Black Music Sunday: A salute to Terri Lyne Carrington and women in jazz

When people hear the word “jazz” or think of famed jazz musicians women are rarely included in that category—the exceptions are famed “jazz vocalists.” Some of those vocalists were also instrumentalists, like Nina Simone, who was pressured by the constraints of the industry to sing and not focus on her pianistic skills.

When we now take a deeper look at issues of “jazz and gender” or “jazz and patriarchy” we can be thankful for much of the critical work, discussion, and practice of percussionist and educator Terri Lyne Carrington. Her birthday is today.

”Black Music Sunday” is a weekly series highlighting all things Black music, with over 220 stories covering performers, genres, history, and more, each featuring its own vibrant soundtrack. I hope you’ll find some familiar tunes and perhaps an introduction to something new.