Join us for an engaging evening celebrating women's voices and artistry in jazz, featuring an insightful moderated conversation interwoven with live performances from the next generation of women in jazz.
Program: 6:30-8:30 PM (registration opens at 5:45 PM)
Reception: 8:30-9:30 PM (complimentary light bites and no host bar)
Co-Moderators:
Dr. Lesa Terry is a violinist, composer, author, artistic director, and educator. Her accomplishments include the Atlanta and Nashville Symphony Orchestras, performances and master classes with the Uptown String Quartet and Max Roach Double Quartet, and as a professor of jazz and world music history at Santa Monica College and Occidental College....
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Join us for an engaging evening celebrating women's voices and artistry in jazz, featuring an insightful moderated conversation interwoven with live performances from the next generation of women in jazz.
Program: 6:30-8:30 PM (registration opens at 5:45 PM)
Reception: 8:30-9:30 PM (complimentary light bites and no host bar)
Co-Moderators:
Dr. Lesa Terry is a violinist, composer, author, artistic director, and educator. Her accomplishments include the Atlanta and Nashville Symphony Orchestras, performances and master classes with the Uptown String Quartet and Max Roach Double Quartet, and as a professor of jazz and world music history at Santa Monica College and Occidental College.
Nedra Wheeler is an acclaimed bassist and composer whose career spans jazz, world music, and classical influences. With a reputation for versatility and innovation, she has collaborated with jazz greats and is dedicated to music education and community outreach.
Panelists:
Regina Carter is a world-renowned jazz violinist known for her genre-defying approach and masterful technique. A recipient of the MacArthur “Genius” Fellowship, she has performed globally, blending jazz, classical, and world music influences.
Tierney Sutton is a 9X Grammy-Nominated jazz vocalist most known for her impeccable voice and imaginative treatments of The Great American Songbook. In 2024, Sutton emerged as a songwriter with the release of “Good People” a song and searing video providing a U.S. history lesson on systemic racism and white denial.
Katie Thiroux is a virtuosic bassist, vocalist, and bandleader whose deep understanding of jazz tradition is matched by her fresh and dynamic approach. She has toured internationally and is recognized for her work in jazz education and mentorship.
The Band:
Yejin Kwon is a jazz pianist from Korea, currently studying jazz performance at the University of Southern California. She enjoys composing and exploring lyrical, harmony-rich music. Her work reflects a love for storytelling and collaboration. Yejin looks forward to sharing her music with new audiences.
Hannah Norman is a versatile Neo-soul and Folk singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles. Inspired by artists like PJ Morton, YEBBA, and Lianna la Havas, Norman is currently studying jazz voice at the USC Thornton School of Music. After moving several times growing up, soulful influences from past homes in Tennessee, Arkansas, and North Carolina continue to set her apart in the music industry.
Dee Simone is a Los Angeles based drummer. She graduated from Musicians Institute in 2012. She has recently played with groups and artists such The Melanin Horns, Doechii, Tatiana Tate, and many more.
Aubrey Situmorang is an Indonesian bass player currently residing in Los Angeles, California. She is a 2021 graduate of Berklee College of Music and has played for notable artists from a diverse array of genres, including Grammy-winning pianist and composer Billy Childs, double-platinum artist Bipolar Sunshine, and singer/producer SASAMI. Aubrey released her album “One Point One,” which received a nomination for Best Jazz Album at Indonesia’s highest music awards Anugerah Musik Indonesia in 2022.
Part conversation, part concert—Narratives & Notes is a dynamic program series from Leimert Park Jazz Festival that brings together artists, culture bearers, and thought leaders to explore the intersections of jazz and society. The series invites audiences to engage more deeply with jazz and the people who shape it.
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