Concert showcases local women in jazz

To jump-start Women's History Month, Mary Moss and "Women Kickin' It" will perform at 7 p.m. Saturday in the John Waldron Arts Center Auditorium. \n"It's just a great spirit when you put those ladies together," said Monika Herzig, booker and past president of Jazz from Bloomington. "And when you look at jazz, how many women jazz players do you know?"\nThe show will be lead by Moss, a jazz and blues vocalist from Indianapolis who created "Women Kickin' It," a showcase of female jazz musicians. Moss came up with the idea for the group three years ago. \n"It's a girlie thing," Moss said in a 2002 interview. "This is a showcase of what women are doing and how well we do it." \nThe group features four women with ties to Bloomington: Herzig, vocalist Janiece Jaffe, vocalist Stephanie Knox and alto saxophonist Cathy Spiagga. Also playing with the group will be harpist Jan Aldridge Clark and electric violinist Cathy Morris.\n"Those ladies are so good at what they do," Herzig said.\nThe show was proposed for the performance series because of its uniqueness and diversity.\n"Bringing it to Bloomington will allow additional exposure to Bloomington artists and the community," said Janice Skinner, development and marketing director for the Bloomington Area Arts Council.\n"Women Kickin' It" will play a "standard repertoire" of jazz, as well as a few originals and some surprises, too.\n"Janiece Jaffe will probably do a few originals, and I know Stephanie is planning on playing 'Fever,'" Herzig said. "There'll be lots of entertainment, not just a jazz show."\n"Women Kickin' It" has been a mainstay in Indianapolis, recently playing at the Arts Garden, the Madame Walker Theatre and the Jazz Kitchen. Each musician comes from a unique background to blend together a special performance.\n"It's really a once in a lifetime opportunity to see them play, especially here in Bloomington," Herzig said.\nThe show is a joint production of the BAAC and Jazz from Bloomington, an organization working with national and local jazz musicians to enrich the understanding of the art form in Bloomington and the surrounding area.\n"We have worked with Jazz from Bloomington in the past and it is a good partnership," Skinner said.\nThe show is meant for all different tastes, she said.\n"It will blend an audience from all parts of the community," Skinner said. "I'm looking forward to being in the audience."\nDescribed by Mary Moss as "a girlie thing -- a showcase of what women are doing and how well we do it," the show will feature varied talents while still trying to be fun and entertaining.\n"It's just a really fun show to watch and to get drawn into," Herzig said.\nThe show is presented by the Bloomington Area Arts Council and Jazz from Bloomington as part of the 10th anniversary of the John Waldron Arts Center Performance Series. Tickets are $12 for the general public, $11 for BAAC or JFB members, and $10 for students and seniors.