Billie Davies Mentionned As One Of What Jazz Fuel Considers Iconic Women Drummers
Billie Davies had no idea she was mentionned as one of what Jazz Fuel considers iconic women drummers #iconicwomendrummers Thank you Jazz Fuel for noticing #BillieDavies and making her feel she's in good company. The article seems to be from early 2023 written by Isabel Marquez.
Women in jazz may have been under-represented in the history books, but things are quite rightly changing. In this article, writer Isabel Marquez highlights a selection of the best female drummers, both from past eras and the modern jazz scene. Of course, the list could go on, so feel free to use the comments section at the end!
The drums are one of the main instruments that exist under clear gender stereotypes and categorization.
Compared to the number of women who take up the drums, the sheer number of their male counterparts is overwhelming. Simply typing ‘Drummers’ into Google will generate a long list of male musicians, with less regard for the great female drummers that have helped change the game throughout jazz history. Whether it’s the lack of role models who are women or the categorization of the drums as a ‘masculine’ instrument, woman drummers are in the minority.
This is hopefully on the mend, with more and more women drummers coming onto the scene with their own rhythmic twist on the music. This list will venture through just a handful of those leading the charge for equality in the drumming world.
Terri Lyne Carrington
Terri Lyne Carrington is known as one of the most influential women in jazz, courtesy of her impressive career, collaborating with jazz luminaries such as Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Stan Getz, and David Sanborn, to name a few.... (read on by clicking the article link at the top or bottom of this excerpt.)
Viola Smith
The late Viola Smith was a pioneering swing and big band drummer in the first half of the 20th century. She was hailed in the 1930s as the “fastest girl drummer in the world” and credited with forging a path for women on a traditionally male instrument.... (read on by clicking the article link at the top or bottom of this excerpt.)
Jas Kayser
Kayser is a prolific drummer who has recently found herself in demand, with recently announced endorsement deals from Paiste Cymbals and Natal Drums. She has become a distinct musical personality within the London jazz scene, winning the Jazz FM Breakthrough Act and the Parliamentary Jazz Newcomer Award in 2021.... (read on by clicking the article link at the top or bottom of this excerpt.)
Cindy Blackman Santana
A virtuoso performer whose musicianship spans the genres of rock and jazz, Cindy Blackman is one of the most well-known drummers in the business. She started her career as a busking street performer in New York City in the 1980s, and now stands as a critically acclaimed performer who has toured and collaborated with countless musicians, including Pharoah Sanders, Cassandra Wilson, Joe Henderson, and Lenny Kravitz.... (read on by clicking the article link at the top or bottom of this excerpt.)
Pauline Braddy
One of the first African American female drummers was Pauline Braddy, who rose to international fame in the 1940s. She attended Piney Woods school in Mississippi, and from this grew the first integrated all-female band in history, The International Sweethearts of Rhythm. Braddy left the Sweethearts when she was 33, moving on to play and tour with numerous other jazz ensembles and musicians throughout the 1960s.... (read on by clicking the article link at the top or bottom of this excerpt.)
Migdalia Van Der Hoven
Known for her versatility, groove and style across both jazz and other genres, drummer Migdalia Van Der Hoven was named Mexico’s ‘Woman of the Year’ for arts and culture and is the current UK Ambassador for the Hit Like a Girl contest. Active on a the UK scene where she is now based, her latest album ‘Point of Departure’ was recorded live at iconic London recording studio Abbey Road.... (read on by clicking the article link at the top or bottom of this excerpt.)
Billie Davies
Best known for her work on the free and avant-garde jazz scene, drummer Billie Davies brings a wide range of improvisational drumming techniques to the stage.
Starting out in Europe in the early 1980s, she later received the Max Roach talent grant to study at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
Her 2012 release ‘All About Love’ was a big milestone in her career, seeing her win a slew of awards including Jazz Artist of the Year Award at the Los Angeles Music Awards.
Davies continued to record multiple albums and became more interested in writing experimental electronic music, such as her 2021 suite of music ‘No Boundaries’, which studied the concept of creating music for the 24th century.
Allison Miller
Originally hailed as a modern jazz icon in the making, Allison Miller’s contributions and achievements as a ‘queer, feminist jazz drummer’ are endless. Based in New York, Miller’s career as a drummer began as a pre-teen and, by the early 90s, she was featured in Downbeat Magazine’s ‘Up and Coming’ before hitting her 20th birthday.... (read on by clicking the article link at the top or bottom of this excerpt.)
