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.