Spotlight

Female Jazz Musicians Who Inspire Us

From living legends to trailblazers of the past, these musicians remind every girl in jazz that there's a place for her in this music.

Lakecia Benjamin
Alto Saxophone

Lakecia Benjamin

1982–present

A powerhouse alto saxophonist from New York City, Lakecia Benjamin blends hard bop, funk, and soul into a sound that is entirely her own. Her 2023 album Phoenix earned widespread critical acclaim and cemented her as one of the most vital voices in contemporary jazz.

Learn more
Anat Cohen
Clarinet & Saxophone

Anat Cohen

1975–present

Israeli-born Anat Cohen is widely regarded as one of the finest clarinetists in jazz today. She moves effortlessly between swing, Brazilian choro, and modern jazz, and has been named top clarinetist by DownBeat magazine multiple years running.

Learn more
Esperanza Spalding
Bass & Voice

Esperanza Spalding

1984–present

In 2011, Esperanza Spalding became the first jazz artist to win the Grammy for Best New Artist. A virtuoso bassist and vocalist, she has pushed the boundaries of jazz with every album — from chamber music to avant-garde soul — and founded a jazz studies program at Harvard.

Learn more
Sarah Hanahan
Trumpet

Sarah Hanahan

Active today

A rising star in the jazz scene, Sarah Hanahan is a trumpeter and educator whose work bridges traditional jazz and contemporary improvisation. She is a passionate advocate for young women in jazz.

Learn more
Nina Simone
Piano & Voice

Nina Simone

1933–2003

Nina Simone was a pianist, singer, and civil rights activist whose music defied categorization. Blending jazz, blues, gospel, and classical, she created a body of work that remains as urgent and powerful today as when it was first recorded.

Learn more
Lil Hardin Armstrong
Piano

Lil Hardin Armstrong

1898–1971

One of the first great female jazz composers and bandleaders, Lil Hardin Armstrong was a driving force behind Louis Armstrong's early career. Her compositions and arrangements helped define the sound of 1920s Chicago jazz.

Mary Lou Williams
Piano & Composition

Mary Lou Williams

1910–1981

Mary Lou Williams was a jazz pianist and composer who evolved with every era of jazz — from swing to bebop to avant-garde. She mentored Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie and composed works that bridged jazz and sacred music.

Betty Carter
Voice

Betty Carter

1929–1998

Betty Carter was one of the most adventurous jazz vocalists of the 20th century. Known for her daring improvisations and fierce artistic independence, she ran her own record label and mentored a generation of jazz musicians including Wynton Marsalis.

Want to get involved?

Sign up as a student, bring us to your school, or nominate a musician to be featured.

Get Involved