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Mary Lou Williams: A Grand Night for Swinging
ByThe concert begins and ends with the title song, written by fellow pianist Billy Taylor, which Williams customarily used as the closing number in most of her sets. The standards "I Can't Get Started" and "My Funny Valentine" precede Williams' well-grooved original, "Bags' Blues" (an answer to Milt Jackson's "Bags' Groove"). A faster-paced blues, W.C. Handy's venerable "St. Louis Blues," is next, followed by John Stubblefield's boogie-like "Baby Man" and Juan Tizol's long-running "Caravan," on which Haynes takes center stage for an extended solo.
As the piece de resistance after the closing number, "A Grand Night for Swinging," there's a nearly five-minute interview with Williams. She reveals how she started playing professionally at age six (seated on other musicians' laps), discusses her decade-long "classroom experience" with Andy Kirk's band and, finally, her later spiritual awakening and temporary hiatus from jazz.
At the keyboard, Williams had technique to burn, but more than that, always seemed to be having a grand timeand she could swing the phone book. In fact, any night that she played piano was A Grand Night for Swinging. The trio is in splendid form, and Williams' sunny piano clearly outshines any visible (or audible) clouds, making this session more than worthwhile.
Track Listing
A Grand Night for Swinging; I Can't Get Started; My Funny Valentine; Bag's Blues; St. Louis Blues; Baby Man; Caravan; A Grand Night for Swinging; Interview with Mary Lou Williams.
Personnel
Mary Lou Williams
pianoMary Lou Williams: piano; Ronnie Boykins: bass; Roy Haynes: drums.
Album information
Title: A Grand Night for Swinging | Year Released: 2008 | Record Label: HighNote Records