Changing the Tune: The Kansas City Women's Jazz Festival, 1978-1985Even though the potential passage of the Equal Rights Amendment had cracked glass ceilings across the country, in 1978 jazz remained a boys’ club. Two Kansas City women, Carol Comer and Dianne Gregg, challenged that inequitable standard. With the support of jazz luminaries Marian McPartland and Leonard Feather, inaugural performances by Betty Carter, Mary Lou Williams, an unprecedented All-Star band of women, Toshiko Akiyoshi’s band, plus dozens of Kansas City musicians and volunteers, a casual conversation between two friends evolved into the annual Kansas City Women’s Jazz Festival (WJF). But with success came controversy. Anxious to satisfy fans of all jazz styles, WJF alienated some purists. The inclusion of male sidemen brought on protests. The egos of established, seasoned players unexpectedly clashed with those of newcomers. Undaunted, Comer, Gregg, and WJF’s ensemble of supporters continued the cause for eight years. They fought for equality not with speeches but with swing, without protest signs but with bebop. For the first book about this groundbreaking festival, Carolyn Glenn Brewer interviewed dozens of people and dove deeply into the archives. This book is an important testament to the ability of two friends to emphatically prove jazz genderless, thereby changing the course of jazz history. |
Contents
| 1 | |
| 18 | |
The Second Year March 2325 1979 | 57 |
The Third Year March 2023 1980 | 91 |
The Fourth Year March 2529 1981 | 133 |
The Fifth Year March 2428 1982 | 151 |
The Sixth Year March 2327 1983 | 181 |
Common terms and phrases
All-Stars Amy Duncan Anita O’Day artists audience author by Carol Barbara bass player bassist Beat big band board meeting minutes board members career Carla Carline Ray Carol and Dianne Carol Comer interview Carol Kaye clubs Comer and Dianne Crown Center Dianne Gregg interview Dottie Dodgion drummer fans female Festival program booklet Folder number girl Ibid International Sweethearts interview with author jam sessions Jane Ira Bloom Janice Robinson jazz band jazz education Jazz Festival program jazz musicians Joanne July 30 Kansas City Star Kenton KOOL Leonard Feather Linda Dahl Lou’s Maiden Voyage Main Concert March Marian McPartland Mary Fettig Mary Lou Williams Mike Ning collection night performance pianist Piano Jazz played REPRINTED BY PERMISSION saxophonist Shifra Stein SHSMO-KC sing singer solo sound Sweethearts of Rhythm swing Terry Teachout told took Toshiko trio trombone trumpet tunes wanted WJF board meeting WJF’s Women in Jazz Women’s Jazz Festival York