Shifting swing

Swing music was a source of power during the Second World War. Musicians provided entertainment and formed a focal point for socialization and relief from the tensions of conflict. Despite this power, its potential to act as a greater agent of societal change remained untapped. With the exception of the occasional vocalist, jazz bands were largely populated by male musicians. Unlike other war work, where women were accepted to fill essential roles, men continued to dominate swing as leaders, soloists, and band members. But what if women had replaced male musicians in jazz at this time? How would music, and indeed society, be changed in its present form? Part analysis and part speculative fiction, this article imagines the impact that simple changes may have wrought in promoting gender equality in jazz.