Straight Ahead out of Detroit (left to right) Marion Hayden, Eileen Orr, Faatimah, Althea Rene, Gayelynn McKinney.

Women in Jazz is pleased to bring this ground breaking all female jazz group to Austin. This group of strong, inventive instrumentalists and vocalists have shown themselves to be powerful and imaginative composers and arrangers.

Straight Ahead was named the finalist in the “Sony Innovators” competition in the first year they performed together. Since then they have amassed a string of honors, including opening for the legendary Nina Simone at the Montreaux-Switzerland Jazz Festival and being nominated for a Grammy.