Riko Sasaki, saxophone
Ian Macklin-Sims, piano
Christopher Lee, bass
Jillian Upshaw, drums
At Berklee, the band is part of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice. The mission of the institute is to recruit, teach, mentor, and advocate for musicians seeking to study jazz with gender justice and racial justice as guiding principles. Founded by Terri Lyne Carrington, who also serves as the artistic director, the institute seeks to engage itself and others in making an important and long-lasting cultural shift in jazz and other music communities. Leading up to the festival, the band will be mentored by pianist Kris Davis, who is Associate Program Director of Creative Development for the institute.
What would jazz sound like in a culture without patriarchy?
The jazz industry remains predominantly male due to a biased system, imposing a significant toll on those who aspire to work in it. In understanding the importance of balance and equity, the goal of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice is to do corrective work and modify the way jazz is perceived and presented, so the future of jazz looks different than its past without rendering invisible many of the art form's creative contributors.
The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice will focus on equity in the jazz field and the role that jazz plays in the larger struggle for gender justice. The institute will celebrate the contributions women have made in the development of the art form as well as frame more equitable conditions for all pursuing careers in jazz in an effort to work toward a necessary and lasting cultural shift in the field.
We welcome students of all gender and sexual identities to achieve the goal of true gender diversity in the field. The institute will work to address gender inequities at the college through curriculum, recruitment, residencies, performances, research, and community engagement.
