Mary Lou Williams

Donald Macleod charts the extraordinary life of composer and jazz
pianist Mary Lou Williams Mary Lou Williams’ music stands out
from the crowd because, as Duke Ellington recognised, “her
writing and performing have always been just a little ahead
throughout her career.” A prolific composer and arranger, she was
also a gifted pianist. A master of blues, boogie woogie, stride,
swing and be-bop, Williams was quick to absorb the prevailing
musical currents in her own music, naturally able to exploit her
ability to play anything she heard around her. It is this
restless musical curiosity that defines her own compositions, and
led her to become friends with and mentor many younger musicians,
among them Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Charlie Parker and Dizzy
Gillespie.


Born around 1910 in Atlanta, Georgia, Williams grew up in
Pittsburgh, where she had to overcome racial segregation, gender
discrimination and the disadvantages of an impoverished family to
realise her musical ambitions. Learning to play entirely by ear,
she was performing locally by age six. Barely into her teens she
was touring professionally as a pianist, living proof that -
contrary to the prevailing views - women really could play jazz
as well as men. But her artistic success came at some personal
cost, with instances of domestic abuse, two divorces, a gambling
addiction, and the ongoing strain of trying to support her
extended family, all taking its toll over the years. After taking
a spiritual path, she spent some years trying to rehabilitate
addicted musicians, and developed an interest in writing sacred
jazz pieces, and after a long career of some sixty years she took
on the mantle of educating future generations about the cultural
roots of jazz.


Over the course of the episode, Donald Macleod follows Mary Lou
Williams as her life and musical pathways intertwine, from the
early years playing Kansas City swing, to embracing be-bop,
religion and modern jazz.


Music featured: The History of Jazz (excerpt) Rosa Mae My mama
pinned a rose on me Willis Nite Life Variations Close to Five
Lonely Moments Cloudy Kool Bongo Walkin’ and Swingin’ Corky Stomp
Froggy Bottom Lotta Sax Appeal Mess-A-Stomp The Rocks Little Joe
from Chicago Sammy Cahn & Saul Chaplin, arr. by ML Williams:
The Lady Who Swings the Band A Mellow Bit of Rhythm Twinklin’
Jelly Roll Morton, arr. ML Williams: The Pearls What’s Your
Story, Morning Glory Scratchin’ in the Gravel Roll ‘Em Gjon Mili
Jam Session Boogie misterioso Zodiac Suite (excerpt) In the land
of Oo-bla-dee Mary Lou Williams Orchestra In the land of
Oo-bla-dee A Fungus A Mungus Nicole Irving Berlin, arr. by ML
Williams: Blue Skies (Trumpets no end) Tisherome New Musical
Express Hymn to St. Martin de Porres The Devil O.W. Mary Lou’s
Mass ML Williams, Sonny Henry: Lazarus Zodiac Suite Syl-o-gism
Why? Chunka Lunka Ode to Saint Cecilie Medi II Blues for Timme
Praise the Lord


Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Johannah Smith for BBC
Wales


For full tracklistings, including artist and recording details,
and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after
broadcast) head to the series page for Mary Lou Williams
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000bdx1 And you can delve into
the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the
Week here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z