HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Mary Lou Williams

Birth of Modern Jazz: Mary Lou Williams

Mary Lou Williams

Launching the HMR Project in modern jazz piano is Mary Lou Williams. Born Mary Elfrieda Scruggs on 8 May 1910 in Atlanta, Williams (aka First Lady of Jazz) married saxophonist John Williams in 1927. But she first made her debut recordings in January that year with the band in which John played, Jeanette James and the Synco Jazzers (Jeanette James at vocals) Those tracks made for Paramount in Chicago were 'Downhearted Mama', 'Midnight Stomp', 'The Bumps' and 'What's That Thing?' [Lord]. Upon Jeanette vacating, John assumed leadership, Mary to attend sessions with that band from February to May.

'What's That Thing?' Mary Lou Williams w Jeanette James & Her Synco Jazzers

Recorded c Jan 1927 toward issue on Paramount 12451

Williams next recorded with Andy Kirk's Twelve Clouds of Joy in Kansas City on November 7, 1929, titles like 'Mess-s-Stomp' and 'Cloudy' which she also arranged. John was also in on those titles, with whose Memphis Stompers she recorded 'Somepin' Slow and Low' and 'Lotta Sax Appeal' two days later, she also arranging those. Kirk' would be a huge figure in Williams' career, she contributing to countless titles in his band throughout the thirties. Her last recordings with Kirk are thought to have been on July 17, 1941, she again arranging titles like '47th Street Jive' and 'No Answer'. During her time with Kirk she recorded her first piano solos on 24 April 1930 consisting of 'Night Life' and 'Drag 'Em':

'Night Life' Piano solo by Mary Lou Williams

Recorded 24 April 1930 toward issue on Brunswick 7178

Composition: Williams

'Sophomore' Mary Lou Williams w Andy Kirk's 12 Clouds of Joy

Recorded 15 Dec 1930 toward issue on Brunswick 6027

Composition: Alexander Hill / Bob Causer

Williams also led numerous trios with bass and drums throughout her career. Her first session as a leader followed five years later in NYC on March 7 of 1936 with Booker Collins (bass) and Ben Thigpen (drums) for 'Corny Rhythm', 'Over Hand' and 'Isabelle'. 'Swingin' for Joy' and 'Clean Pickin' followed on the 11th.

'Over Hand' ('New Froggy Bottom') Mary Lou Williams Trio

Recorded 7 March 1936 toward issue on Decca 781

Bass: Booker Collins Drums: Ben Thigpen

Composition: Williams

Another huge presence was clarinetist, Benny Goodman, Williams arranging her first title for his orchestra in Hollywood per a session on July 7, 1937, with Jess Stacy at piano: 'Roll 'Em', which she also composed. Williams would work for Goodman numerously in '41, '46, '48, '55 and, finally, a reunion on January 17, 1978, for 'Goodman's '40Th Anniversary Concert'.

'Wholly Cats' Mary Lou Williams w Benny Goodman

Recorded 7 Nov 1940 This issue: V Disc 880 in 1949

Composition: Goodman

'Benny's Bop' Mary Lou Williams w Benny Goodman

Recorded July 1948 This issue: V Disc 880 in 1949

Composition: Janak / West

Williams was also known for her work with Mildred Bailey, first accompanying Bailey's Oxford Greys on March 16, 1939, for such as 'Barrelhouse Music' and 'Arkansas Blues'. She would join Bailey again in 1944 and '45 for numerous CBS Radio broadcasts of 'Music 'Til Midnight'. The first on November 24 of '44 wrought titles like 'Don't Fence Me In' and 'Roll 'Em'. Her last session with Bailey fell on February 9 of '45, also for 'Music 'Til Midnight', putting down such as 'Sleigh Ride in July' and 'Rockin' Chair'. The meanwhile she continued leading trios and recorded the album, 'Signs of the Zodiac', on 29 June 1945:

'Russian Lullaby' Mary Lou Williams Trio

Recorded 10 Aug 1944 Asch 351-1A

Trumpet & vocal: Bill Coleman Bass: Al Hall

Composition: Irving Berlin

'Aquarius' Tone poem by Mary Lou Williams

Recorded 25 June 1945 in NYC

Issued in 1945 on 10" 78 rpm as 'Signs Of The Zodiac'

Issued in 1975 on LP and 1995 on CD as 'Zodiac Suite'

All compositions by Williams

'Scorpio' Tone poem by Mary Lou Williams

Recorded 25 June 1945 in NYC

Issued in 1945 on 10" 78 rpm as 'Signs Of The Zodiac'

Issued in 1975 on LP and 1995 on CD as 'Zodiac Suite'

All compositions by Williams

In 1952 Williams took off for Europe for a couple years. Upon her return in 1954 she converted to Catholicism and withdrew from music to work with the philanthropic Bel Canto Foundation, and begin a halfway house for the poor and musicians with drug troubles. Her return to music was occasioned at the Newport Jazz Festival of 1957 w Dizzy Gillespie:

'Carioca' Mary Lou Williams w Dizzy Gillespie at the Newport Jazz Festival 1957

Recorded 6 July 1957 in Newport, Rhode Island

Issued as bonus track on various reissues of 'Dizzy Gillespie at Newport'

Composition: Edward Eliscu / Gus Kahn / Vincent Youmans

Having returned to the musician's life, Williams headed the direction of her next big album titled 'Mary Lou Williams' issued in 1964. Several sessions of shifting personnel were held on 9 Oct 1963 to which were added three tracks recorded on 19 November of 1963:

'Black Christ of the Andes' Mary Lou Williams w Howard Roberts & His Choral Group

Album: 'Mary Lou Williams' Mary M-101

Recorded 9 Oct 1963 in New York Session 1

Music: Williams Lyrics: Anthony Woods

'Miss D.D.' Mary Lou Williams w Teddy Cromwell (bass) & George Chamble (drums)

Album: 'Mary Lou Williams' Mary M-101

Recorded 9 Oct 1963 in New York Session 2

Composition: Williams

'Dirge Blues' Mary Lou Williams w Percy Heath (bass) & Tim Kennedy (drums)

Album: 'Mary Lou Williams' Mary M-101

Recorded 19 Nov 1963 in New York

Composition: Williams

Williams characterized her music as "soul" heavy in blues melody touched with gospel as she pursued a thriving career into the seventies. She performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival in 1971 followed by a residency in Greenwich Village at The Cookery. Though free jazz was abnormal amidst her greater repertoire, she later experimented at Carnegie Hall in 1977 with avant-garde pianist, Cecil Taylor, the same year she became artist-in-residence at Duke University for the next four years where she taught jazz history and led the Duke Jazz Ensemble. She performed for the Carters at the White House in 1978, the same year of her last recorded piano solos at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland on July 16, 1978. Those saw issue on 'Solo Recital' containing such as 'Over the Rainbow' and 'Offertory Meditation'. Williams' final recordings are thought to have been in Chicago on November 14 of 1979 for 'At Rick's Cafe Americain' with Milton Suggs (bass) and Drasheer Khalid (drums).