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.