The ensemble strives to present the music in its cultural context, performed in multiple languages, and presents music from different countries in Africa, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East. The program is accompanied by visuals in the form of a slide show showing photos of the featured composer and her culture. Members of Women in World Jazz will tell the stories from these women’s lives, cultures, and music - and share this background with Newton music fans.

Women in World Jazz, a performing all women ensemble, was founded by Tal Shalom-Kobi in 2015. Women in World Jazz aims to expose audiences to different cultures through music, with a variety of music backgrounds including jazz, blues, folk, pop, rock and blues. WIWJ director and Berklee college of music faculty, Tal Shalom-Kobi, has been active in the music history arena for the past 20 years, researching and performing music written by women from the USA and around the world.

The group Women in World Jazz features world music composed by women composers and lyricists past and present. From USA Blues and Jazz styles, the group ventures to Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East to celebrate the diversity and power of creativity. 

Women In World Jazz brings together women of different nationalities with extensive experience in performance and education. The music is easy to relate to, diverse and engaging. All members of the group are accomplished musicians playing a variety of music ranging from jazz to world/ethnic. For individual bios, please visit the WIWJ website.

This program is supported in part by a grant from the Newton Cultural Council, a local council that is supported by the Mass Cultural Council and the City of Newton.