BEST SHOW EVER PODCAST from The Englert discusses trends in the art world, showcases Iowa-based musicians, and highlights members of the Corridor community. Listen to a recent interview with IWJO founder and co-manager Toni LeFebvre for free on the Anchor website. "Learning about people like Melba Liston & Mary Lou Williams, who wrote music for some of the men we really hail as jazz heroes... and having never heard their names... stuck out to me as, 'Woa, women are really missing out on being able to see themselves in this genre.'"
TALK OF IOWA, hosted by Charity Nebbe, is a production from Iowa Public Radio (IPR). "Jazz music is a truly American art form. Born in New Orleans, it was the creation of African American musicians. On today's show, we hear from Roger Maxwell, one of the founding members of the jazz program at the University of Northern Iowa, saxophonist Damani Phillips, director of the jazz program at the University of Iowa and trumpeter Toni LeFebvre, founder of the Iowa Women’s Jazz Orchestra." Listen to the recorded interview on the IPR website.
UNI GRAD'S IOWA WOMEN'S JAZZ ORCHESTRA PUMPS OUT POWERFUL MUSIC: Watch the video on the CBS 2 Iowa website. "The purpose of IWJO is perform front of audiences of middle school, high school, and college-aged students to show aspiring jazz musicians that there are active professionals in jazz who are women--and they're right here in Iowa."
UI GRAD STUDENT HOPES TO DIVERSIFY JAZZ WITH PROGRAMS FOR WOMEN: Read The Daily Iowan article online. University of Iowa graduate student Toni LeFebvre has devoted her time and graduate education to diverting from the norm in a traditionally male music scene. One of the greatest opportunities in her career in music is starting a program for female jazz artists called the Iowa Women’s Jazz Orchestra.
jJAZZ, GENDER, AND IOWA'S ALL-FEMALE JAZZ ORCHESTRA: Read the article written by Erin Wehr. PhD, on the Jazz Education Network website. "The purpose of this all-female band is to provide role-models for girls in Iowa jazz programs, to demonstrate that girls can play jazz, that this is what girls sound like playing jazz, and that girl voices in jazz are valid and meaningful."