Women are here in the world of jazz and they always have been. Now championed by the growing spaces that put these women centre stage, it’s time to value their contribution and explore the possibilities that come with these shared experiences

Jazz musicisan Tara performing at the Madame Jazz launch night

Image: Bardha Krasniqi

It’s Friday evening and Madame Jazz has well and truly arrived at the Hootananny venue in the heart of Brixton. Hosted by singer Ella Knight, Madame Jazz aims to spotlight the women who share a passion for this genre through a series of monthly events.

Despite women having played a vital role in shaping the history of jazz internationally, think Bessie Smith and Ella Fitzgerald, when it comes to the UK, they represent just 5% of the instrumentalists. Combining this with the inequality across the general music industry, in which 80% of British songwriters are male, there is a clear disparity.

Louise Paley, co-founder of Women in Jazz UK, thinks it has a lot to do with self-confidence and a lack of role models. In response, Women in Jazz UK, which began as a show on Soho Radio featuring artists such as Zara Mcfarlane and trumpeter Yazz Ahmed, hosts events similar to Ella Knight’s, that support young talented women in their music careers. “I think it is a really exciting time for jazz - even the term jazz has become so broad,” says Paley on its ever changing sound. “Some artists in London are moving away from what jazz was once known as and are combining its elements with other genres like Afro-beat, electronica and folk.” This innovation is widening our definition of jazz, welcoming a new calibre of artists who are keen to share their music and help to combat the gender divide we see on stage. “Our community contact us to let us know about shows they have seen and how they have  inspired them to continue writing, continue pursuing a career in music, and also given them the confidence to start. That’s why having women-focused events are so important,” says Paley.

Madame Jazz founder Ella Knight on stage at the launch event

​Video: Hannah Karpel

Saxophonist Nubya Garcia and multi-instrumentalist Emma-Jean Thackray are just two of the exciting musicians changing the face of the jazz scene and both Paley and Knight are determined to ensure that more women follow in their footsteps. “I’ve been in a position where I too feel uncomfortable to be in this scene and that my music doesn’t even classify as jazz,” says Knight, whose music effortlessly merges jazz with R&B and grew in popularity in recent years after releasing her songs What Are We and Q&A. “I want young women to join us at Madame Jazz and feel a part of our community. I want to support them.”

The attitudes of these community-focused events echo the early provocation of jazz, which used lyrics as a tool of activism to explore the complexities of human identity as well as  hopes for a new life and changing attitudes. “It has been really refreshing to see people on stage who are really comfortable with their sensuality and power,” said one guest at Madame Jazz, referring to a performance by singer Muva of Earth, whose style combines alt-jazz and neo-soul.

Paley believes recognising the role of women in jazz throughout history is essential to tackle the imposter syndrome so many newcomers are prone to. “You have pianist and performer Hazel Scott - the first black American woman to host her own TV show,” says Paley. “German pianist Jutta Hipp, who learnt to play jazz during World War II and Lil Hardin Armstrong - who, although is often known as Louis Armstrong’s wife, was an incredibly successful composer and arranger in her own right.”

The next Madame Jazz event, hosted by Ella Knight is on 11th May 2022 featuring the Jazz FM breakthrough act of 2021 - drummer, pianist and composer Jas Kayser and the brilliant singer Yazmin Lacey, this time with a gripping DJ set. Grab your tickets here.

Ella Knight's jazz playlist