Abstract
This research explores six black female jazz instrumentalists who were active between 1925 to 1960 with the objective of bringing more attention to these pioneers who broke gender barriers and contributed to the jazz idiom. To understand why these musicians are excluded in the main cannon of jazz history, I have attempted to connect commonalities in their careers. The six women artists are Valaida Snow (trumpet), Pauline Braddy (drums), Melba Liston (trombone), Clora Bryant (trumpet), Terry Pollard (piano/vibraphone), and Dorothy Ashby (harp). These women are all extremely underrepresented in literature despite their extraordinary work and talent. These six female musicians were also chosen to be discussed in this research as they all were pursuing careers during a strongly male-dominated era in jazz.