Unlike women who play other instruments, female jazz piano players, past and present, abound. Here is a list of some well-known historic female jazz pianists and a list of contemporary players, a sampling of the many female jazz pianists currently in today's jazz scene.

Historic jazz pianists

"Sweet" Emma Barrett (1898 - 1982)

Dolly Douroux Adams (1904 - 1981)

Billie Pierce (1907 - 1974)

Jeanette Kimball (1908 -  ??)

 The women listed at left were based in New Orleans. Researchers may access their files at the Hogan Jazz Archives, located at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Lovie Austin (1887 - 1972)

Nellie Lutcher (1912 - 2007)

Hazel Scott (1920 - 1981)

Beryl Booker (1924 - 1980)

Dorothy Donegan (1922 - 1998)

Marie Marcus (no dates available)

Perhaps the best known and respected jazz pianist of the 20th Century was pianist and composer Mary Lou Williams (1910 - 1981)

There are, of course, only a few of them. Many others are featured in books about jazzwomen and articles at other Internet sites.

A partial list (in no particular order) of Contemporary female jazz pianists 

Geri Allen

Patrice Rushin

Carla Bley

Rachel Z

Shirley Scott

Mary Watkins

Renee Rosnes

Marion MacPartland

Joanne Brackeen

Cecelia Coleman

Judy Carmichael

Judy Roberts

Barbara Carroll

Alice Coltrane (deceased)

Marilyn Crispell

Eliane Elias

Diana Krall

Toshiko Akiyoshi [Click to read her bio]

Tomoko Ohno

Carolyn Wilkins

Jessica Williams

Mamiko Watanabe

Tania Maria

Valerie Capers [vision impaired]

Janice Friedman

  This is a partial list. If I skipped your favorite female jazz pianist, please email me from the Contact page and send me her name!