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.