Sunday, March 22, 2020

Women in Jazz: Celebrating the Contributions of Women to Jazz



The oft-celebrated genre of jazz has a long-standing history, with roots firmly established in our country’s rich past itself. The rhythmic tunes of jazz music, however, are usually associated with male musicians. 

From Duke Ellington to Louis Armstrong, these pioneers of jazz made it the global phenomenon as we know it today. 

As one of the leading Swing and New Orleans Traditional Jazzbands in North Texas and the Metroplex Areas, Razzmajazz Dixieland Band has been dedicated to bringing the sounds of Jazz’s Golden Era to life. 

Fans of the upbeat music have hired the band to perform at various events since its inception in 1984. By playing their extensive repertoire of songs, the band celebrates the contributions of the jazz musicians of that have come before them.

Since March is the month of commemorating Women’s History all around the United States, it’s important to look back at the rich contributions of women to jazz.

Ella Fitzgerald

The heart and soul of jazz music lay in the themes of freedom and independence that it embodied. Popularly crowned the title of “The First Lady of Song”, Ella Fitzgerald was one of the most famous jazz singers in the country. 

Her timeless renditions and flexible vocals set her apart from many others of her time, making her the gold standard against which other musicians were often compared. 

Ella Fitzgerald was most famous during the mid-1930s up until the early 1990s. During her long-standing career, she lent her vocals to the sounds of Swing Jazz tunes and often dabbled in improvisation.

Billie Holiday

Nicknamed “Lady Day”, Billie Holiday enjoyed a very celebrated, 30-year musical career. Considered one of the best jazz singers of all time, she was one of the first names that come to mind when thinking of the contributions of women to jazz music.

Redefining the genre as it was known, Billie Holiday was one of the most celebrated and well-known singers in the world of jazz in the 1930s. Her contributions were vital to Jazz’s most prominent years, making her a worldwide phenomenon even today.

Mary Lou Williams

The accomplishments of women in jazz weren’t just limited to vocals, Mary Lou Williams was a composer, performer, and instrumentalist who defined the period between the 1920s and 1940s. 

Her contributions to jazz are unparalleled, making her a pioneer in breaking gender stereotypes and setting the tone for the talented women who followed. 

Mary Lou Williams was exceptionally gifted, penning down countless songs for other jazz greats such as Duke Ellington and mentoring the likes ofDizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis.

Hire A Jazz BandFor Your Next Event

Jazz music has evolved over the years to become the high-energy, lively music we know today. It’s the perfect background music for a beautiful wedding reception and the ideal music to engage your guests at a corporate event. 

Hire a Swing Jazz band for your next event and get your guests tapping their feet and dancing the evening away. Razzmajazz Dixieland Band performs at all types of events—no matter what the venue or size of the event—including weddings, corporate events, intimate dinners, and grand openings.

If you’d like to listen to your favorite jazz tunes on the go, get their CD and start Havin’ Fun today!
For information about booking the New Orleans Traditional and Swing Jazz band, reach out to them.

Their Notable Performances

Razzmajazz Dixieland Band has been performing upbeat jazz music at events all over North Texas and the Metroplex Areas. Take a look at some of the organizers of these events:


  •   North American Society of First Responders
  • Case Power and Equipment
  •   Anheuser-Busch
  •   Law Offices of Windle Turley
  •   Junior League of Arlington
  •   Albertson's Food Stores
  • St Alban's Parish - Anglican
  • Mira Vista Country Club
  • Denton Arts and Jazz Festival
  • Globe Life Park
  • Fielder Road Baptist Church
  • Pecan Street Arts Festival - Arlington
  • Dallas Museum of Art
  • Dallas Mavericks
  • Fort Worth Boat Club
  • Park Suites Hotel 
  • Plano Firefighters Assoc.
  • Ft. Worth Cattledrive Rest. 
  • Texas Rangers
  • Main Street Arts Festival - Fort Worth
  • Children's Medical Center
  • Aerospace Optics
  • IBM 
  • Anatole Hotel
  • Walnut Creek Country Club
  • Six Flags Over Texas
  • Mesquite Exchange Club
  • Brinker International
  • National Semiconductor
  • Richland Pointe Mall