What Does It Mean To Be A Female Jazz Visionary?

Terri Lyne Carrington is a rarity in jazz. She is a female drummer. She's also one of the best drummers in the world. Jazz Times has called her "prowess and power" undeniable. Her latest CD, "The Mosaic Project," won the 2012 Grammy award for best jazz vocal album.

Carrington is one of the most breathtaking musical talents I've seen. You know when you're in the presence of a musician who really, truly is one of the, maybe, top five in the world? The adrenaline of that? Well, that's what it felt like watching her at the drums.

For 40 years, Terri Lyne Carrington has resisted being pigeon-holed by the "female" drummer label, until recently. So, in this profile, that's what we concentrated on — what it means to be a female jazz visionary.

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