Few musicians have embraced the entire history of jazz like Mary Lou Williams, and at the same time shaped its development compositionally and instrumentally. She brought jazz into contact with ...

This week, a birthday wish for a forgotten Philly singer, a super set of piano trios featuring a new tribute to Mary Lou Williams. I work out my issues with jazz guitar with some ear opening duets, ...

This time, we’re turning to Mary Lou Williams, who fell in love with music as a toddler, sitting on her mother’s knee at the organ and learning by ear.

Mary Lou Williams performing at Cafe Society in New York City in June 1947. Williams thrived in New York’s jazz scene. William Gottlieb A piano was rolled into Mary Lou Williams’ hospital room ...

The final one was "Music for Peace," which acquired its better-known name of "Mary Lou's Mass" when it was adapted for dance by Alvin Ailey. Williams' piano playing continued to evolve, too.

In these 20 tracks, you'll find Williams' prowess as a composer and pianist, as well as proof of her expansive influence on jazz and American music as a whole.

On Friday, vibraphonist and bandleader Cecilia Smith will present a full evening of Williams's compositions entitled the Mary Lou Williams Resurgence Project. The music, ranging from classic swing ...

Jazz musician Mary Lou Williams and Louisa Crane were united in their dream of a better world, full of good deeds and great music.

He is arranging Williams’ “Zodiac Suite” for the 19-piece big band. “Mary Lou Williams in one of the people that assimilated the style and took it in many, many directions,” Ashlock says.

When Mary Lou Williams arrived at Duke in 1977 as the University’s first artist-in-residence, she was already an icon in the jazz world, having earned monikers like “The First Lady of Jazz ...