International Women in Jazz celebrated its tenth anniversary at St. Peter’s Church on Oct. 6. The evening honored Nobuko Cobi Narita and featured jazz legends including Valerie Capers, Della Griffin, Sarah McLawler, Helen Merrill and Carline Ray. Also performing were the Gloria Cooper Trio, Antoinette Montague with the Norman Simmons Trio (Bill Easley, Kenny Washington and Hilliard Green) and Golda Solomon with Center Search Quest and Barbara Sfraga.

Nobuko Cobi Narita founded and served as first president of International Women in Jazz. She also founded Universal Jazz Coalition, Inc. Narita has produced concerts, festivals, special events and workshops all over New York. She has donated her space, Cobi’s Place, for benefits and fundraisers, and has helped a number of other organizations with their jazz events. Photos by Walter Karling.