Jazz & Gender | International Days EhB 2023

This presentation discusses some of the findings from our recent Routledge Companion "Jazz and Gender" (Routledge, 2022) ed. Monika Herzig, James Reddan, and Michael Kahr, specifically a summary of the lingering barriers for female instrumentalists in jazz causing the current glass ceiling.

In 38 chapters, authors from 4 continents, present historical, social and cultural perspectives on gender in the art form jazz. Furthermore I'd like to discuss my chapter contribution to the book, the role of all female groups, and our Jazz Girls Days as initiatives towards change. Lingering barriers include missing role models, tokenism, stereotyping, and approaches to pedagogy. Presenting alle female groups on stage and in educational settings provides safe environment, freedom of expression, breaks stereotypes, and offers needed networking opportunities. During our discussions we will focus on specific issues and unique cultural characteristics of European countries and share possible action items.

Find out more about the International Days of EhB.

Currently Professor for Artistic Research at the Jam Music Lab Private University in Vienna, Dr. Monika Herzig is the author of “David Baker – A Legacy in Music” (IU Press), Experiencing Chick Corea: A Listener’s Companion  (Rowman and Littlefield, 2017), and co-editor of Jazz and Gender (Routledge, 2022). She is also the chair of the research committee for the Jazz Education Network and editor of JAZZ (Jazz Education in Research and Practice, IU Press). 

As a jazz pianist she has toured the world, opened for acts such as Power of Tower, Sting, Yes and her music has won DownBeat Magazine Awards and is featured on NPR and JazzWeek. Her all female Supergroup Sheroes was voted as one of the best groups of 2018 by DownBeat Magazine and her composition “Just Another Day at the Office” is one of the selections in New Standards: 101 Lead Sheets by Female Composers (Berklee Press, 2022).  Herzig’s awards include a 1994 DownBeat Magazine Award for Best Original Song, a Jazz Journalist Association Hero 2015 award, as well as grants from the NEA, the Indiana Arts Commission, MEIEA, Jazz Tours, the US Embassy among others. Monika is a CASIO Artist.