Highly recommended: Scottish Poet Laureate Jacky Kay reading from her book about Bessie Smith, as mentioned by Russell, broadcast each morning at 9.45am this week on Radio 4.
I left the radio on, so caught jazz drummer Jas Kayser on Woman's Hour, talking about the situation of women musicians on the jazz scene, following on from research done by academic Sarah Raine at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Jas explained that it was sometimes assumed that she was a singer, as if a woman couldn't possibly be an instrumentalist, especially not a drummer, as drummers have to be tough and strong (do they actually?)
It was mentioned that
the huge contribution of women to jazz in the past had been brushed to one
side. (Not true on BSH or in Jackie Kay's writing). Jas agreed that things were
gradually improving, which I think they are. Anyway, whatever your opinion is,
you can catch this on BBC Sounds – well worth a listen.
Ann Alex
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