Mapping the Women of Jazz in Greenwich Village the East Village, and NoHo
Village Preservation is excited to share our newest interactive online resource, our Jazz Map of Greenwich Village, the East Village, and NoHo; a multi-layered tool to both explore and share the rich history of our neighborhoods as it relates to that most uniquely American art form, jazz. This dynamic map showcases the clubs, streets, and private and public spaces where jazz flourished, offering a deeper understanding of how these neighborhoods helped shape one of America’s most influential media and vehicles of creative expression.
A particularly meaningful aspect of the Jazz Map is its recognition of the women who played vital roles in the development of jazz. Too often overlooked, these artists, performers, and innovators were central to the sound and spirit of the music that defined the Village.
Among those featured is Billie Holiday, whose powerful, emotive voice left an indelible mark on the genre, and whose career intersected with the Village at pivotal moments and in critical places. During her residency at Café Society, she debuted “Strange Fruit,” a protest song about lynching that became one of her signature tunes.
The map also includes Mary Lou Williams, a pioneering pianist and composer who helped shape modern jazz and mentored generations of musicians. Williams was a regular at Barney Josephson’s Café Society on Sheridan Square. After Café Society closed, Josephson launched several restaurants under the name The Cookery. Mary Lou Williams raised with Josephson the possibility of bringing live music to the Cookery. Josephson missed running Café Society and agreed, booking Williams as the venue’s first act; her first regular gig in five years.
Ella Fitzgerald, celebrated for her extraordinary vocal range and improvisational brilliance, is another key figure whose influence resonates through the history of the music. She was a regular at several of the venues, most regularly playing at Café Society.
The incomparable Blossom Dearie lived and worked in our neighborhoods. Dearie, whose musicianship was defined by a sly sense of timing, was an artist who rarely belted or dramatized; instead, she drew listeners in with understatement and intimacy, making even witty or ironic lyrics feel conversational and personal. Importantly, Dearie was the first woman to launch a successful record label in the United States: Daffodil Records. She lived at 15 Sheridan Square.
Together, these women represent just a portion of the talent showcased on the Jazz Map, which invites users to explore the layered cultural history embedded in the streets of these neighborhoods. Whether used as a research tool or a guide for exploration, the Jazz Map celebrates not only the places where jazz thrived, but also the diverse voices that made it possible.
