The Girls in the Band

Locations
Call Number: DVD 781.65 Gi
On Shelf At: Downtown Library

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown 1st Floor 1-week checkout	DVD 781.65 Gi	1-week checkout	On Shelf

Originally produced in 2011.
Includes commentary by Judy Chaikin and Michael Greene, film trailer, and never before seen stores: On the road with the diva jazz orchestra ; Mary Lou Williams - the lady who swung the band ; Jennifer Leitham - making the changes ; Another great day in Harlem.
Featuring Marian McPartland, Esperanza Spalding, Herbie Hancock, Terri Lyne Carrington, Patrice Rushen, Mary Lou Williams, Melba Liston, Ina Ray Hutton, Lil Hardin Armstrong, the International Sweethearts of Rhythm, and many more.
The award-winning documentary film tells the poignant, untold stories of female jazz and big band instrumentalists and their fascinating, history-making journeys from the late 30s to the present day. The many first-hand accounts of the challenges faced by these talented women provide a glimpse into decades of racism and sexism that have existed in America.
DVD, NTSC, widescreen.

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Women in Big Band Music submitted by Meginator on August 12, 2020, 8:49pm This rich documentary uses first-person interviews to tell and publicize the stories of women in jazz music, with a particular focus on the Big Band and Swing Eras. Though I wish the film had a more obvious narrative through-line and more temporal context, it presents a vital record of an oft-overlooked aspect of the genre’s rich history and lineage. Unsurprisingly, female instrumentalists and band leaders played jazz throughout its history, both in all-female ensembles and, in rarer cases (especially early), alongside men. The interviews are charming, heartbreaking, and enlightening in equal measure, as these pioneering performers directly confront the sexism and racism they encountered while relating amazing, and often humorous, stories about their careers. One of the best aspects of this documentary is hearing these women express admiration for each other, calling attention to the power of community and subtly conveying a message of female empowerment in solidarity. The crowning moment, a re-imagining of the famous photograph “A Great Day in Harlem”, makes for a fitting conclusion and provides nice symmetry while doing justice to these women’s achievements. I’m so glad that I watched this documentary and I’m eager to hear more from these extraordinary musicians.