Joan Cartwright

Joan Renee Cartwright (born December 7, 1947, in Kew Gardens, New York) is a Jazz and Blues singer, composer, author and educator. She has toured five continents and 15 countries including the United States, eight European countries, Brazil, Mexico, Ghana, Gambia, South Africa, the People's Republic of China and Japan, with her swinging brand of jazz and blues. She is known around the world as "Diva JC". Her online radio show [http://www.blogtalkradio.com/musicwoman MUSICWOMAN TALK RADIO] features guests, including women who compose and perform their own music, and discussions about Music and how it activates consciousness, divinity, the senses and improves character.

In 2008, Cartwright initiated an ensemble of WOMEN IN JAZZ with Sandra Kaye (TX) and Cynthia Saunders (FL) that performs a concert/lecture, telling the history of jazz and blues singers and musicians, including Alberta Hunter, Bessie Smith, Ethel Waters, Lil Hardin Armstrong, Dinah Washington, Mary Lou Williams, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Melba Liston, Alice Coltrane, Marian McPartland, Peggy Lee, Nina Simone, Betty Carter and Joanne Brackeen.

Cartwright's entries about Women in Jazz and Blues are contained in the [http://www.africandiasporastudies.com/encyclopedia/index.html Encyclopedia of the African Diaspora] published in 2008, published by [http://www.abc-clio.com/products/overview.aspx?productid=109803 ABC Clio] and available at [http://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-African-Diaspora-Origins-Experiences/dp/1851097007/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1221874823&sr=8-1 Amazon.com] .

Composer and author of the book, [http://www.fyicomminc.com "In Pursuit Of a Melody"] , containing 40 songs and lyrics to standard songs: "A Night in Tunisia" by Dizzy Gillespie, "Blue Bossa" by Kenny Dorham, "Tune Up" by Miles Davis and "Bessie's Blues" by John Coltrane. In November 2008, Joan began a Borders book signing tour. Her second book, [http://www.fyicomminc.com Rhythms of the Heart] contains poems written since 1977.

Artist-in-Residence for the 2007 Pan African Bookfest in South Florida, Joan teaches two lectures that she's given to over 6,000 children and college students, in the U.S., Switzerland, Sicily, China and Japan: "Women in Jazz" and "So, You Want to be a Singer?". Her workshops are considered dynamic and educational, highlighting the pitfalls and benefits of the music business. She contends that, "Knowing music theory is a step in the right direction for any singer who truly wants to excel in the world of music!"

Known as the "Hip hop Mom of Atlanta", Joan performed "Jazz Meets Hip Hop" in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Italy, France and England. During her 30-year career, Joan has performed with Lou Donaldson, Dr. Lonnie Smith, Freddie Hubbard, Dorothy Donegan, Philly Joe Jones, Shirley Scott, Milt Hinton and hundreds of musicians in the U.S., Europe and Asia, where she toured with Li Yang's Crazy English program, in Beijing, in 2006.

In 2007, Ms. Cartwright incorporated the non-profit organization [http://www.wijsf.org WOMEN IN JAZZ SOUTH FLORIDA, INC.] to promote women musicians locally, nationally and globally, through contacts, articles, interviews, newsletters, events, courses, clinics, workshops, lectures, research, history, archives, websites, film, audio and video recording, concerts, performances and recognition.

In 2008, Ms. Cartwright presented her program [http://www.wijsf.com/files/concert.htm WOMEN IN JAZZ] at York College and she was an honored guest at the Women in Jazz Festival at St. Peter's Church in New York City.

In Pursuit Of A Melody, Author

Joan Cartwright is the author of this 385-page anthology of her memoirs, poetry, 40 songs and two lectures: "Amazing Women in Jazz" and "So, You Want To Be A Singer? A manual for up and coming Divas".

[In Pursuit of a Melody] may be purchased at Joan's site http://www.fyicomminc.com/inpursuit.htmand you may read the first chapter and purchase the book at http://www.trafford.com/05-0819

External links

* [http://www.blogtalkradio.com/musicwoman MUSICWOMAN TALK RADIO]
* [http://www.wijsf.com Official website of WOMEN IN JAZZ SOUTH FLORIDA, INC.]
* [http://www.divajc.com Official website of Diva Joan Cartwright]
* [http://www.joancartwright.com Official website of Joan Cartwright]
* [http://www.fyicomminc.com Business website of Joan Cartwright]
* [http://www.mylifeoftravel.com/Diva%20JC.home Travel Journal of Joan Cartwright]
* [http://www.mylifeoftravel.com/ViewJournalEntry.aspx?id=eb15e705-196f-4d64-857e-2f01ecac0fef Li Yang's Crazy English Camp 2006]