Welcome to our monthly team news! We like to share some of the work the team have been doing both inside and outside of their Women in Jazz Media work and we have all been very busy as always.

Our Women in Jazz Media July magazine has been launched with contributions from team members Sandra Booker Isabel Marquez Kim Cypher Tatiana Gorilovsky  Germana Stella La Sorsa  Paulette Jackson Migdalia Van Der Hoven Hannah Horton Fiona Ross and Monika S Jakubowska Click on the name and it will take you straight there!

We have just announced our event schedule for the rest of the year and are very excited to support so many incredible artists. Do check out our events page here

Image by Andy Porter. After two years from her debut album VapourGermana Stella La Sorsa is ready to release an exciting new work. Primary Colours will be released at the beginning of 2024 and she’ll drop three singles, starting from this Autumn so keep an eye on her website and socials – click here She’ll also preview some of her new music at Toulouse Lautrec on the 22nd of September and you can buy your tickets here

ALIVE! in the studio is the name of Charlotte Keeffe’s second album as band leader featuring her Right Here, Right Now Quartet; Ashley John Long on double bass, Ben Handysides on drums, Moss Freed on guitar and herself on Sound Brushes (her trumpet and flugelhorn) and compositions. 

ALIVE! will be released on Friday 22nd September on the epic Discus Music record label - it’ll be available to buy on all platforms! Keep a close eye on Charlotte’s social media pages (@CharlotteKeeffeMusic on Facebook and Instagram) for special ALIVE! release announcements including a Listening Party on release day/Friday 22nd September, an exciting feature/interview on BBC Radio 3’s Freeness show on Sunday 8th October and details of lots of live performances and musical gatherings to celebrate the music and the joy of just being… ALIVE!

Big Mama, Aydenne Simone is performing at Toulouse Lautrec on Sept 16th which promises to be an amazing night. Tickets available here

Diana Torti's new album is going down a storm! Album cover photo by our very own Monika S Jakubowska, you can purchase the album here and buy tickets for her next gig at Karamel Club on September 21st here

Lara Eidi releases her much anticipated debut album Sun, after receiving critical acclaim for the first single 'Breathe Love'. Recently signed to Pastiche Records, Lara continues to challenge the notion of a singer-songwriter, with exciting new concerts and news after the album comes out on September the 4th. Her first single from the album 'Breathe Love' saw huge success in the UK, Canada and Europe. Canadian Beats said “Breathe Love is about embracing every single side of oneself. The shy, the free, the brave, the timid, the wanderer, the observer, the giver and the receiver,” says Eidi. A highly versatile multi - instrumentalist. Eidi composes in a manner that builds on drawing the listener's attention starting with the simple to the highly complex. `Starting with a piano riff, Eidi's dexterity as a pianist set the foundation for the development of 'Breathe Love' . Influenced by the diversity of artists such as Jose James, Chet Faker and Laila Biali , she managed to fuse 90s dub feels with enlisting Fatis on drums, whilst floating vocally over each beat, developing the sound by layering one vocal overlay at a time, ending with strings soaring into an emotional crescendo to juxtapose Eidi's intricate and dynamic 14 vocal harmonies."

'Sun' promises to embrace this sense of empowerment, freedom and love, journeying through every single emotion and more, coming out on all platforms on September the 4th, 2023. Lara is finally, honoured to have WIJM very own powerhouse Fiona Ross write the liner notes to the album.  Click here to check out Lara’s website to listen and support her work.

Huge congratulations to Hannah Horton who has been awarded a Develop Your Creative Practice Grant. ‘Next studio album of 100% originals here we come! This was only made possible thanks to public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England’. Hannah’s upcoming gigs are:

September 10th – Hannah Horton Trio feat. Rob Statham on bass. Online show from Jazz at the Cottage. 19:30-20:30. Tickets 
September 15th – Hannah Horton/Tony Kofi Quintet. ‘Two Baritones’. Forty Hall, Ziggy’s Jazz Club, Enfield. 8pm. Tickets 
September 16th – Hannah Horton Quartet + Heidi Vogel. ‘The Swinging Cat’ Jazz Club, Haverhill Arts Centre. Tickets 

And last but certainly not least Esther Bennett’s album Safe Places is now available as a hard copy alongside her recent album Home is Where the Art Is   Visit Esther’s website here for details on how to buy a copy!

Our new Women in Jazz Media Playlist is now out: Volume 27!

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 to this month's playlist on Spotify here or You Tube here

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. If you have been in touch and you are not on a playlist yet, please don't worry, you will be on soon! We appreciate you sharing your music with us.

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

Madison McFerrin  Sunday Lendis  Mónica Matabuena

Chloé Jean  Douyé  Zoe Rahman   Roberta Baldizzone White Quartet 

The Sofia Goodman Group   Arooj Aftab   Muva of Earth 

Olivia Maisel   Matana Roberts   Claudia Villela Rotraut Jäger   Shirley Scott

Welcome to our latest episode of ‘In Conversation With’ featuring music from Hannah Horton! You can find our podcasts at number 9 in the top 60 Best Jazz Podcasts in FeedSpot! In this episode, host Hannah Horton welcomes Jo Harrop!

You can listen here

Born in Durham and raised on a heady musical diet of the likes of, Nina Simone, Billie Holiday and Aretha Franklin, Jo Harrop first cut her teeth as a session singer.

After moving to London, she quickly established herself as one of the most unmistakable voices in British jazz, performing everywhere from the Royal Albert Hall to sell out shows at Ronnie Scotts. Jo was nominated for two Parliamentary Jazz Awards in 2022, for vocalist and album of the year, and her songs have been playlisted on BBC Radio 2 Jo Whiley show, Jazz FM and BBC Radio 6 music.

Having signed to London-based jazz label, Lateralize Records, she recently received a raft of rapturous reviews for Weathering The Storm, her debut with guitarist, Jamie McCredie, and her first original album, The Heart Wants, which hit number 13 in the US Jazz album charts. Jo Harrop website

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

Our new Women in Jazz Media Playlist is now out: Volume 26!

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 to this month's playlist on Spotify 

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. If you have been in touch and you are not on a playlist yet, please don't worry, you will be on soon! We appreciate you sharing your music with us.

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

Tatiana Eva-Marie  Gaea Schell  Meshell Ndegeocello  Angel Bat Dawid

Lucy Lambert  Nite Bjuti  Melba Liston  Tania Giannouli

Rouhangeze  Carmela Rappazzo  Ashaine White  Amy Gadiaga

Rachel Therrien  Mary Ancheta  Romarna Campbell

The nominations have today been announced for the UK 2023 Parliamentary Jazz Awards. We are thrilled to see some of our team nominated and wish a huge congratulations to Monika S. Jakubowska and Tatiana Gorilovsky for their nominations for Jazz Photographer Award and to Hannah Horton for two nominations – Jazz Newcomer and the Jazz Education for her incredible work with J Steps. Go team!

We would also like to shout out to some incredible women and organisations we support nominated across the awards including Amy Gadiaga Danielle White Jo Harrop Camilla George Janine Irons and Tomorrows Warriors!

The full press release is below:

The Awards, organised by the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) with the support of PizzaExpress Live. The recipients of the 2023 Parliamentary Jazz Awards will be announced on Tuesday 4th July 2023. The Parliamentary Awards celebrate and recognise the vibrancy, diversity, breadth and talent of the jazz scene throughout the United Kingdom. 

The award categories reflect the ever-increasing scope of talent from within the UK’s jazz scene: Jazz Vocalist of the Year; Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year; Jazz Album of the Year; Jazz Ensemble of the Year; Jazz Newcomer of the Year; Jazz Venue of the Year; Jazz Media Award; Jazz Education Award; and the Services to Jazz Award with a new category this year – the PizzaExpress Live Photographer of the Year Award

Following the online public vote for the Awards, the shortlist was then voted upon by a selection panel, that represent a broad cross-section of backgrounds united in their passion and knowledge of jazz. The winners, chosen by judging members of the All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG), will be announced on Tuesday 4th July 2022.

John Spellar MP, Co-Chair of APPJG, said: "These awards are a great opportunity to celebrate the talents and energies of the great musicians, educators, promoters, record labels, jazz organisations, blogs, jazz magazines and journalists who helped kept jazz flourishing.  These shortlists demonstrate the wealth of talent and commitment that exists in the British jazz scene. Now in its 18th year, the Parliamentary Jazz Awards honour the best of British jazz. MPs and Peers in the All Party Group are grateful to PizzaExpress Live for supporting the event.”

The full list of nominees is as follows:

Jazz Vocalist of the Year
Emma Smith
Jo Harrop
Georgia Cécile
Elaine Delmar

Jazz Instrumentalist of the Year
Alcyona Mick
Art Themen
Camilla George
Gary Husband

Jazz Album of the Year
Ubunye: ‘Ubunye’
Trish Clowes: ‘A View with a Room’
Jo Harrop and Paul Edis: ‘When Winter Turns To Spring’

Jazz Ensemble of the Year
Ubunye
Alex Hitchcock and Ant Law Quartet
Julian Siegel Big Band

Jazz Newcomer of the Year
Sultan Stevenson
Amy Gadiaga
Hannah Horton

Jazz Venue of the Year
The Verdict, Brighton
Jazz at the Blue Lamp, Aberdeen
Magy’s Farm, Dromara, County Down, NI

Jazz Media Award
Kevin Le Gendre
Jazzwise Magazine
The Jazz Rag

Jazz Education Award
Tomorrows Warriors
Hanna Horton: J Steps, Saffron Centre For Young Musicians, Saffron Walden
Karen Gourlay: Head of Leeds Junior Conservatoire

Jazz Photographer Award
Monika S. Jakubowska
William Ellis
Tatiana Gorilovsky

Services to Jazz Award
Janine Irons
Danielle White
Tony Haynes and the Grand Union Orchestra

The All Party Parliamentary Jazz Group (APPJG) currently has over 110 members from the House of Commons and House of Lords across all political parties. Their aim is to encourage wider and deeper enjoyment of jazz, to increase Parliamentarians’ understanding of the jazz industry and issues surrounding it, to promote jazz as a musical form and to raise its profile inside and outside Parliament. The Group’s officers as at the Annual General Meeting on 15th March 2023 are Co-Chairs, John Spellar MP and Lord Mann, Secretary, Sir Greg Knight MP, Vice Chairs, Alison Thewless MP, Chi Onwurah MP, Lord McNicol and Patrick Grady MP, the Treasurer is Ian Paisley MP. Officers are Lord Alton and Sarah Champion MP.

Created to support the development of outstanding female Black artists in the early stages of their careers and to support the creation of ground-breaking, genre-bending and alternative original music, our Kicking Down The Door Creator Fund aims:

• To break down assumptions and stereotypes within the music industry by encouraging role models for future generations of female Black Alternative artists
• To raise awareness of the female Black artists creating genre-bending and exceptional new music
• To increase the profile of female Black Alternative Music
• To encourage the creation of authentic music creation outside of industry stereotyping and assumptions

Huge shout out and thank you to everyone who submitted an application! Everyone who applied was amazing and it was incredible to see so much inspiring work by so many women! Sadly, this time around, we only have enough budget to support three applicants but we do want to shout out to you all and thank you for applying. We will hopefully be opening the fund again and everyone is welcome to apply again, even if you applied before and were not successful.

The Kicking Down The Door Creator Fund has been created by team member Ashaine White ‘I’m so honoured to be able to be a part the journey of these 3 talented artists! Women in Jazz Media aims to support artists being themselves, authentically - inspiring women making brave music, it’s truly a pleasure to represent the black alternative music space!’

We are absolutely thrilled to announce Mary Sho, Olympia Vitalis and Rybes as our first recipients!

'I am buzzing and full of so much gratitude. Thank you to Women in Jazz Media and Ashaine White, I'm so excited to use this funding to support an intimate live show where I will be sharing new music and use the studio time to finally record final versions of my new project. The support will really make an impact on my music journey'. Mary Sho

‘I am so excited to be acknowledged by such a wonderful organisation and community that I have followed for so long. With the fund, I am planning to improve my home studio set-up which is well overdue an upgrade! Big thank you, can't wait to start working together.’ Olympia Vitalis

‘The support from Women in Jazz Media has given me the confidence to believe in my artistry and carry out the next steps to release new music as an independent artist. I'm glad this fund exists.’  Rybes

Much to more to follow, but you can support these artists already by following on the links below:

Mary Sho  Olympia Vitalis  Rybes

We are hugely grateful to Barnes Code for sponsoring this initiative and whose funding has made this project possible. Barnes Code has great expertise in the music industry and specialises in bespoke software development and we are proud to have them as an official sponsor.

Our 3 successful applicants each get: £500 towards music project, 2 x 4-hour recording sessions, 1-1 mentoring/artist development discussions, networking opportunities, live performance opportunities, one photo shoot, interview published in our Women in Jazz Media magazine and promotion on our social media platforms.

Watch this space!

We are open and transparent in all the work we do and always happy to discuss any aspects of our work including decision making. If anyone would like to explore this or has any questions, please do get in touch. We are here to support.