Women in Jazz Festival

[Mojo]

Are there any thoughts about the "Women in Jazz" concept?? Sounds like reverse sexism to me....especially with the amount of funding that seems to be allocated to this. Maybe a "Men in Jazz" festival? I think not. This looks like a lame attempt to draw people to see musicians that they might not see because they're not good enough to cut it in the real world. Now I'm not saying that I believe that the people playing at this festival are lame, but this concept might come off looking like that - or maybe people think it's a chance to check out some hotties?? As far as I see it, the women in the Australian jazz scene seem to do alright throughout the year (Andrea Keller with all her arias, Alison Weddding, Sandy Evans, Michelle Nicole, Sophie Brous, Tamara Murphy, Shannon Barnett etc....) These people are all very fine musicians, why an extra festival just because they dont have a Wang ? Maybe some of this money should be going towards a Melbourne Jazz festival again where the depth of the scene is celebrated, and not the Umbria shit we got force fed this year....

[vi ck i h b]

if we had a world with gender equity, fine. But we don't. At the present rate of change women won't have the same benefits that men do until 2117. Women own 10 per cent of the world's assetts but make up more than half the world's population. So things aren't very equal just yet. When they are perhaps we could review the situation?

[Mojo]

I'm purely talking about the jazz scene. I have no doubts that if we looked at the incomes across the international jazz board, then more than 50% of that would be in the pockets of female jazz vocalists alone! Do you think there is inequality within the jazz scene in Melbourne? I hire musicians according to ability alone, and this regularly includes females...

[i am woman hear me roar]

mr mojo = jealous misogynist

[Mojo]

I am woman hear me roar....

Can you read? For fucks sake, grow a brain.

[female musician]

I am all for the idea of promoting women in jazz, they are a minority. Especially non-singers, they challenge a stereotype. What some men may be interested to know is that even prominent female jazz musicians actually can find it difficult within the jazz scene. How many of them have you seen jamming at gigs?
We have spoken about this in our 'minority'. Also, women, like men will take gigs that aren't necessarily in line with their personal ideology because it pays the bills. That is a sad fact. A festival celebrating women's jazz encourages young female musicians to pursue music as a career, a dream that is easily bashed out of them by some cocky charlie parker practising prick in year 10.

I agree that their are inherent problems with such a festival, but you blokes should take a hard look at yourselves in regards to the gigs you also do ie. the gents who played for the prime minister last month whilst protesters were outside. What a joke.

[Mojo]

I hear what you are saying, and like I said, I'm not bagging the musicians involved - just the concept. If you look at the line-up for Bennett's lane next week, 4 of the 7 gigs are fronted by women, 2 of them instrumentalists. There happens to be women involved in some of the other gigs too (Andrea Keller in the Big Band and Shannon Barnett in the Bone Clan). Please don't think I'm bagging women here - I'm not (Andrea Keller is one of my favourite muso's in Melbourne). I just don't understand why it has to made into a gimmick...

[shb]

couldn't agree with you more mojo.

im a female jazz musician and think it's a misuse of funds (that could be used for the melbourne jazz festival) and just a silly idea.

I look at it this way, I've never been into chick punk bands because they don't really prove anything about females as musicans, they serve to add some novelty to otherwise (for the most part) weak songs and in the end, don't say that much...

There was a NZ rock band called TwoLane Blacktop, their lead guitarist was a girl called Pip and she played blistering guitar. Watching her amongst the other men on stage said a whole lot more about women's capacity to rock than wathcing four girls jump about on stage singing about 'the boys' and what it's like to be female. yawn.

But back on to jazz, I agree with mojo. Artists such Shannon Barnett, Andrea Kellar, Tamara Murphy, Sandy Evans etc 'prove' more on a day-to-day basis about the validity of women in jazz than this festival does....

What I want to see is GOOD music, irrespective of gender. Female players who are doing great thing swill be applauded either way...

[mim]

I don't know much about this festival, and I don't know what it's purpose is. But even just as a side-effect, if it does encourage young female musicians to pursue a career in jazz then I think it's a good idea.

There certainly are some awesome female musicians doin their thing in Melbourne and other places, at a very high level. But it seems to me that it's not at the top of the game where the problems are. If you're great you'll get there, regardless of gender. In general though, there are many more working musicians who are male. Not because the industry is sexist and won't hire women, but because there aren't many of them getting into the industry in the first place.

I do agree, though, that it is better for young musicians to see females working as jazz musicians and not as "female jazz musicians". Perhaps a better use of the funds would be to somehow get young musicians, female or otherwise, involved or atleast interested in a Melbourne Jazz Festival, where there happen to be a lot of females excelling in their chosen field.

[shb]

true mim....a Youth Jazz Festival would be a really excellant idea, as some sort of sub-section of the Melbourne Jazz Fest....

[shagazzz]

despite previous discussion, the womens festival does have a youth night and also runs several initiatives for young women (which i realise is only half the issue), such as a big band made up of high school girls from different schools which performs at federation square, jazz workshops and a forum. Perhaps some of these initiatives could include both genders and be run as part of a melb jazz festival. AJ are you there?

ps. shb are you soph? I thought I was going schizo cos they are my initials too. Maybe I'm having a conversation with myself. hahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahaha

[Gb]

Good discussion.


In reply to Female Musician re: prime minister gig with protesters etc. what a joke...

Firstly: We didn't know it was the Prime Ministers Business Awards that we were playing at; just that it was a gig at the museum and they were making a big fuss about security. Maybe if I had known, I might have thought twice (or insist we charge twice the amount!).

Secondly: In order to live and pay the bills, we've all gotta play some pretty shonky gigs. It's better to get some money back from the bastard I reckon. Must admit it was entertaining seeing how on edge everyone in the function was, with protesters beating on the walls and doors making a good ol noise!

I'm not a supporter of little J, but really, playing at a function that he is present at is hardly a big deal... In my opinion anyway.

[Vicki HB]

Hi Gideon glad to see you back online, speaking of your gigs, I forgot to tell you how much I enjoyed your performance at Halfbent.

I think is unfair to condemn anyone for doing a PMs gig even if they know about it beforehand. Are we going to start vetting the politics of punters at gigs too, or the people who buy CDs, I mean if someone makes their money for a tobacco company are you going to stop them buying your CDs given their product kills people? For goodness sake, people have to make a living.

We are, each of us, supporting un unfair economic system in this world in so many ways, I think Gideon's gig is among the least offensive betrayal (if you would call it that) towards people suffering injustice in this day and age.

[shagazz]

hi gid! yeah for sure we all slave a lot and need to put foodage on the table. 'Female musician' do you mean that chicks play at the festival because it's a gig and not necessarily a concept they agree with? In that case, I guess you are trying to point out that we all do gigs we don't agree with, but still that comment about the pm gig was a bit harsh.

[Tinky]

I gotta say I don’t see much wrong with the Idea of a Women Jazz fest. I'd hope the idea is to celebrate the idea rather than it be a gimmick. Any chance to have money towards the performance of Jazz is a good thing. We do have to admit that this is a patriarchal society so furthering the profile of women in any situation might help to turn this around a little.
If we were to talk about monies being better spent then we should look at the Aus Co and revamp it so that there isn’t so much money wasted on huge CO salaries and excessive administration costs!!!!
As Shagasss said, there are a number of possitive initiatives involved in this fest too.