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.

Sanna Hogman
Elina Ryd
Julia Johansson

Per-Gunnar Juliusson bakom pianot på inspelningarna

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