Spotlight
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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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.
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