March 22, 2011 - An interview with Keanna Faircloth of 89.3 WPFW - features Amy K Bormet on piano, Jessica Boykin-Settles, on vocals, Leigh Pilzer on baritone saxophone, and the Howard University all-female jazz vocal ensemble SASSY.

Live take of "Bye Bye Blackbird," by Ray Henderson and lyricist Mort Dixon at 3:05 featuring Amy, Jessica, and Leigh.

Live take of "Lament," an original by Jessica Boykin-Settles at 7:40 featuring Amy, Jessica, and Leigh.

Live take of "Rock-a-Bye Baby," at 14:05 featuring  Jessica, and SASSY.

WPFW March 22, 2011

March 1, 2011 - An interview with Keanna Faircloth of 89.3 WPFW - features Amy K Bormet on piano and Melissa Gardiner on trombone.

Live take of "It Could Happen to You," music by Jimmy Van Heusen and lyrics by Johnny Burke at 9:37.

Melissa's rendition of "But Not for Me," by George Gershwin on her album 'Transitions' at 14:03.

WPFW March 1, 2011

Washington Women in Jazz Festival founder Amy K Bormet live with Larry Appelbaum at the WPFW studio in Washington, DC.

Amy discusses the 2nd annual festival, featuring drummer Allison Miller, with Larry. They also discuss running a jazz festival, and balancing life as a performer with duties as an arts leader.

Larry plays a recording of Amy's original, "Lightning," from her album 'Striking' at 24:50.

He also plays a recording of "Pent Up House," by Sonny Rollins from Allison's recording, 'At the End of the Day' at 19:00.

Amy Interview with Larry Appelbaum March 18, 2012

Amy K Bormet piano accordion and voice
Biggi Vinkeloe alto saxophone and flute
Tina Raymond drums

After performing separately at the Washington Women in Jazz Festival in March 2015, these three women collided in Venice to create new music together. Recorded live.

With special guest Nema Vinkeloe. 


Down the Rabbit Hole: An evening of improvised music in Venice

A few recordings from the first four years of the festival. The 5th annual Washington Women in Jazz Festival will be held March 2015!

Many women are active professionals in the Washington, DC jazz scene, but few are represented as performers on regional jazz festivals. Created by Amy K Bormet in 2011, the Washington Women in Jazz Festival creates equitable performance opportunities for women while uplifting the image of the jazz community and drawing in dynamic new audiences.

Inspired by the rich jazz traditions found in the district, and in recognition of the few opportunities for women to perform and excel in the region, Amy K. Bormet had an idea in 2011; to form a jazz festival where women could come together to collaborate, perform and to support one another.

Four years later, the ‘idea’ has flourished, with the 5th Annual Washington Women Jazz Festival set to present some of the great female jazz talent on the East Coast at venues in DC March 2015.

Bormet is a natural to the role of founder/director of the WWJF, as she is a graduate of DC’s Duke Ellington School of the Arts, and received her master’s degree in Jazz Studies at Howard University. She is a mentor and educator to young musicians with DC Legend Davey Yarborough at the Washington Jazz Arts Institute.  As a professional jazz pianist, she was selected for the inaugural Mary Lou Williams Emerging Artist Workshop at the Kennedy Center in 2010, working closely with Joanne Brackeen, Terri Lyne Carrington and the late Dr. Billy Taylor. Her quintet, Striking, was featured in the 2012 Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at the Kennedy Center.

Over thirty women have been showcased by the WWJF in just the first three years, ranging from jazz legend Geri Allen to the annual ‘Young Artists’ contest that brings together the very best young female jazz musicians. An engaging collaborator and supporter, Bormet brings together the finest area female musicians to perform and showcase their talents around the city. Performers often provide time for masterclasses, making sure to nourish the next generation of jazz performers.

Finally, as a result of the WWJF, DC audiences are introduced to some of the best jazz musicians in the area, while at the same time their collaboration stimulates a network of women who are making a profound impact on the jazz scene.

WWJazzFest