Qua r ter No tes International Women in Jazz Board of Directors Jacqueline Lennon President and Board Chairperson Kim Thurman Secretary Bertha Hope Keisha St. Joan Advisory Board Nobuko Cobi Narita, Pres. Emeritus Antoinette Montague, Chairperson Gail Boyd Dee Dee Bridgewater Nat Hentoff Emme Kemp Dorthaan Kirk Janet Lawson Rev. Dale Lind Martin Mueller Newsletter Ashley Ramsay, Editor www.internationalwomeninjazz.org [email protected]www.facebook.com/internationalwomeninjazz.org P.O. Box 20674 New York, NY 10025 (212) 560-7553 From the President Greetings members and friends! International Women in Jazz is moving forward towards a progressive 2016. I was excited when we presented our Women in Jazz Festival 2015, last April. What a lineup. Our headliner was the internation- ally acclaimed Diva Jaz Orchestra. Dr. Sherrie Maricle, leader, with her all female jazz orchestra rocked Saint Peters Church with their swing, blues and jazz standards. Additional highlights were performances by IWJ members Tina Fabrique from Broadway, TV and film; Greta M. Herron, winner of our 2015 auditions as well as Gabrielle Garo, Youth in Action audition winner. All gave stellar performances with standing ovations. Our swinging IWJ band: Kate Cosco on piano, John Lenis on bass and Dee Ramey on drums, accompanied our performers. We experienced jazz at its best! IWJ Board of Directors will continue to bring you the music you love. As you know nonprofit organizations experience a rise in expenses every year. We rely on financial support from our members and friends. I know when we call on you for your support you will not hesitate to assist us. Part of our strategic plan is to have phonathons, hire a grant writer and secure summer interns and volunteers. I am glad to report that this is being pursued. We are reaching out to acquire more board members. If you would like to be a candidate this year, please request an application. We always need new and fresh ideas. Our membership is so important. Membership helps cover operational expenses and must be increased so please remember to submit your dues and tell friends. Attend our First Mondays Jam Sessions and participate in our members’ only auditions to be a candidate for our events. Supporting our events by membership and volunteering is greatly appreciated. We cannot do it without you. - Jacqueline Lennon President, International Women in Jazz 2015 Summer Volume 5
From the President Greetings members and friends! International Women in Jazz is moving forward towards a progressive 2016. I was excited when we presented our Women in Jazz Festival 2015, last April. What a lineup. Our headliner was the internation-ally acclaimed Diva Jaz Orchestra. Dr. Sherrie Maricle, leader,
with her all female jazz orchestra rocked Saint Peters Church with their swing, blues and jazz standards. Additional highlights were performances by IWJ members Tina Fabrique from Broadway, TV and film; Greta M. Herron, winner of our 2015 auditions as well as Gabrielle Garo, Youth in Action audition winner. All gave stellarperformances with standing ovations. Our swinging IWJ band: Kate Cosco on piano, John Lenis on bass and Dee Ramey on drums, accompanied our performers. We
experienced jazz at its best! IWJ Board of Directors will continue to bring you the music you love. As you know nonprofit organizations experience a rise in expenses every year. We rely on financial support from our members and friends. I know when we call on you for your support you will not hesitate to assist us. Part of our strategic plan is to have phonathons, hire a grant writer and secure summer interns and volunteers. I am glad to report that this is being pursued. We are reaching out to acquire more board members. If you would like to be a candidate this year, please request an application. We always need new and fresh ideas. Our membership is so important. Membership helps cover operational expenses and must be increased so please remember to submit your dues and tell friends. Attend our First Mondays Jam Sessions andparticipate in our members’ only auditions to be a candidate for our events. Supporting our events by membership and volunteering is greatly appreciated. We cannot do it without you.
- Jacqueline Lennon President, International Women in Jazz
2015 Summer Volume 5
Youth in Action member, Gabrielle Garo, delivered impressive, skillful jazz renditions on the flute and the saxophone.
The Diva Jazz Orchestra headlined at Saint Peter’s Church.
Our Festival Honoree
Gwen Kelley, editor and publishing manager of The Hot House Jazz Guide, accepted the honor accompaned by her husband, Joseph Kelley.
Greta Marie Herron gave a captivating and commanding performance.
International Women in Jazz 2015 Festival
Tina Fabrique, our special guest performer, gave a dazzling performance as she took us through her celebrated journey.
Dee Cassella An exceptional singer, Dee Cassella began singing professionally only late in her career, revealing her totally distinctive sounds and deeply-felt interpretations. She’s performed sold out CD release shows for her 2008 debut recording “I’m Here Now”, featuring bandmates Dena DeRose, Gene Bertoncini, Jed Levy, Martin Wind and Matt Wilson, receiving rave reviews that can be viewed at “deecassella.com, as well as videos on line at youtube.com/user/deecassella. Ms. Cassella is also part of a two CD compilation of jazz tunes on the EQ label in Singapore, Malaysia and Taiwan. Since then, she’s heard monthly at Two Boots in Connecticut and Fuji’s of Japan, an extended stay at Somethin’ Jazz Club in NYC, along with sold out shows at the Metropolitan Room, The North Square, Jazz at Kitano, and Barnes and Noble. Dee also toured in Paris, France; Italy and Moscow, Russia. Entering the Sarah Vaughan International Women’s Jazz competition, Dee Cassella was top 40 out of 1,500 singers in 2012, 2013 & 2014 and in 2013 was chosen in the top 15 as a semi-finalist. She also received the Cabaret Choice Performer Award as a nominee in 2008, and was featured vocalist for the 2007 New York Sheet Music Society Show. Reviewer Will Friedwald stated,“Dee delivers songs with such conviction and subtlety that after a few notes you’re not even thinking so much about the singing part-you’re too busy following the stories she tells.” Dee is an active IWJ member.
Kim Clarke Congratulations to IWJ member Kim Clarke on her Jazz Hero Award from Jazz Journalist Association, held at the Blue Note in New York City. IWJ supporters Jackie Lennon, Antoinette Montague, who gave the opening performance, and Kim Clarke were all smiles to Randy Weston on his JJA Lifetime Achievement Award. We also congratulate IWJ member Monika Herzig in Indiana as a JJA Jazz Hero, who was unable to attend and to all awardees.
Kim Clarke
Dee Cassella
Recognition Ceremony Jackie Lennon, IWJ President, presents recognition awards for outstanding service to members Mary Alford, Nadine Sapia, Aldora Britton. Board Member Keisha St. Joan assisted with the ceremony.
Recognition Awards
Interview IWJ President Jackie Lennon was interviewed by John Greenspan, IWJ member and host of “Good Morning Jazz” on KSFR, Santa Fe Radio. IWJ was featured for his 15th Anniversary Women inJazz program, June 2015.
SPOTLITE ON IWJ MEMBERS
Become an IWJ Member!
Yearly dues are only $45. Apply by mail or online
via our website. PayPal and credit cards accepted.
IWJ First Monday Jam Sessions
Open to the public. We invite singers, instrumentalists, jazz performers and enthusiasts to
our first Monday monthly jams at Saint Peter’s Church.
Accompaniment by our IWJ musicians.For more information see our website.
PUBLICITY GOES A LONG WAY
Membership Event Calendar
IWJ Member calendar is a new benefit! Submit your event to [email protected]
Membership
Get involved. Become an IWJ member and help us continue our jazz journey. Apply online or request an
application.
Youth in Action
Are you a female musician under the age of 17 who plays or sings jazz? Attend our auditions to perform in IWJ
events. Check out our website for update.
IWJ is expanding our board membership. Be a part of IWJ and bring your skills to our table. Request an application.
Publicity Goes A Long Way
Like us on Facebook and please mention you are a member of International Women in Jazz on your social
media and provide us with your link for the member page of our website.
Who said “Good help is hard to find.” This past summer, IWJ was fortunate to hire Ashley Ramsay as an intern who assisted us with tracking and improv-ing our databases and social media. Ashley is a senior at Caldwell University, majoring in communications and me-dia studies and minoring in business administration. Herknowledge of systems was welcomed to perform several tasks necessary to innovate and improve IWJ.
Ashley’s other interests include singing and writing. She currently teaches Rockin’ Rail-road, a Kidville class that introduces toddlers to musical instruments, sounds, and rhythms. She has most recently received a certification in event planning and design. This intern has set her goals high and hit the ground running, expressing interest in volunteering her services and expertise to IWJ every step of the way. Thanks to Ashley for her service! We cannot wait to see where she makes her mark in the entertainment industry and support her in all future endeavors.
