to have all her lessons paid for by Derbyshire Music, and continued to take her ABRSM piano grades. Switching to jazz in her late teens, Wendy continued her playing career as a dance class pianist, accompanist to singers and as a keyboardist in club bands. After being persuaded to sing by a great friend and guitarist, Bill McCreath, Wendy learned to reach people who are perhaps turned off by instrumental jazz, as she learnt to communicate with the audience through the songs. Wendy’s voice has been likened to Blossom Dearie with hints of Diana Krall. Find out more about Wendy here: Wendy’s links here

Hannah Horton is a British Female Jazz Saxophonist whose music is rooted in jazz, folk and funk. She has performed with many great jazz artists including Ian Shaw, Amy Winehouse, John Etheridge, Tina May, Georgia Mancio, Polly Gibbons, Natalie Williams, Esther Bennett and Irene Serra; and at venues including Ronnie Scott’s, Pizza Express Dean St, The 606, The Pheasantry, Love Supreme Jazz Festival, Royal Festival Hall and The Barbican. She has also toured in Europe and USA with her own and other groups. Her latest album has been going down a storm across the world. “Hannah makes the big beast of a baritone sax sound like an angel” – Ian Shaw.

Hannah Horton website

Relaunching our podcast series 'Kicking Down the Door' in partnership Céline Peterson and Black Lives in Music with host Mary Sho, platforming inspirational black women in the Music industry. And kicking down the door to start us off, we are thrilled to welcome our first guest the inspirational singer/songwriter/producer and legend China Moses

You can listen here on Spotify Apple and all major podcast platforms

Singer, songwriter and producer China Moses evolves her artistry in truth. Defiantly real, her music resists what so many labels and critics desire: category. She captivates listeners with her deep pocket, sensitivity and wit, drawing inspiration from endless styles in the expansive lineage of Black American music.

Frank and fearless, China’s songs document fleeting emotional states and extended narratives, often leaning into self-reflection both in lyric and phrasing. Her voice is a satin ribbon wrapped around a crackling flame. Listeners fortunate to observe her in live performance know the depth of her song interpretation. In a moment she can revolve a world.

Click here for China Moses website

For more than a decade, the magnetic on-camera personality and consummate actor has appeared regularly on TV series, including national spots alongside Iggy Pop, Meryl Streep, Will Smith, Ciara, Nile Rodgers, Mariah Carey and Hugh Jackman. Provocative as her musical experiences, China’s broadcasting resumé currently features host-producer positions at celebrated radio shows “Made in China” on TSF Jazz (France) and “Late Night with China Moses” On Jazz FM (UK). She’s one of few women of color to host multiple radio shows across European and UK airwaves.

The self-dubbed high school dropout has been an artist her entire life. Daughter of legendary activist and director Gilbert Moses III and internationally acclaimed musician Dee Dee Bridgewater, China understands the music and its surrounding culture from the inside out.

Along her varied musical paths, she has performed with Archie Shepp, Pee Wee Ellis, Theo Croker, John Beasley, Nils Landgren, John Patitucci, Magnus Lindgren, Jamie Cullum, Terence Blanchard, Terri Lyne Carrington, Aloe Blacc, Lakecia Benjamin and Ian Shaw, sharing stages with legends Roy Hargrove, George Benson, Metropole Orkest Big Band, myriad philharmonics including Bogota, Trier, Dresden, Potsdam, Bilbao, Paris and Szczecin, WDR Big Band, HR Big Band, Metropole Orkest Big Band and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. She has recorded with Karriem Riggins, Lakecia Benjamin, DJ Mehdi, Meshell Ndegeocello, Fatoumata Diawara, Chilly Gonzales, GURU, Cerrone, DJ Cam, Daru Jones, Étienne De Crécy and Klaus Doldinger. As a songwriter who composes music and lyrics for the majority of her material, China has collaborated with Anthony Marshall, Oli Rockberger, Troy Miller, Alex Webb, Raphael Lemonnier, Gordon Cyrus & Bob Power.

A global artist and citizen, China has performed in more than 800 shows across six continents in the past 12 years. She has appeared at Ronnie Scott’s, Jazz Café, Barbican Centre and Royal Albert Hall in London, Olympia, UNESCO International Jazz Day and La Cigale in Paris, Vienna Konzerthaus, Berlin Opernhaus, Elbphilharmonie and Dresdner Philharmonie in Germany and Birdland and Nublu in New York City. One of her hidden skills is that of a powerhouse researcher — as a performing and recording artist, a broadcast professional and an international educator. China’s commitment to authentic representation and inclusive perspectives has garnered critical acclaim and peer acknowledgement. She’s a member of the 2013 Young Leader graduating class of the French American Foundation, holds the title Chevalier of St Emilion & Bergerac and has lent her expertise as a panellist at the 2020 Montreux Jazz Academy.

 Mary Sho, a singer and songwriter hailing from South London with a worldwide sound which transcends time and space, offering a home to lovers of authentic, live sounds. Sho’s sound drops you into the late 70’s and early 80’s with tinges of contemporary soul infused with funk origins, creating sounds similar to if Lizzo met Solange met Childish Gambino met Sly and The Family Stone with Thundercat on additional bass!

Armed with live instrumentation and striking, self-directed and self styled visuals, Sho’s spacey vocals float over bass-heavy, funk-soul sounds. while highlighting the experiences of Black women and owning the power of her identity, mind, body and soul. Mary Sho has been featured on BBC London Radio multiple times and has recently performed at Brixton House (Soho Friends) ans Cafe KOKO. This year she was one of the recipients of Women in Jazz Media 2023 and has just released her debut Album titled ‘WOMAN RISING’ in the world

Mary Sho links here