TRANSCRIPT:
I’m Mark Rapp, and this is Rapp on Jazz.
Women have shaped jazz from the very beginning—on the mic, at the piano, and behind the bandstand.
Bessie Smith, the “Empress of the Blues,” brought raw power and emotion to early jazz vocals, paving the way for generations of singers to follow.
Mary Lou Williams wasn’t just a pianist—she was a composer, arranger, and mentor to Thelonious Monk and Dizzy Gillespie. She helped shape swing, bebop, and beyond.
Then there’s Ella Fitzgerald, the “First Lady of Song.” Her voice was a pure instrument—scatting, soaring, and redefining vocal jazz with unmatched clarity and range.
Melba Liston, a pioneering trombonist and arranger, worked with legends like Quincy Jones and Dizzy, proving that brilliance wasn’t limited by gender, just opportunity.
These women—and many more—broke barriers, mastered their craft, and made sure jazz had a richer, fuller voice.
This has been Rapp on Jazz, a co-production of ColaJazz and SC Public Radio, made possible by The ETV Endowment of South Carolina.