February 7, 2007
Hello Joan!!!
I’m not sure if you remember me, you probably would remember my face. My girlfriend and I used to come to see you all the time when you were regularly performing at the jazz place in Hollywood ; we were “Wanda & Wilma.” I also attended a seminar you held at FIU and spoke with you regarding my experience at Bethune-Cookman College where I was the first female trumpeter there, and the resistance and backlash I had to deal with because people didn’t want to change the all male tradition of the marching band.
I believe you had a jazz series you were organizing at that time, and you asked me to remain in touch; however, I admit I’m not sure where I kept your information, probably in a “safe place.”
I just ran across your website as I was surfing the Net, and was so delighted! I’ve had you in mind as I was just recently speaking with a gentleman who is on the board of directors of a music organization and I was asking whether you ever performed for them, but he wasn’t sure. So I’m going to forward your website to him.
In the meantime, I would love it if I can speak with you because I am now the president of the Bethune-Cookman Alumni Band and on behalf of this organization, I would love it if you would be willing to collaborate with us with regard to writing some grants, setting up and promoting some events, and/or even serving on our board of directors.
I am sure you are extremely busy, but at your convenience, I would greatly appreciate a telephone call to set up a meeting.
In the meantime, I hope all is well with you.
Very truly yours,
Wanda Wright
Alvin Queen wrote:
Re: The Permanent Delegation of the U.S. To UNESCO
http://unesco.usmission.gov/CL_04162007_JazzGallery.cfm
Alvin Queen,
It is wonderful that you are an ambassador for Jazz to UNESCO. Just one problem with this.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Woman Musician (vocalist or instrumentist).
This is UNACCEPTABLE! I am really disappointed.
My song does NOT change. Women hold up half of the sky and they've been
instrumental in bringing Jazz music to the world, equally as much as men
have.
This needs to be rectified as soon as possible.
Joan Cartwright, Founder
WOMEN IN JAZZ SOUTH
FLORIDA, INC.
Joan,
Does this mean I must have a women in my group, if I decide to use a man. I
was contact by a friend of mind to put this group together and that's what I
did, There no reason to expose this to the rest of the world, using me as an
example.
I would like for you to explain this to me more clearly, because it seams
very negative on my behalf.
Best regards
Alvin
Dear Joan,
I concur completely with your observation and related comments. It certainly is not negative to simply point out the obvious - and sexual imbalances in music worldwide needs addressing yesterday. Until the problem is solved there is absolute no reason to accept "business as usual" anytime before this brand of prevailing injustice is rectified.
Peace profound,
Karlton Hester
To: Joan's comment below
" NO COMMENT" -- Alvin Queen
Alvin,
I do not know the circumstances of how this came about.
What I do know is that women are systematically omitted from the Jazz scene in almost every way possible. This MUST be rectified. Musicians must understand the importance of including women in these situations. Women have been left out for far too long.
If you feel my response is "negative", imagine how we feel when we see these situations happening constantly and NO ONE is speaking out about it. As the founder of an organization with the mission of promoting women in jazz, I believe it is my DUTY to bring this omission to light.
I do NOT mean to insult or downgrade you in anyway because I had no idea how the appointment came about and you know that. What I do know is that all musicians must consider this a serious issue. The world consists of men and women. The jazz scene consists of men and women. However, women are left out so often that it is now "normal" to omit them at every turn. If you were asked to put the band together, you could have invited a woman to join you as a singer. It is only fair that women are represented, globally, on the Jazz Scene.
I am sure I am not the only person you send the link below to. Others need to know what is happening, when it is happening. We live in a high-tech world where information is disseminated, rapidly. Hopefully, inequities like this can be rectified just as rapidly.
Sincerely,
Joan Cartwright, Founder
Dear Mr. Queen:
I really appreciate the time you took to answer me so thoughtfully.
Even more, I appreciate your forwarding my comments to others. While
I can understand why any band leader might not use any singers, I'm
not clear on why women musicians would not be considered, but I
compliment you for your honesty.
Joan Cartwright had no idea that I would write you. You are among
many people I have written and to whom I write on an ongoing basis,
not only in my own interests, but on behalf of the issue of need for
the inclusion of women. As for whoever pays a salary, when a
delegation is publicized as a US Delegation, then those of us who
lack access to the opportunity made available to others should bring
the issue to the attention of both those who do the hiring or
appointing and those who, albeit unintentionally, are beneficiaries
of institutional sexism in this case. I act on behalf of people of
color subjected to racism in much the same way.
I have taken the time to read your biography and listen to the 2
songs in mp3 files on your website. Of course, they are great. Your
intro to Nutsville reminded me a bit of Art Blakey's intro on Night
In Tunisia which I saw him perform at the original Birdland many
years ago--though Nutsville is a quite different tune. I enjoyed
them both.
Like you, I come from inner city projects, in my case from
Philadelphia. I had uncles who were Baptist pastors and come
from a long line of Gospel singers there. But I can assure you that
there are many women with talent who are simply shut out because we
are women. It was true then and it's true now. For that reason, I
have begun a global effort to discourage the hiring of bands that
never hire women. That is not to say that any band must always hire
women, but that if women are never hired, consideration should be
given to the possibility that women are being excluded for reasons
unrelated to music. I am simply promoting equitable consideration.
The idea seems to be catching on. Like
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., I have a dream that one day
women will be accepted for their talent, not excluded for their
gender.
Again many thanks for you outstanding courtesy in responding to me.
I do appreciate that.
Sincerely,
Suzanne Brooks
Dear Mrs. Brooks,
I will try to answer some of questions even thou I don't know if
it would help. I have been in the business for over 40 years and I
have rebuild my life over here living in Geneva, Switzerland with out the help of any Americans a
broad.
My salary does not come from America. I have nothing against
adding women in my band, but I definitely do not use women within
the format of my music (specially) singers and when I decide to
use one on either performance or recording, I will definitely be
sure to let you know.
The group which was put together are locate people who are also
living in Europe in are the best of friend that I have over here who
did such a beautiful job with me for UNESCO and I will use them again if I have to.
I feel that this definitely ridiculous on the behalf of my so call
friend Mrs. Cartwright because she feels eliminated, so she
deciding to try to create problem for her own people who just mite
try to give her a chance, but at this level I don't believe this
will ever happen.
I will be sure to forward this email message along with the one
that Mrs. Cartwright has addressed to me with all your email
address on it to
UNESCO and also the American Embassy in Paris, just to see
if they will help all of you or put your name on a list in not
doing anything for you, that's up to them.
I hope that I was able to answer some of your questions and my
thought are still the same, have nothing against women, but my
group does not require a female vocalist.
Thanks once again for your time and patience
Alvin L. Queen
Geneva, Switzerland
Alvin Queen wrote:
http://unesco.usmission.gov/CL_04162007_JazzGallery.cfm
www.alvinqueendrummer.com
www.myspace.com/alvinqueendrummer
"Melba Liston is one of the best jazz musicians, not just one of the best women in jazz." --Junior Mance
". . .people didn’t want to change the all male tradition of the marching band."
--
Wanda Wright, President
Bethune-Cookman Alumni Band
Organist
Trudy Pitts handled herself
formidably in an arena of musicians made up mostly of men.
Tony Monaco, Pete
Fallico (Doodlin' Lounge), Gen Ludwig, Trudy Pitts, Lonnie Smith
Joan Cartwright has
been the leader of hundreds of musicians in her band JAZZ
HOTLINE
