The Resolution Tour

The mission of my project, The Resolution Tour (RT), is to redefine and reshape the culture of gender equity in jazz through dialog, music, and engagement. The RT is a virtual series of seven film screenings, live panel discussions, and interactive concerts that explore the unique narratives of women in jazz, gender justice, and equality.Although jazz, commonly known as America’s indigenous art form, is woven into the fabric and context of today’s music; there is a large gender disparity between men and women. To date, there is no widespread accessible and comprehensive program that addresses the leading issue of gender inequity in jazz and music at large. Inherent in its name, The Resolution Tour aims to resolve the underlying lack of representation of women in jazz and develop a visible platform for women in jazz and emerging artists to share their story and claim agency within the music.In 2008, a research report completed by The National Endowment for the Arts stated that, “72% of adults playing jazz were men,” and that, “Men make up a larger proportion of the jazz audience than any of the other benchmark activities.”My experience as a visible black female jazz vocalist who has grown up fully immersed in the jazz culture gives me a unique ability to lead this project.I was raised in Los Angeles by a family and community deeply rooted in jazz. From a young age I was mentored and coached by jazz singer Barbara Morrison and pianist Howlett Smith. My grandfather, Donald Dean Sr., is a renowned drummer (Les McCann, Carmen McCrae and Eddie Harris), my father, Donald Dean Jr., is also a drummer (Kenny Burrell, Rickey Lee Jones), and my cousin, 20-year old Jamael Dean (Kamasi Washington), is an emerging recording/touring piano player. The love, support, and training I received from these experienced musicians allowed me to excel in the world of jazz. In 2019 I became a fellow of the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead Residency in Washington D.C. I was a finalist in the Music Center Spotlight Awards, and was awarded first place in the National YoungArts Foundation, Dolo Coker and NAACP ACT-SO competitions. Also, in 2019 I earned my Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance from New England Conservatory (NEC) in Boston Massachusetts.However, as my jazz career grew, I became increasingly aware of the gender disparity in jazz. Not all women have had the same opportunities to succeed as I have. The statistic became even more real when I decided to create an all-women big band at New England Conservatory, and I realized that there were not enough female jazz instrumentalists to form a full band.As a response, I documented my creation of the first "All Women’s Cross Big Band.” I activated a network of the top young female instrumentalists across Boston from Berklee College of Music, Boston University, Harvard University, and my alma mater NEC. It was a powerful project that brought visibility, agency, and recognition to women at my conservatory and surrounding musical institutions.The extensive hands-on interviewing, research, and creation of the band and documentary gave me the skills to effectively develop community, impact culture, and use my platform as an artist to advocate for important social issues. It also put me in dialogue with people from other backgrounds besides my own, and has made me a strong advocate for issues that I have not personally experienced. Perhaps most importantly, the unfolding narrative in jazz that The Resolution Tour unpacks and redefines stems from a story that I share. I, too, am a storyteller. I have lived and worked as a woman in jazz. Sharing my own story in this work, and listening deeply to others, has allowed me to skillfully bridge the cultural and language gaps between musicians and audience members. My experience facilitating the panel discussions allows me to ensure that diverse voices in a group are equally heard, in service of transforming culture.Overall, my unique perspective as a female jazz vocalist, experience in developing successful cultural initiatives, and the ability to unite teams of diverse people make me best qualified to lead and spearhead The Resolution Tour.