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
Saturday, May 26, 2007
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.
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.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
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.
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 (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.
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".
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