Saturday, May 26, 2007

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.

Mary Lou Williams Foundation - Facebook Updates

Mary Lou Williams Foundation - Facebook Updates