Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams (1910-1981) was a marvelously talented jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. A child prodigy, she absorbed music from an early age in Pittsburgh, where she grew up. In her teens, she married saxophonist John Williams, who landed a spot in Andy Kirk's band Clouds of Joy in 1929. The band relocated to Kansas City for an extended run, and they asked Mary Lou Williams to join them. Over time, her role with the band increased as pianist, arranger, and composer. She served Clouds of Joy for a dozen years and contributed substantially to the band's success.
Williams's Kansas City connection was strong. She loved the music scene there and was almost reluctant to relocate to New York in the early 1940s. Still, New York offered additional artistic possibilities. She performed regularly and contributed big band charts to many bands-notably those of Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. Williams was able to compose and record with considerable artistic freedom. She was always a musical progressive, constantly exploring new musical terrains and adapting to emerging currents in jazz.
One of Williams's highly regarded works is the album Zodiac Suite for piano, bass, and drums, composed and recorded in 1945. In this work, bassist Al Lucas and drummer Jack "The Bear" Parker join Williams. At the time, both were sidemen in Eddie Heywood's Sextet. The sixth movement (or sign), "Virgo", is a duet for piano and bass that is strongly reminiscent of the Ellington-Blanton duets recorded some five years earlier. Williams's piece-with the virtuosic and responsive interaction of the pair-holds up well to the comparison. Let's listen.
Zodiac Suite Full Album
| Name | Track |
|---|---|
| "Aries" | Listen here |
| "Taurus" | Listen here |
| "Gemini" | Listen here |
| "Cancer" | Listen here |
| "Leo" | Listen here |
| "Virgo" | Listen here |
| "Libra" | Listen here |
| "Scorpio" | Listen here |
| "Sagittarius" | Listen here |
| "Capricorn" | Listen here |
| "Aquarius" | Listen here |
| "Pisces" | Listen here |
A-Tisket A-Tasket
A-tisket a-tasket
A green-and-yellow basket
I bought a basket for my mommie
On the way I dropped it
Don't Worry 'Bout Me
Don't worry 'bout me Forget about me
Just be happy my love