Mary Lou Williams was already an eminence in jazz when she talked with her fellow pianist Marian McPartland for a profile in DownBeat, in 1964. “Anything you are shows up in your music,” she said. “Jazz is whatever you are playing yourself, being yourself, letting your thoughts come through.”
Williams is just one of the skillful women we’ll highlight on Evening Jazz throughout Women’s History Month on WRTI. Every Monday through Thursday in March, I’ll focus on music from a different artist: historical icons like Ella Fitzgerald and Alice Coltrane as well as present-day greats like Patrice Rushen and Regina Carter. See the month’s full rundown of artists below.
And in addition to our daily spotlight on Evening Jazz, listen for special Women’s History Month programming on the Friday Mixtape, The Get Down and other programs — including Voices in Big Band Jazz, especially on March 8, International Women’s Day, when Bob Craig welcomes Josh Jackson for a spotlight on some amazing singers who should be more widely known.
Artist Spotlight on Evening Jazz
- Monday, March 2: Dorothy Ashby
- Tuesday, March 3: Carmen McRae
- Wednesday, March 4: Regina Carter
- Thursday, March 5: Jazzmeia Horn
- Monday, March 9: Patrice Rushen
- Tuesday, March 10: Sarah Vaughan
- Wednesday, March 11: Mary Lou Williams
- Thursday, March 12: Dianne Reeves
- Monday, March 16: Bobbi Humphrey
- Tuesday, March 17: Samara Joy
- Wednesday, March 18: Brandee Younger
- Thursday, March 19: Ella Fitzgerald
- Monday, March 23: Alice Coltrane
- Tuesday, March 24: Nnenna Freelon
- Wednesday, March 25: Anat Cohen
- Thursday: March 26: Nancy Wilson
- Monday, March 30: Shirley Scott
- Tuesday, March 31: Billie Holiday
