The Supernova that Was Jazz-Rock Fusion

I'm not sure why female artists are so few in both the Prog World as well as that of Jazz and Jazz-Rock Fusion: I'm not sure if it's due to lack of interest, cultural discrepancies in education and societal norms, or mysogynistic behaviors from men, but there are definitely fewer women in the non-classical musical genres than population demographics would predict. I am compiling a list of the women who managed to make a name for themselves in the bloom of classic Jazz-Rock Fusion (and Prog). (Names printed in red connote Jazz and/or Jazz-Rock Fusion artists.) Patti Austin   / vocalist  (Bob James et al.)  Mireille Bauer   / percussionist  (Gong, Édition Spéciale, John Greaves, Art Zoyd)  Madeleine Bland / cello, piano, harmonium, backing vocals (Fuschia) Carla Bley / composer Angela Bofil / vocalist, bandleader Máire Brennan / vocalist, harpist Dee Dee Bridgewater / vocalist Valéry Btesh / vocalist (Tangerine, solo, Pollen) Jill Child /  vocalist ...

A relative late-comer to the Jazz-Rock game, Brand X came together in the wake of the tumult and tremors that the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Return To Forever had created. The brainchild of bassist Percy Jones and keyboard specialist Robin Lumley, the band started out as a practice band, jamming for long hours whenever the members had the time or need or desire to get their willies out. M uch of their efforts were stylized after the most recent incarnation of the American Fusion band Return To Forever. ATOMIC ROOSTER guitarist John Goodsall was an occasional member of these jam sessions.  Things took a more serious turn when ISLAND RECORDS expressed interest in recording their material. With this new impetus, Lumley and Jones got more serious about creating a stable ensemble of committed musicians in order to fulfill the Island Records' hope for an in-house band. Though Lumley and Jones had been actively trying to recruit drummer Bill Bruford for the band, Percy had recently befriend...