Bessie Smith was known as the “Empress of the Blues.” Nina Simone was the “The High Priestess of Soul.” And Billie Holiday was revered as the great “Lady Day.”

The enduring legacy of these 3 bold women of color speaks to their monumental cultural influence. Bessie, Billie, and Nina were fearless trailblazers who used their singular gifts to give voice to the marginalized and hold a mirror up to America.

Their success was itself an act of defiance, and with their ascent they exposed and challenged racial prejudice, sexism, and institutional poverty.

Produced by Grammy-winner Eli Wolf and with arrangements by Carmen Staff, Pioneering Women in Jazz features vocal performance by 3 rising stars: Charenée Wade, Vanisha Gould, and Tahira Clayton.