For decades, women in jazz have faced barriers, often sidelined in favour of their male counterparts. Despite groundbreaking figures like Billie Holiday, Mary Lou Williams, and Esperanza Spalding paving the way, female jazz musicians still encounter challenges in this traditionally male-dominated industry.
This Thursday, March 6, the West End Cultural Centre will host a very special event celebrating women in jazz.
The Women-Led Jazz Symposium and Women’s Day Concert 4.0, presented by the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, will unite jazz enthusiasts, musicians, and students to spotlight female talent and promote inclusivity within the jazz community. With a dynamic lineup of keynote speakers, breakout sessions, and performances, this event promises to provide a powerful platform for women to shine.
The day's activities will kick off with lectures, breakout sessions, and educational seminars, culminating in a 7:30 p.m. performance at Ventura Concert Hall. The W2JO will take the stage for a powerhouse show, featuring an all-female lineup of the city's top jazz musicians, led by the exceptional Alexis Silver. Get ready for a night that will have you swinging all through March!
Reflecting on the Event’s Evolution
Reflecting on the event’s evolution, Silver recalled how the symposium originally took place online during the pandemic. “Four years ago, we were online, and our breakout sessions were in Zoom rooms. It was great, but participants were muted and playing from home—not together, communally,” she said. “Jenny [Taylor] and I, along with the Women in Jazz Committee, thought it would be cool to combine the symposium with the concert. That way, participants could see a direct connection from learning to performance.”
Taylor, who serves as both a lecturer at the symposium and WJO’s lead trumpet player, agreed. “It started out as two separate things, and putting them together helps make it into a bigger event—something we can really celebrate and get behind. It brings the community together.”
A Wealth of Female Talent in Winnipeg
With Winnipeg’s wealth of talented female musicians, filling the WJO’s all-female lineup has never been a challenge. “We definitely haven’t had any problems staffing a band,” said Taylor. “We’ve had multiple people reach out wanting to play, and we don’t have enough room for everyone we’d like to include.”
Representation Challenges in the Jazz Community
Despite the excitement surrounding events like this, representation remains a pressing issue in jazz. Taylor reflected on her own experience as a young musician, realizing only later how few women she saw leading jazz bands. “I was inspired to play trumpet by a guy in ninth grade when I was in fourth grade. It never occurred to me that was unusual. The first time I really noticed the gender imbalance was at an International Trumpet Guild conference, where the lineup for the men’s bathroom was 20 minutes long, and the women could just walk right in. That’s when it hit me—maybe the trumpet world was skewed in the wrong direction.”
Silver echoed the sentiment, noting her own experience in the jazz community. “I always felt welcomed in the jazz community, but looking back, I wonder what would have happened if I had seen more female bandleaders in my formative years. Would I have chosen jazz over classical?” She also pointed out that when she and Taylor were in university, there was no dedicated jazz program at the University of Manitoba. As Taylor explains, "There was a jazz band, but no formal jazz program. Now, it’s different. But when I was in junior high, my jazz band was 90% girls. By high school, it was 80%. By university, I was one of only three women in the jazz band. Two of us are now in this band.”
Inspiring Inclusion through Education
Education is a key focus of the event, with this year’s theme, Inspire Inclusion, shaping the day’s programming. The day will begin at 2 p.m. with a keynote address from Juno-winning guitarist Jocelyn Gould. “She’s going to share stories about her experiences, not just as a woman in jazz, but as a musician in general,” said Silver. “She also wants to inspire the audience, even though some of her experiences in Winnipeg weren’t exactly inspirational.”
The event will also feature a series of breakout sessions led by incredible musicians like Dr. Nora Wilson, Monica Jones, Lindsay Woolgar, and Karly Epp. Participants are encouraged to bring their instruments and join in—it’s a safe space to play, learn, and grow. “Each breakout group will focus on different aspects of musicianship specific to their instrument. There will be improvisation, skill-building, and jamming. It’s about becoming better musicians in a supportive environment,” Taylor explained.
Taylor’s Living Giants lecture, part of the symposium, highlights the contributions of living women instrumentalists in jazz. Focusing on both well-established figures and rising stars, Taylor explores the impact of musicians from the legendary 92-year-old Toshiko Akiyoshi to the young and vibrant Alexa Tarantino, born in the 1990s. As Taylor explains, “I’ve limited myself to only living players... once you start really digging in and knowing who you're looking for, the number of incredible women in jazz is overwhelming.” By narrowing her focus to living players, Taylor's talk underscores the ongoing legacy and evolving influence of women in jazz, inspiring future generations of musicians.
A Concert Celebrating Female Composers
The evening concert, featuring the WJO, will highlight music from some of Manitoba’s most talented female composers and arrangers, including Karin Carlson and Monica Jones. “Jocelyn has also contributed a couple of tunes, one of which was commissioned last year,” Taylor said. “It’s exciting to see these women’s compositions taking centre stage.”
Jenny, who leads the trumpet section in the WJO, expressed her joy in working with such a supportive group of musicians. “Everybody seems very grateful to be there,” she said. “The vibe in the room is great, and it’s so fun to play when that’s the case.”
An Invitation for All to Enjoy
Taylor shared her excitement about the symposium. "Honestly, I hope that they just have a great time. That they enjoy the music and that they can see the talent on stage. This is a women-led event, but not just for women—it’s for everyone to come and enjoy," she said.
Tickets for the concert are available through the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra website. For more information on registering for the symposium click here, and to purchase tickets, click here