The Mary Lou Williams Foundation and
The Church of St. Francis Xavier present...

Saturday, May 8, 2010 ~ 7:30pm

Mission: Praise, Peace and Love


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This May 8th concert benefiting the Xavier Mission will feature the music of Mary Lou Williams and our talented Choir under the direction of John Uehlein.

At the newly-restored Church of St. Francis Xavier 46 West 16th St. New York, Ticket Info: ($40 Premium, $20 General, $10 Student) may be purchased for a reduced rate.

Tickets will also be on sale after all masses at the main entrance at full price.

Mission: Praise, Peace and Love stars LAURELMASSE’, founding member of Manhattan Transfer, THE AARON DIEHL TRIO with special guest VICTOR GOINES and many others. The event will be emceed by ROB CROCKER of WBGO, Jazz 88.3 FM.

Jazz Times, Broadway World and others have touted this exciting event benefitting the Mission and celebrating our renovation and restoration. To read more, log on to www.jazztimes.com.

Schedule of Events - 2010

• May 8 - Concert of Sacred Music at The Church of St. Francis Xavier - New York, N.Y. - More Details »



• May 9 - Concert of Big Band, Solo Piano, and Sacred Works at Boston College - Aardvark Jazz Orchestra - More Details »



• May 9 & 10 Essentially Ellington Competition concludes after a Year (May 9 Rose Theatre) (May 10 Avery Fischer Hall)



• May 16 - Jazz House Kids play the Music of Mary Lou Williams in Montclair, NJ (details TBA).



• May 17 - Cecil's Big Band under the direction of Mike Lee with Geri Allen as
  guest play Mary Lou Williams at Cecil's Jazz Club in West Orange, NJ -
  
  
  
  
  • Children and their parents from Jazz House Kids invited;
  
  
  • Video of Mary Lou shown and talks given 7:30 - 8:30;
  
  
  • Band hits at 9PM



• May 20-21-22 - The Mary Lou Williams Women in Jazz Festival at The Kennedy Center - More Details »



• June 10-15-18-19 at 7:30pm; and
  
  June 13 & 20 at 3:00pm -
  
  Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre presents Mary Lou's Mass at BAM during its
  June 10-20, 2010 Season;




• 6 performances (4 evenings and 2 Sunday matinees -June 13 & June 20 at 3:00PM) - More Details »

JazzTimes Mary Lou Williams Centennial Article
In January and February, Mary Lou Williams’ manager and spiritual guide later in life, Father Peter O’Brien, will teach a Swing University course about Williams’ life and music. Finally, the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band program will be distributing up to 4,500 charts of newly published Mary Lou Williams’ music to high schools across North America. These charts include “New Musical Express,” “Roll ‘Em” and “Walkin’ and Swingin’.” The program will culminate in the annual Essentially Ellington Competition & Festival on Williams’ birthday, May 8, 2010.

Kudos to artistic director Marsalis and his associates for their efforts at bringing attention to this often overlooked giant of the jazz piano. For those who can’t make it to any of these festivities, we highly recommend Linda Dahl’s interesting book about Williams, Morning Glory, A Biography of Mary Lou Williams, excerpted in the March 2000 issue of JT.

Jazz at Lincoln Center To Celebrate Mary Lou Williams Centennial
Daily News Headlines | Downbeat | Posted
Starting in November, New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center (JALC) will celebrate Mary Lou Williams centennial next year.

The celebration will begin with a Jazz For Young People concert entitled "Who Is Mary Lou Williams?" on Nov. 7. Wynton Marsalis and the JALC Orchestra will demonstrate Williams' influential work as a composer for students aged 6 and older, as well as their teachers and parents.

Two concerts, on Nov. 13 and Nov. 14, will feature guest pianists Geri Allen and Geoffrey Keezer joining the orchestra.

Along with these performances, JALC is hosting an "Are You The Next Mary Lou Williams?" Contest. Female pianists, age 15 or under, are encouraged to submit a video of a selected Williams’ tune, for a chance to perform with the JALC Orchestra with Marsalis as part of the Jazz for Young People concert. Deadline for submissions is Oct 14.

In January 2010, Williams' manager and spiritual guide, Father Peter O'Brien, will teach a class about her work and life.

As part of the Essentially Ellington High School Jazz Band Program, JALC will distribute up to 4,500 charts of newly published Williams’ music to high schools across North America. These charts include “New Musical Express,” “Roll ‘Em” and “Walkin’ and Swingin’.” The program will culminate in the annual Essentially Ellington Competition and Festival on Williams’ actual birthday, May 8, 2010.

Jazz at Lincoln Center - Event Details

Jazz at Lincoln Center - Event Details

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CELEBRATION OF MASS WITH JAZZ MUSIC



Fr. Peter F. O'Brien, S.J., the Executive Director of The Mary Lou Williams Foundation, will celebrate Mass at The Fordham University Church on the Rose Hill Campus in the Bronx, N.Y.
on Friday June 15, 2007 at 11:30AM.

This liturgy is part of a workshop exploring the Arts conducted by the Brothers of The Society of Jesus (the Jesuits). It will be an actual celebration of Mass and not merely a sacred concert.

GERI ALLEN will be at the piano; ANDY BEY & HONI GORDON will sing. Music will be drawn from that composed by Ms. Allen ("Timeless Portraits and Dreams"); Horace Silver ("Peace") and Mary Lou Williams ("Act of Contrition" - "Glory to God" - "Holy Holy Holy" - "Our Father" - "Busy Busy Busy").

The event will begin on time, will last one hour, and is open to everyone without charge.

For directions to and the exact location on the Bronx campus of Fordham University contact:
The Office of Campus Ministry 718-817-4501

May 8, 2007

NINETY SEVENTH ANNIVERSARY

of

THE BIRTH OF

MARY LOU WILLIAMS

born

NINETEEN TEN IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA

WORKSHOP AND CONCERT - WARM AND LOVING EVENTS


Workshop barely describes what took place at the Afro American Music Institute in the Homewood section of Pittsburgh, Pa. on May 5, 2007. The Institute was founded by Dr. James T. Johnson (who is himself a pianist) and his wife Pamela Johnson. On this Saturday in question, GERI ALLEN, who lived in Pittsburgh for a period of five years while studying at
The University of Pittsburgh where she received a Master's Degree in Ethnomusicology, returned to this city and spent five hours with fifty children ranging in age from 7 to 20.
She was warmly introduced by Dr. Johnson and then proceeded to play with Kenny Davis on bass and Andrew Cyrille, the master drummer. After playing, they each spoke about music. Mr. Cyrille and Ms. Allen spoke about Mary Lou Williams .

The children asked many questions and answered the question "What is Jazz?" in expressive and heartfelt ways. Then some of them were invited to play. And they did - there were three separate pianists, two of them twin sisters, two young singers - one of whom had a manner of scatting that is original and the like of which I have never heard before. There were also two fine young drummers.

This is a thriving community center for Afro American music and Culture. After the master
class, the trio conducted an open rehearsal of "Zodiac Suite" which Mary Lou Williams composed in 1945. The afternoon concluded with good food and the kind of warmth which can only be described by such words as "love" and "family. Ms. Allen's three children (Laila - Wallace Roney IV - and Barbara) had traveled with her and Mary Lou Williams' sisters, Geraldine and Marge, and her niece Bobbie Ann with other members of her family were there.

GERI ALLEN with her Trio appeared in concert on the following day at The Kelly-Strayhorn Theatre in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh. This is the part of Pittsburgh in which Mary Lou grew up. The theatre is named for Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn, native Pittsburghers. "Zodiac Suite" was played for the first half of the concert. After intermission, Ms. Allen played selections from her new Telarc CD "Timeless Portraits and Dreams.

GERI ALLEN & THE MARY LOU WILLIAMS COLLECTIVE IN PITTSBURGH, PA.

Mensah Wali, and the Kente Arts Alliance, will present GERI ALLEN & THE MARY LOU WILLIAMS COLLECTIVE in concert on Sunday, May 6, 2007, at 3:00P.M. at the Kelly/Strayhorn Theatre in the East Liberty Section of Pittsburgh, Pa. Though Mary Lou Williams was born in Atlanta, her family moved to Pittsburgh when Mary was a mere three to five years old. She is, therefore, considered a real Pittsburgher.

This is the second concert in a hoped for series honoring Pittsburgh Jazz Musicians that Mr. Wali is presenting. The concert will be pesented in two halves with an intermission. During the first half THE COLLECTIVE will play Mary Lou Williams' ZODIAC SUITE (1945). THE COLLECTIVE had recorded 'ZODIAC SUITE: REVISITED" for Mary Records (M104). During the second half of the program THE GERI ALLEN TRIO will play music from Ms. Allen's new Telarc CD "TIMELESS PORTRAITS AND DREAMS". Both recordings are available on Amazon.com.

On Saturday, May 5, 2007, Ms. Allen will offer a jazz workshop to middle school, junior high school, and high schools sstudents at The African American Music Institute whose director is Dr. James Johnson.

GERI ALLEN & THE MARY LOU WILLIAMS COLLECTIVE TO APPEAR AT THE SAN FRANCISCO JAZZ FESTIVAL.

GERI ALLEN (PIANO), KENNY DAVIS (BASS), and ANDREW CYRILLE (DRUMS) comprise
THE MARY LOU WILLIAMS COLLECTIVE. They will appear in concert at The Herbst Theatre during THE SAN FRANCISCO JAZZ FESTIVAL. THE MARY LOU WILLIAMS COLLECTIVE will appear during the first of two halves and play Ms. Williams' ZODIAC SUITE. The second half of the program will present The Thelonious Monk Legacy Band
with Ben Riley and under the direction of Don Sickler. See you there. The concert takes place on Friday evening April 6, 2007 at 8PM

GERI ALLEN & ANDY BEY SLATED TO RECORD THE MUSIC OF MARY LOU WILLIAMS WITH THE UNITED STATES ARMY FIELD BAND/JAZZ AMBASSADORS.

On Wednesday, April 4, 2007, Geri Allen and Andy Bey will record several of the compositions of Mary Lou Williams with the United States Army's Jazz Ambassadors. The recording will take place at Ft. Meade, Md. Ms. Allen's special feature will come on "Scorpio" - a composition she has already recorded on "Zodiac Suite: Revisited" issued on Mary Records (M104) a year ago and available on Amazon.com. Zodiac Suite was written by Ms. Williams in 1945. Ms Allen and the US Band will record an arrangement of "Scorpio" constructed by Ms. Williams for Duke Ellington's orchestra in 1946. Geri Allen will also be the pianist of choice on the two compositions of Ms. Williams that Mr. Bey will sing: "In The Land of Oo Bla Dee" (1949)
and "Praise the Lord" (1966) arrangment by Mary Lou Williams - new horn arrangements by Geri Allen.

The United States Soldiers chorus has already recorded Ms. Williams first sacred composition
"St. Martin de Porres - Black Christ of the Andes" (1963). An additional twelve (five in new arrangements) big band compositions will be recorded, ranging from 1929 through 1978. These CDs will not be for sale. They will be available to any school, teacher, or library asking for them.

Mary Lou Williams wrote three complete Jazz Masses. Her second was written in the spring of 1968. This was her Mass for the Lenten Season. This Mass is being played and sung each Sunday during this year's (2007) Lent at The Church of St. Joseph of the Holy Family on 125th Street at Morningside Avenue in Harlem (New York City, N.Y.). The Pianist and Music Director is Aaron J. Diehl who will graduate from The Juilliard School of Music this June. Mass takes place at 10AM sharp and is one and one-half hours in length. Professional singers from The Manhattan School of Music augment the Church's regular Sunday choir. The music at these Masses also includes Mary Lou Williams's composition, I Have a Dream, composed in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ms. Williams wrote this immediately after Dr. King's assassination and included it in her "Mass for the Lenten Season".

MARY LOU WILLIAMS (1910-1981)

TO BE HONORED BY THE OFFICE OF BLACK MINISTRY

ROMAN CATHOLIC ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK

Mary Lou Williams will posthumously receive The Pierre Toussaint Medallion on September 21, 2006 (a Thursday) at a receptiion and dinner (6:30PM to 9:45 PM) at The New York Marriott Marquis. Fr. Peter F. O'Brien, S.J. will accept this honor on behalf of The Mary Lou Williams Foundation. The Medallion will be permanently housed in The Mary Lou Williams Foundation Collection in The Institute of Jazz Studies at Rutger University, Newark, N.J.

Ms. Williams was baptized into the Roman Catholic faith in 1957 after a period of intense prayer. She also worked tirelessly for the well being of everyone she met. She was particularly devoted to the poor (especially poor musicians) and was passionate in her concern for the young.

Mary Lou Williams went on to express her faith in her music by composing three complete Masses and another dozen sacred motets. These works include Mary Lou's Mass and Black Christ of the Andes (Hymn in Honor of St. Martin de Porres).

For these reasons, The Office of Black Ministry of the Archdiocese of New York will honor her at a dinner which will raise funds for college bound student leaders of diverse backgrounds.

These scholarships bear the name of the Venerable Pierre Toussaint, a Haitian and a slave, who came to New York at the age of 21 in 1787. He remained a slave here in the kindly service to Madame Marie Berard who had fallen into a depression upon the death of her husband. On her deathbed, in turn, she freed her beloved Pierre Toussaint. His remains were transfered to the burial vaults of St. Patrick's Cathedral. The cause for his canonization is underway.

Toussaint, at 41 years of age, continued his learned profession of hairdresser to wealthy women, but used his high earnings in charity toward the poor and desperate. He and his wife, Julliette Noel, made a home for Negro orphaned children in a large house they had purchased.

They established a school for these children.

They secured freedom papers for dozens of slaves, procured employment for impoverished French widows, and made secret gifts to aristocratic refugees too proud to accept charity.

Mary Lou Williams, in her lifetime, found inspiration in the life of St. Martin de Porres who fed the hungry and gave shelter to the frightened. Had she lived long enough, she would have undoubtedly found the same source of consolation in the life of Venerable Pierre Toussaint.

Toussaint and Williams went to daily Mass. Toussaint and Williams were strong indiviuals who lived their lives directed by charity toward others. It is fitting that Williams' life and work will be honored by a medallion bearing Toussaint's name.

Inquiries about reservations for this event may be directed to:

The Office of Black Ministry - 1011 First Avenue, New York, New York 10022

212-371-1011 x2681 (tel) 212-421-3693 (fax) obm@archny.org

GO AND HEAR GERI ALLEN AND HER TRIO WITH MR. JIMMY COBB AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD (7th Avenue South - New York City) AUGUST 22 through AUGUST 27. HEAR HER PLAY MUSIC FROM HER NEW CD "TIMELESS PORTRAITS AND DREAMS" (telarc jazz CD-83645).

GERI ALLEN, who has devoted so much of her energy and ability to preserving and extending the music of Mary Lou Williams, will be presenting her own music during an engagement this month at THE VILLAGE VANGUARD in New York City. She begins her appearance there on August 22, 2006 (a Tuesday) which extends through the following Sunday (August 27). She will be playing music from her new recording (TIMELESS PORTRAITS AND DREAMS) with her trio which includes the legendary Mr. Jimmy Cobb on drums.

"Timeless Portraits and Dreams"! This is the title of Geri Allen's new CD to be released by Telarc on August 22, 2006. An extraordinary work, this is not just another trio performance, though the core trio consists of Geri Allen, the pianist, Ron Carter on Bass, and Jimmy Cobb on drums. Several of the pieces use The Atlanta Jazz Chorus under the direction of Dwight Andrews.

One of these was written by Mary Lou Williams and arranged by Carmen Lundy. Its title is "I Have a Dream" with words also by Mary Lou, adapted from the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The solo vocal line is sung by the great George Shirley who was the first black man to have sung tenor at The Metropolitan Opera.

He also sings "Lift Every Voice and Sing", our Black National Anthem, with words by James Weldon Johnson, and music by his brother J. Rosamond Johnson, accompanied only by Ms. Allen.

Geri's husband, the brilliant trumpeter Wallace Roney, is heard on two pieces: "In Real Time" which both he and Ms. Allen wrote, and "Our Lady", Allen's elegant portrait of Billie Holiday.

Carmen Lundy brings the album to a close by singing "Timeless Portraits and Dreams". This selection extends for a little more than five minutes, and, is the core of a new large musicial work in remembrance of the dead and of the survivors of 9/11/01.

This new work is called "For the Healing of the Nations" and extends to forty musicians with solo voices and chorus. "For the Healing of the Nations" will have its premiere on September 10, 2006 at 3:00PM in The Gordon Theatre at The Rutgers-Camden Center for the Arts in Camden, New Jersey. Besides Ms. Allen at the piano, Andy Bey, Nnnenna Freelon, Mary Stallings, Craig Harris and Akua Dixon will be featured. Go to: www.ruarts.org/2006/09

Geri Allen's last outing on CD, released on February 7, 2006, was for The Mary Lou Williams Foundation on its recording label, Mary Records. This, as you may see by going to the page on this site called "Mary Records", was Zodiac Suite: Revisited.

"Timeless Portraits and Dreams" is a moving sound panorama of what it means to be Black and an artist today. "

Buy both albums and come to the concert in September. Thank you.

FUTURE PROJECTS:


The United States Army Field Band - Jazz Ambassadors will record fifteen of Mary Lou Williams' compositions. These will include ten pieces exactly as she wrote them and five new arrangements by Army Band members. Fourteen of these pieces will be for Big Band. The fifteenth will be recorded by The United States Army Chorus. They will sing Mary's "St. Martin de Porres" (written in 1962) and also known as "Black Christ of the Andes". Recording is to take place in the Autumn of 2006 with release in 2007. These CDs will not be for sale. They will be distributed without charge to any teacher, school, or library asking for them. Mary Lou would love this. Her music will get to children and young adults. Everything she had in mind. Do you want to know more? email us at info@marylouwilliamsfoundation.org