The 75 minute “Women of Jazz: 1920 to Today” is a music concert presented by The Satin Dolls Band in an educational format tailored for a youth audience, where musical performances are interspersed with stories and historical background about the artists and music featured on the program. Adults who have an interest in jazz and are comfortable with a youth-oriented format are welcome to attend. We ask that children under the age of 16 be accompanied by an adult.

The program features six prominent female jazz artists – Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Mary Lou Williams, Lil Hardin, Vi Redd, and Esperanza Spalding – as well as an all-female big band from the 1930s-40s, The International Sweethearts of Rhythm. The audience learns not only about the music itself, but also how jazz and the stories of jazz musicians are inextricably linked to our nation’s history.

The program features two interactive numbers where audience members can participate in call-and-response and/or sing along with the band. Each song on the program will be accompanied by a visual presentation featuring photos of the female musicians whose music is being played by the band. All audience members will receive a take-home packet that includes a brief historical background about the featured jazz artists, a word search, and a coloring page.