Jazz The Womens Viewpoint

Jazz! The Women's Viewpoint is an annual forum conceived seven years ago by the late Rosalind Blair, who was a member of the pioneering group Club Jest Us; a group of women promoters who were responsible for the vanguard recording at Night of the Cookers. Her desire was to set a safe place where women can share their views on the topic of Jazz, and their involvement on both artistic and personal levels. If Jazz is a cultural lifeline and culture expresses the civility of a people, women in the Jazz environment are the ones who can bring forth the truth. Therefore the position women must take is to speak on the facts that relate to them in this rich cultural expression!

Initially, the forum included a panel of 6 including musicians and wives of musicians concluding with a musical presentation. An honorarium was paid to all participants. Ms Blair funded the entire program herself. The presentation has evolved to be Intergen-
erational and the addition of more music. We ask that each panelist in addition to the discussion, present a small selection of her art.

Jazz! The Women’s View Point has had stellar roster of talented musicians and equally talented wives of musicians lend support to this forum over the years. They include Amina Baraka, Dena Vireo, Miriam Sullivan, Charande Wade, Bertha Hope Melba Joyce, Bernice Brooks, Dee Ramey, Evelyn Blakely, Linda Hudson Deidre Murray, Jacqueline Bonneau, Keisha St Joan, Akua Dixon Turre, Lil Phillips, Lakeisha Benjamin, Keisha Saint Joan, the Kim Clarke Trio, Tulivu Donna Cumberbatch, Nikki Williams, as well as the wives of musicians Bayyinah Abdus Sabur, Eloise Jones, Gloria Ware, Carline Ray, Carolyn Dunlop, Sayydah Garrett, Sandy Jordan and Amy Olatunji. The last couple of years, the moderator has been Shelia Anderson of WBGO.