Edmonia Jarrett

A late bloomer, Edmonia Jarrett embarked on her jazz career at the age of 55 when people in other professions start their countdown to retirement. Long involved with gospel singing in church choirs, in 1991 Jarrett appeared in the role of Bessie Smith in a play on the life of Janis Joplin produced in Seattle, Washington. She was spotted by a booker who jump started Jarrett's jazz career by getting her into several jazz venues in the Seattle area. With neither musical education nor training nor an especially musical family, Jarrett is one of those true naturals who emerge every...