Women in Jazz South Florida Inc

As a female musician this organization is a must. Joan works tirelessly on behalf of female musicians everywhere, and is an inspiration!

I am a saxophonist living in Sweden and California, and I am working actively for more gender equality in the music. I met Joan in Fiuggi, Italy, at a international conference Donne in Musica för women composers. Joan is extremely dedicated to the cause, and works hard to facilitate for women on different levels. But more women musicians and composers and producers have to come together, to give change a chance.

I love reading about the wonderful women, past and present, who play jazz. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for them. I'm always showing these news letters to my high school students, especially to my young ladies. Thank you for doing this Joan!

Re-posting, and signing this as Maguinha aka Magda Machado-Garshol.

I first learnt of Women In Jazz South Florida in 2008 when I was living in the Miami area - from Joan Cartwright. I came to admire her commitment to promoting women musicians, and her tireless efforts to bring together a community and its supporters. Of course I knew how important it was, and is, to bring awareness to women who write music, as women often belittle themselves and their talents. Women's music is charged with the kind of love that embraces giving, enduring, and opening a space for the heart and its whispers. Of course, soul and spirit, with eyes closed, do not think of the gender that houses them. Poets and composers know that. But the experience of womanhood was primarily expressed and accepted by vocalists. Women very seldom ventured into composition or instrumentation. I myself preferred to sing other people's compositions and hid my music from all ears for decades: Until I had lived enough to not think about what others would think, and reached out. Joan has been a marvelous and staunch supporter of women's music and I am grateful to her for the work that she does. I am happy to be a member of Women in Jazz South Florida Inc.

I first learnt of Women In Jazz South Florida in 2008 when I was living in the Miami area - from Joan Cartwright. I came to admire her commitment to promoting women musicians, and her tireless efforts to bring together a community and its supporters. Of course I knew how important it was, and is, to bring awareness to women who write music, as women often belittle themselves and their talents. Women's music is charged with the kind of love that embraces giving, enduring, and opening a space for the heart and its whispers. Of course, soul and spirit, with eyes closed, do not think of the gender that houses them. Poets and composers know that. But the experience of womanhood was primarily expressed and accepted by vocalists. Women very seldom ventured into composition or instrumentation. I myself preferred to sing other people's compositions and hid my music from all ears for decades: Until I had lived enough to not think about what others would think, and reached out. Joan has been a marvelous and staunch supporter of women's music and I am grateful to her for the work that she does. I am happy to be a member of Women in Jazz South Florida Inc.

Women In Jazz South Florida, Inc. created by Joan Cartwright is an excellent organization highlighting the works of many amazing women musicians. Women In Jazz South Florida definitely far exceeds expectations!

Andrea Garrison
Online With Andrea

This organization is possibly the only one of its kind devoted to helping women musicians in jazz music. Ms Cartwright does her best to get interviews with many female musicians and singers and bring the value of their work to the public eye. We are often ignored and kept out of jobs that are quickly gobbled up by lesser male musicians. Ms Cartwright is dedicated to championing our cause to get better employment. My band was interviewed by her and I have attended a luncheon with her to discuss going to Washington DC to gain support for our cause. She is a most sincere person and very knowledgable on this subject.

Joan Cartwright works really hard to promote the cause of Women in Jazz. It's not an easy job, but she is determined. What's more, even with her small budget she has accomplished some important things. She's produced CDs of women artists, sends out a quarterly newsletter, sponsors concerts and interviews artists on her BlogTalk radio show. I recommend this group highly to anyone interested in supporting Women in Jazz.

I am a professional jazz musician, singer, composer and lyricist born in the US and currently residing in Italy. The non-profit Women in Jazz South Florida is the first oganization I have joined as the mission is to promote the unique and precious artform that is Jazz on an International level. In my professional life I have personally strived to make the music, its origins and its significance known to the public and the media. To achieve this most effectively it calls for a committed, energetic and prepared leadership such as that provided by Joan Cartwright. She has documented the history of this music and moves forward to protect this music from whims, fashion and dilettantes.

I am proud to be part of an iniative guaranteeing that Jazz will endure, as it should, as the rich tapestry of Its United States, and Black origins, offered freely to an ideally free world. As it was said many times during the tumultuous century during which it was born, [Jazz] or Rhythm saved the world! So be it.

Women in Jazz, South Florida is an organization dedicated to empowering women jazz musicians. They have been very helpful in promoting my performances and the leader, Joan Cartwright is a dedicated and energetic woman in jazz, who devotes much time to promoting other women and the organization. She does everything in her power to help women get recognition in the field of jazz.