March is Women’s History Month and WBGO has many programs highlighting women in jazz.  Tune in to Jazz 88.3FM for all of the listings below, or come out for the Monday Night with WBGO at the end of the month.

Podcast available now
THE CHECKOUT
WBGO’s Josh Jackson talks to Christine Jensen about her new big band recording, Treelines (Justin Time).

Thursday, March 3, 6:30pm
MARIAN MCPARTLAND’S PIANO JAZZ
Ladies of Song with guest host Murray Horowitz
From Sarah Vaughan and Rosemary Clooney to Diana Krall and Norah Jones, Piano Jazz celebrates Women's History Month with the joy and beauty that women singers have brought to the Great American Songbook.

Saturday, March 5, 6am
RIVERWALK JAZZ
A Woman’s Touch: Celebrating Women Composers in Jazz
Ever heard of Beth Slater Whitson and Kay Swift? Maybe not, but you’ve heard their compositions, “Fine and Dandy” and “Meet Me Tonight in Dreamland,” all jazz standards today. This week, The Jim Cullum Jazz Band tips their hat to the ladies with a jazz concert of tunes composed by women.

Allen, Bridgewater, Spalding, Carrington, Kelly by Margot Schulman

Sunday, March 6, 6pm & Wednesday, March 9, 6:30pm
JAZZSET WITH DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER
The Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz All-Stars at the Kennedy Center
One time only! Dee Dee Bridgewater, altoist Grace Kelly (in her teens), pianist Geri Allen, bassist Esperanza Spalding, and drummer Terri Lyne Carrington jam like there’s no tomorrow on Mary Lou’s music and more.

“Allen's orchestral designs, sublime examples of keyboard coloring and dynamics, allowed the ensemble to display winning finesse amid improvised tangents, heated exchanges and terrifically vibrant collaborations with Bridgewater.” (Mike Joyce, Washington Post)

Thursday, March 10, 6:30pm
MARIAN MCPARTLAND’S PIANO JAZZ
Nicki Parrott
Australian singer/bassist Nicki Parrott made her mark on the New York scene working with the likes of Skitch Henderson, Billy Taylor, Warren Vache, and the late Les Paul. She has also emerged as a first-rate vocalist. On this Piano Jazz, Parrott performs her enchanting take on Peggy Lee's "I Love The Way You're Breaking My Heart."

Saturday, March 12, 6am
RIVERWALK JAZZ
International Sweethearts of Rhythm: America’s #1 All-Girl Band
Organized to raise money for their Mississippi orphanage in the late 1930s, the International Sweethearts of Rhythm became a sensation in the 1940s. This program tells their story through their recordings, interviews with surviving band members, and the music of The Jim Cullum Jazz Band.

Sunday, March 13, 10am-2pm
SINGERS UNLIMITED
Women Songwriters
Singers Unlimited focuses on great women songwriters-- Dorothy Fields, Carolyn Leigh, Kay Swift, Irene Kitchings, Betty Comden--not to forget the singers who've written songs--Billie Holiday, Annie Ross, and then some.  Michael Bourne will celebrate Women of Song on Singers Unlimited.

Sunday, March 13, 11pm
JAZZ FROM THE ARCHIVES
Big Band-less Toshiko Akiyoshi
Host Annie Kuebler explores the music of the talented pianist-composer away from her big band settings, including solo, trio and other small group performances.

Dianne Reeves

Monday, March 14, 6:30pm
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER WITH WENDELL PIERCE
Dianne Reeves
Singer Dianne Reeves turns every note into an alluring story.  In Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Allen Room, she’s joined by guitarist Peter Sprague, pianist Peter Martin, bassist Reuben Rogers and drummer Terreon Gully.  Wendell Pierce hosts.

Monday, March 21, 6:30pm
JAZZ AT LINCOLN CENTER WITH WENDELL PIERCE
Luciana Souza Trio
Brazilian vocalist Luciana Souza has made a home in both the Bossa Nova and jazz traditions. For this concert she adds texts by ee cummings and Pablo Neruda.  Souza’s acrobatic inflections are propelled by percussion of Cyro Baptista and the guitar of  Romero Lubambo.  Wendell Pierce hosts.

Sunday, March 27, 6pm & Wednesday, March 30, 6:30pm
JAZZSET WITH DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER
“Two Skirts and A Shirt” at the Kennedy Center
From “Two Skirts and A Shirt” to “Bye Bye Blackbird,” vocalists Rene Marie, Carla Cook and Allan Harris play a swinging, retro show at the KC Jazz Club.

DIVA Jazz Orchestra

Monday, Mar 28, 7:30pm & 9:30pm
MONDAY NIGHTS WITH WBGO @ Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola
Sing INto Spring Festival
Johnny Mandel Conducts Sherrie Maricle & The DIVA Jazz Orchestra
Hosted by WBGO's Rhonda Hamilton

Thursday, March 31, 6:30pm
MARIAN MCPARTLAND’S PIANO JAZZ
Roberta Gambarini
Vocalist Roberta Gambarini continues the legacy of Sara Vaughn, Ella Fitzgerald and Carmen McRae, and she is well-qualified to fill their famous heels. She recorded with legendary accompanist to ladies of song, the late Hank Jones, and received a 2010 Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. On this Piano Jazz, she sizzles on a set of tunes from the Great American Songbook.