It’s time to celebrate the women of jazz! While jazz has long been masculine domain, there have been plenty of women making their name as exceptional musicians. And they’re not just singers, we’ve collected together some of the finest instrumentalists, composers and singers who have been holding their own in a man’s world – for decades



WOMEN OF JAZZ COLLECTION

Women of Jazz

LEGENDARY DIVAS

Ella, Nina, Lady Day, and many more…the golden age of jazz was studded with some of the most memorable voices ever recorded. But women weren’t just limited to vocals; flautist Bobbi Humphrey, harpists Dorothy Ashby, and Alice Coltrane, pianist, composer and label owner Mary Lou Williams, and pianist Jutta Hipp are just a few of the women carving their own paths.

ICONS ON FILM

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GREAT WOMEN OF SONG COLLECTION

Looking for the biggest hits, or jumping off point to explore a legendary voice? Verve’s Great Women of Song series is a carefully curated selection of the best of the best.


STORIES

Black and white photograph of Jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald performing live.
Black and white portrait of Dinah Washington
Jutta Hipp Black and white portrait
Black and white photograph of jazz flautist Bobbi Humphrey.

TODAY’S WOMEN OF JAZZ

From the glittering harp of Brandee Younger, to the roots infused songs of Norah Jones, the technical mastery of supergroup ARTEMIS, to the keyboard pyrotechnics of Hiromi, today’s women of jazz hold their own on any stage.

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The Women Making Waves in Jazz Today


STORIES

Portrait of jazz singer Samara Joy
Colour portrait of musician Nubya Garcia
Brandee Younger playing the harp live at EartH, Hackney. EFG London Jazz Festival 2024.

STAFF PICKS

MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO
“NO MORE WATER” (BLUE NOTE)

2024 saw the centenary of writer and activist James Baldwin, and it feels like we need his philosophy of love, tolerance and honesty more than ever. Meshell Ndegeocello has taken Baldwin’s ethos as well as his words as the foundation for a beautiful, profound and deeply soulful record that’s brought to life by a band so tight they make it sound effortless. Check out my favourite track “Love” which I’ll be listening to for a long time to come.

HIROMI
“BLUE GIANT SOUNDTRACK” (UM JAPAN)

​​Japanese musician Hiromi Uehara was given the daunting task of composing the soundtrack for Blue Giant, a film adaptation of the manga about an obsessive young sax player plotting to emulate his jazz heroes, create new sounds and conquer the genre like an elite sportsman. She rises to the challenge magnificently, employing a deft array of styles to musically represent the passion of the comic.

ALICE COLTRANE
“JOURNEY IN SATCHIDANANDA” (IMPULSE!)

The definitive blueprint of 1970s spiritual jazz, with deep Indian and African influences and brilliant contributions from saxophonist Pharoah Sanders.

NINA SIMONE
“WILD IS THE WIND” (PHILIPS)

​​I picked this album because I absolutely LOVE it! For me, it has every element of Nina Simone’s monumental talents – vast waves of melody, anguish, tenderness and above all that special force that is Nina Simone. You feel the growing pain in the stories of “Four Women” and the need for escape in “Lilac Wine.”  She is a masterful commentator, poet, wrapping that all in amazing music. Wild is the Wind is both wild and gentle and it all fits effortlessly together.

ASTRUD GILBERTO
“LOOK TO THE RAINBOW” (VERVE)

The soundtrack to sultry summer beach samba which always takes me to another part of the world and back to one of the coolest parts of the 1960s during the bossa nova gold-rush. When gentlemen looked sharp in tailored suits and women wore fitted dresses with Jackie O sunglasses. One of Astrud’s best albums, with arrangements by Gil Evans and produced by Creed Taylor.

AROOJ AFTAB
“NIGHT REIGN” (VERVE)

I’m a big fan of Arooj Aftab and was very much looking forward to this new album. It didn’t disappoint. Her smoky voice and Eastern vibe are very alluring, conjuring her love of the night perfectly here.  The collaborations fit fantastically – my favourite is the hypnotic “Bola Na,” with Irreversible Entanglements, Moor Mother (could listen to her all night!) and the ethereal sounds of Joel Ross’ vibraphone. Lots of great melodic and moody tracks on this album – get yourself a whisky and dig in!

Bobbi Humphrey / Fancy Dancer album cover

BOBBI HUMPHREY
“FANCY DANCER” (BLUE NOTE)

Flautist Bobbi Humphrey ‘s 1975 release on Blue Note 1975, the flautist’s third collaboration with forward-looking producer Larry Mizell. A great mix of upbeat dancefloor and laid back tunes featuring synth bass lines, harp and funky rhythm section.

Cassandra Wilson "Blue Light Til Dawn" album cover

CASSANDRA WILSON
“BLUE LIGHT TIL DAWN” (BLUE NOTE)

Cassandra Wilson’s deep voice and luxurious vibrato is at home in many styles of jazz – but her blend of blues, folk, jazz, and the gothic in “Blue Light Til Dawn” is pure atmosphere. The collection of songs: standards – “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” soul classics – Ann Peebles; “I Can’t Stand The Rain,” and Wilson’s own, original songs still feel as well curated and individual as when they were released, over 30 years ago, and Wilson’s influence on a subsequent generation of singers is clear. Read more about this album in Andy Thomas’ story.

DOROTHY ASHBY
“THE RUBÁIYÁT OF DOROTHY ASHBY” (CADET)

​​Join Dorothy Ashby on a mystical journey from Detroit around the world. This eclectic album sometimes feels like a call to prayer, other times like the soundtrack of your favourite late-night jazz bar and then the closing scene of a Bond film. The harp takes centre stage, but Ashby’s use of the Japanese koto is especially impressive. An excellent travel companion.

BETTYE LAVETTE
“BLACKBIRDS” (VERVE)

This 2020 album is packed full of powerful songs, with a blues leaning, which compliments LaVette’s deep-gravel-toned powerful soul voice. It also features one of the most soulful and stirring versions of Lennon/McCartney’s Blackbird. Superb throughout. 

DINAH WASHINGTON
“GREAT WOMEN OF SONG: DINAH WASHINGTON” (VERVE)

Featuring some of Dinah Washington’s most popular songs like”What A Difference A Day Made”, this record is a vocal Jazz evergreen.

NORAH JONES
“COME AWAY WITH ME” (BLUE NOTE)

​​Norah Jones’ 2002 debut on Blue Note with sensitive originals as well as well-chosen cover versions: Hank Williams’ “Cold, Cold Heart”, and Hoagy Carmichael’s ‚”The Nearness Of You” which are both given the magic touch. Takes me back to my university days when it felt like it was everyone’s album of choice.

MELANIE CHARLES
“Y’ALL DON’T (REALLY) CARE ABOUT BLACK WOMEN” (VERVE)

Charles, a Soul/RnB singer (and flautist) reimagines some classics on this album, which should have made more noise when it was released in 2021. If you’re especially into the Verve Remix album series you will love this album.

brandee younger - brand new life - album cover

BRANDEE YOUNGER
“BRAND NEW LIFE” (IMPULSE!)

After seeing Brandee Younger live at last year’s London Jazz Festival, I’ve got really interested in her blend of jazz harp, R&B and hiphop. The EJ team also discovered recently that Brandee is the caretaker of Alice Coltrane’s gold harp! Watch Jumoké Fashola’s interview here. I’d recommend this album for a chilled weekend morning or to block out a stressful commute.

Nubya Garcia 'Odyssey' Album Cover

NUBYA GARCIA
“ODYSSEY” (CONCORD)

Garcia’s exciting second album as a leader fuses contemporary groove-based London jazz with influences from dub and afrobeat.

Liana Flores_ Flower of the Soul

LIANA FLORES
“FLOWER OF THE SOUL” (VERVE)

Her debut album on Verve features wistful vocals that intertwine Bossa and Samba nods whilst giving Fleet Foxes timbres. It’s a wonderful listen whilst strolling on a brisk Spring morning as it draws you to the summer to come.

SAMARA JOY
“PORTRAIT” (VERVE)

A bona fide vocal gymnast whose prodigious technical abilities are wrapped up in bags of charm and huge sense of her own artistic vision – Samara Joy’s 2024 follow up to the smash hit “Linger Awhile” is proof that this talented young singer is going to be around for a long time. Believe the hype. 

Album cover for Ella Fitzgerald: The Moment of Truth. Ella at the Coliseum.

ELLA FITZGERALD
“THE MOMENT OF TRUTH: ELLA AT THE OAKLAND COLISEUM” (VERVE)

Ella’s never released before live recording of her concert in 1967. Featuring a beautiful performance as well as some lovely interactions with the crowd, this record is extremely well recorded and makes you feel like part of the audience.

Album cover of Meshell Ndegeocello - The Omnichord Real Book.

MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO
“THE OMNICHORD REAL BOOK” (BLUE NOTE)

Epic yet deeply introspective, sprawling yet cohesive, Meshell’s first release for Blue Note takes the Omnichord and the famous Real Book as just the starting point for a journey through her mind via fractured grooves, ethereal sounds and some fantastic collaborators.

Amy Winehouse "Frank" album cover

AMY WINEHOUSE
“FRANK” (VERVE)

“Frank” is Amy’s debut album and was released in 2007 when the singer was 24. It features some great Jazz tunes, and you can hear influences from some of the greatest jazz vocalists such as Nina Simone and Dinah Washington.

JUTTA HIPP
“AT THE HICKORY HOUSE” (BLUE NOTE)

Jutta Hipp has a fascinating story which makes this live album all the more interesting and important to be heard. A talented pianist, she recorded 3 albums for Blue Note then dropped out of music. EJ’s Stephan Kunze has written a brilliant story all about it: “Jutta Hipp: How to Disappear Completely”.

BLOSSOM DEARIE / Blossom Dearie

BLOSSOM DEARIE
“BLOSSOM DEARIE” (TBC)

Walking bass lines, stories of love and her unmistakable soulful but meek-sounding voice makes the self-titled album from Blossom Dearie a head nodding, foot tapping must-listen. The album features three songs sung in French and her first-class piano playing.


MORE IN-DEPTH FEATURE PAGES…

The Story of Blue Note Records

THE STORY OF BLUE NOTE RECORDS