by Linda Dahl
Ensemble #3: same as #2, plus Eileen Gilbert, Randy Peyton, Carline Ray, Christine Spencer (v).
Ensemble #4: same as #1, plus Carl Hall, Randy Peyton (v).
O.W. (#1) • The Lord Says (#2) • Kyrie, a.k.a. Lord Have Mercy (#3) • Gloria (#1) • In His Day (#4) • Peace I Leave with You/Alleluia (#1) • Turn Aside (#1) • Holy, Holy, Holy (#3) • Creed, a.k.a. Credo (#1) • Our Father (#1) • People in Trouble (#2) • Lazarus (MLW p, leader, composer, arr; Leon Atkinson g; Carline Ray b, v) • The World, a.k.a. One (#1) • Praise the Lord (#2)
Issued as Mary LP (no number), Music for Peace.
recorded: New York, 1970, and January 1972
MLW (p, leader, composer, arr), various artists. Makeup of ensembles as above.
Praise the Lord (#2)* • Old Time Spiritual (MLW p, leader, composer, arr; Milton Suggs b; David Parker d; Ralph MacDonald cgs; Roger Glenn f) • The Lord Says (Ensemble #2, M.G. v solo)* • Act of Contrition (MLW p, leader, composer, arr; Milton Suggs b; Honi Gordon v) • Kyrie, a.k.a. Lord Have Mercy (Ensemble #3)* • Gloria (Ensemble #1)* • In His Day (Ensemble #4)* • Lazarus (MLW p; Leon Atkinson g; Carline Ray b, v)* • Credo (Ensemble #1)* • Medi I (and Medi II, in a medley) (MLW p, leader, composer, arr; Milton Suggs b; David Parker d; Ralph MacDonald cgs; Roger Glenn f) • Holy Holy Holy (Ensemble #3)* • Our Father (Ensemble #1)* • Lamb of God (MLW p, leader, composer, arr; Milton Suggs b; Roger Glenn f; Honi Gordon solo v, screams; chorus conducted by Howard Roberts) • People in Trouble (Ensemble #2)* • One (a.k.a. The World) (Ensemble #1)* • Praise the Lord (Come Holy Spirit) (MLW p, leader, composer, arr; Milton Suggs b; David Parker d; Ralph MacDonald cgs; Leon Atkinson g; Julius Watkins frh; Peter Whitehead v; chorus conducted by Howard Roberts)
Issued in 1975 as Mary Lou’s Mass, Mary Records 102. *Included also on Music for Peace, Mary LP (no number).
recorded: New York, 1970
MLW (p, leader, arr); Sonny Henry (g); Leon Thomas (v); unidentified rhythm. Let’s Do the Froggy Bottom* • Jesus Is the Best* • Credo** • Willis**
Mary Records 45 MA5. **Mary Records 45 MA6.
recorded: New York (Overseas Press Club), January 31, 1971
All-star group: MLW (p); Dizzy Gillespie and Bobby Hackett (t); George Duvivier (b); Grady Tate (d).
Love for Sale • Autumn Leaves* • Caravan • Jitterbug Waltz • Willow Weep for Me • Birks’ Works • My Man
Released as Three Giants, Perception LP 19. Also on Giants of Jazz CD 53 180.
recorded: New York, October 17, 1972
MLW (interviewee, narrator); Thomas More Society (producer).
Phonotape: Jazz and the Spirit.
recorded: Durham, North Carolina, December 1977
MLW (p), with chorus.
Christmas Celebration Interlude • Silent Night • Deck the Halls • Jingle Bells • O Come All Ye Faithful • Shoo be doo be doo, Santa Claus/It’s Old Saint Nick
recorded: New York, December 27, 1977
MLW (p, composer, arr); Buster Williams (b); Cynthia Tyson (v).
PIANO SOLOS
The Blues • N.G. Blues • Dirge Blues • Baby Bear Blues • Turtle Speed Blues • Blues for Peter • My Mama Pinned a Rose on Me
TRIO
Prelude to Prism • Prism • What’s Your Story, Morning Glory? • Prelude to Love Roots • Love Roots • Rhythmic Patterns • J.B.’s Waltz • The Blues • No Title Blues •
My Mama Pinned a Rose on Me, Pablo LP 2310-819.
recorded: Durham, North Carolina (Baldwin Auditorium, Duke University), December 12, 1977
MLW (leader, p); Buster Williams (b); Roy Haynes (d).
Spiritual II • Fandangle • Old Fashioned Slow Blues • Nite Life • Baby Bear Boogie/Roll ’Em • On Green Dolphin Street • I Can’t Get Started • Naturally • Olinga • I Love You • Caravan • A Grand Night for Swinging • Baby Man • Gloria • Somewhere Over the Rainbow • Surrey With the Fringe on Top • 45 o Angle • Bags’ Groove (incomplete)
Concert tape in MLW collection.
Selected Reissues/Compilations on CD Containing Work by Mary Lou Williams
Jazz Archives 15900 Mary Lou Williams’ Story
Suiza JZCD 35 Greatest Lady Piano Player in Jazz
Topaz LC7234 Mary Lou Williams—Key Moments
Giants of Jazz 53180 First Lady of the Piano 1952–1971
Collectables COL 5612 Mary Lou Williams and Orchestra/Meade Lux Lewis
Pro Arte CDD 3408 Andy Kirk—Moten Swing
Living Era AJA 5108 (E) Andy Kirk: The Twelve Clouds of Joy with Mary Lou Williams
Black & Blue CD 59 2402(F) Kansas City Bounce
Disky DCD 8004 Kansas City and the Southwest
LaserLight 17 171 Jazz Piano Anthology: The Magic Touch, volume 4
It is beyond the scope of this discography to mention the many LP reissues of recordings made by Mary Lou Williams, especially from the Clouds of Joy era, and her work as a soloist and leader in the 1940s. Several interesting LP’s are:
Stash 109, 111 (a collection of female pianists); and Stash 113, Jazz Women: A
Feminist Retrospective
MCA 1308, Instrumentally Speaking
Folkways FJ 2852, Piano Greats
Selected Appearances by Mary Lou Williams on Video
I Have a Dream (1968) Documentary film of MLW by New York University Motion Picture Workshop, produced by Edward Flanagan.
Segment on Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood (1973) Program No. 1313.
Segment on Sesame Street, Children’s Television Workshop(1970s, undated).
Mary Lou’s Mass (1976) Documentary film of Mass and performance at the Cookery, produced by Thomas C. Guy, Jr.
“A Christmas Special with Mary Lou Williams at Duke University” (1977) Taped on December 5 and aired on Christmas Eve 1977, this program includes MLW with bassist Freeman Ledbetter, and with Duke University students, singing her arrangements of Christmas carols.
Live performance for ETV-Nebraska (1980) Valuable documentation of one of her last filmed public performances; with Milton Suggs (bass), and Hugh Walker (drums). Portions excerpted for the 1983 TV program “Swinging the Blues,” hosted by Dr. Billy Taylor.
Music on My Mind (1981) Documentary study of MLW by Joanne Burke. Distributed through Women Make Movies, New York.
See also Mary Lou Williams Archive at Institute of Jazz Studies for more listings.
Selected Available Recordings on CD of Mary Lou Williams Compositions Performed by Other Artists
(Various tunes)
Dave Douglas (t, leader, arr, composer) and combo (personnel not known), Soul on Soul: Celebrating Mary Lou Williams, RCA Victor, forthcoming late 1999
Marian McPartland (p), Marian McPartland Plays the Music of Mary Lou Williams, Concord Jazz 4605
Roll ’Em
Shirley Scott (o), Impulse GRP 147
Diva Big Band, Diva Ltd. CD-079602
Pretty-eyed Baby
Roy Eldridge, Dizzy Gillespie (leaders, t, vcl), Verve Clef 314521647-2, October 29, 1954
Satchel Mouth Baby
Nat Cole (trio) (v, p, leader), Classic Jazz 8477, 1944
Nat Cole (trio) (v, p, leader), Four Star “Master Series,” FS-40047
Little Joe from Chicago
Nat Cole (trio) (v, p, leader), Four Star “Master Series,” FS-40047
Nat Cole, Delta Music LaserLight 15 746, Volume 1
What’s Your Story, Morning Glory?
Ella Fitzgerald (v), Verve 517535-2, 1958
Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra, Living Era AJA 5091, 1940
The American Jazz Orchestra, Music Masters Jazz 65072-2, 1991
Anita O’Day (v), Verve Polygram 837939-2, 1959
Milt Jackson (vib) Original Jazz Classics 404-2, 1963
Black Coffee
Sarah Vaughan (v), Columbia C2K 44165 (after MLW’s Morning Glory)
In the Land of Oo-bla-dee
Dizzy Gillespie Orchestra, RCA/BMG 09026-68499-2, 1949
Benny Goodma
n septet, Capitol 32086, and Mosaic MD4-148, 1949 (also MLW, arr.)
Walkin’ Out the Door
Nat Cole (trio) (p), Capitol Jazz CDP 0777 7 89545 2
Honi Gordon (v), Prestige PR 7230
Why
Honi Gordon (v), Prestige PR 7230
Lonely Moments
George Shearing (p), Verve 314 529 900-2, 1951
Benny Goodman Orch. (leader, cl), Capitol 32086, 1948 (also MLW, arr.)
Whistle Blues
Benny Goodman Orch. (leader, cl), Capitol 32086, 1948 (also MLW, arr.)
Walkin’ and Swingin’
Jim Galloway Big Band, Sackville (C) 3222, 1993
Steppin’ Pretty
Jim Galloway Big Band, Sackville (C) 3222, 1993
Koolbongo
Billy Taylor (p), Original Jazz Classics (Fantasy) OJCCD-1830-2, 1959
Swingin’ Til the Guys Come Home
Lambert, Hendricks and Bavan (v), Bluebird 6282-2-R11, 1962
Mary’s Idea
Benny Goodman combo, Dragon (Sweden) 183, 1948
Lullaby of the Leaves
Geri Allen (p), Somethin’ Else CDP 72438 300028 25 (arr. only by MLW)
Recordings of Mary Lou Williams Arrangements by the Duke Ellington Orchestra or by Small Ensembles of Ellington Personnel
Trumpets No End The best-known arrangement by Mary for the Ellington Orchestra is “Trumpets No End,” a.k.a. “Trumpet No End,” an arrangement of “Blue Skies.” It first appeared on record on November 8, 1943; there were many later recordings, from 1944 to 1953. CD Circle 101 includes five takes of “Trumpet(s) No End.”
Sweet Georgia Brown Mary’s arrangement of “Sweet Georgia Brown,” recorded in June 1943, is available on CD Jazz Archives 15 8432, Kansas City Legends. In the band on the date was a young Dizzy Gillespie, subbing for Mary’s then-husband Harold Baker.
Chief (Natoma from Tacoma) Mary’s composition, in a new arrangement, is on CD SAJA Records 791045-2, Duke Ellington, The Private Collection, Volume 5, The Suites, New York 1968 and 1970, in The River. A second arrangement of “Chief” is on CD Pablo OJCCD-446-2, The Ellington Suites, in the UWis Suite.
Chopsticks Mary Lou Williams is coarranger with Duke Ellington on this January 1945 recording, on Circle CD-103.
Variations on Stardust Recorded at Carnegie Hall concert December 11, 1943, on LP Ember (E)EMBD2001.
Ghost of Love Ben Webster (ts); Billy Strayhorn (p); Al Hibbler (v); unidentified rhythm. IAJRC 30
A Selection of Mary Lou Williams Compositions Recorded by Other Artists on LPs
Cloudy Red Garland (p), Moodsville LP MVPL10 (Japan), 1960
Steppin’ Pretty Buck Clayton (t), Riverside R-353/9353
The Devil (Is a Woman) Ada Moore (v), Debut Records 15
Strange Fascination Ada Moore (v), Debut Records 15
Walkin’ and Swingin’ (1) Gene Krupa and Orchestra, Ajax 110, 1938; (2) Les Brown and Orchestra, Decca 3167, 1940
A Mellow Bit of Rhythm (1) Les Brown and Orchestra, Decca 3167; (2) Red Norvo, Big Band Archives LP 2201, 1944
Lonely Moments (1) Gene Sedric and Orchestra, Harmonia H1806, 1946; (2) Edmond Hall and Café Society Orchestra (cl), Continental 6026 1946
Little Joe from Chicago Wingy Manone (t), Bluebird B-7622, 1938
(In the Land of) Oo Bla Dee (1) Junior Mance (p), Jazzland JLP 30, 1960; (2) Les Brown and Orchestra, Hindsight HSR 132
Scorpio Oscar Pettiford octet (b), Bethlehem BC-P33, 1955
What’s Your Story Morning Glory? Glenn Miller Orchestra, BB B10832/reissue RCA (F) LFMI-7516, 1940
Messa Stomp Dreamland Syncopators, Keith Nichols (leader), Stomp Off Records LP SOS 1150
WNEW Half-hour Weekly Program, “The Mary Lou Williams Piano Workshop”: 1945
Tapes in Mary Lou Williams collection.
4/11/45 With Al Lucas (b), Jack Parker (d), and Joe Carroll (v). Mary played and sang her composition “You Know, Baby.” On “Put Another Nickel In,” she provided bop accompaniment to Joe Carroll’s vocals. Other tunes included “Sheik of Araby,” “I Found a New Baby,” “Lullaby of the Leaves,” “Roll ’Em,” “Dark Eyes,” and, “Froggy Bottom.”
4/18/45 With Lucas and Parker. Mary opened with an untitled and improvised theme, followed by “St. Louis Blues,” “Sweet Lorraine,” “I Know That You Know,” “Limehouse Blues,” “In My Solitude,” “Blue Skies,” “Mary Lou’s Boogie,” and “Honeysuckle Rose.”
4/25/45 With Lucas and Parker. Mary played her theme, then “Marcheta,” a medley of “Morning Glory”/”Cloudy”/”Ghost of Love,” “Limehouse Blues,” “Beloved Comrade” (Josh White, vocals), “You Know Baby,” “Froggy Bottom,” “When Dreams Come True,” and “I Got Rhythm.”
5/2/45 With Lucas, Parker, Betty Leeds (ts). Opened with the theme, then “Blue Skies,” “Sweet Georgia Brown” (with Leeds), “I Know That You Know,” “Gjon Mili Jam Session,” “The Man I Love” (with Leeds), “St. Louis Blues,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” and “I Got Rhythm.”
6/17/45 With Al Hall (b), Bill Coleman (t), Elwood Smith (v). The theme, “I Got Rhythm,” “Persian Rug,” “Let My People Go” (with Elwood Smith), “Blue Skies,” “Lady Be Good,” “Night and Day,” “Oh No John” (with Smith), “I Know That You Know,” “Mary Lou’s Boogie” (Mary and Hall only), “I Got Rhythm” (quartet).
6/24/45 With Johnny Williams (b), Art Trappier (d), Edmond Hall (cl). Opened with the theme, “Limehouse Blues,” “Rose Room” (with Edmond Hall), “Gjon Mili Jam Session” (with Hall), several bars of possibly “Salt Peanuts,” “After You’ve Gone” (with Hall), “In My Solitude,” “Marcheta,” “Roll ’Em” (with Hall), “Honeysuckle Rose” (with Hall).
7/1/45 Same personnel as above. Theme, “St. Louis Blues,” “Carcinoma” (with Hall), “I Never Knew” (with Hall), “Stardust” (introduced but not on the tape), “I Know That You Know” (with Hall).
7/8/45 With Dose or Mose Dickens (b), Wally Bishop (d), Gene Sedric (cl). Theme, “Lonely Moments”—misintroduced as “Lovely Moments”—(with Sedric), “Man of Mine” (with Sedric), unidentified tune (with Sedric), “You Know, Baby” (with Sedric and v by Mary), “After You’ve Gone” (with Sedric).
7/15/45 Same personnel as above. Theme, “Twinklin’ ” (with Sedric), “Sometimes I’m Happy” (with Sedric; interrupted by World War II news bulletin), “I’ve Got a Song in My Soul” (new MLW comp). Again a news bulletin interruption. “Lonely Moments” (with Sedric), “It Had to Be You” (v by Dickens with Sedric), “When Dreams Come True,” “The Man I Love” (with Sedric), “The Sheik of Araby” (with Sedric).
7/22/45 With Curley Russell (b), Charlie Simon (d), Sylvia Syms (v). Theme, “When Dreams Come True,” “Song in My Soul” (with Sylvia Syms), “Dark Eyes,” “Mean to Me” (with Sims), “Marcheta,” Gershwin Medley (piano solo), “I Got Rhythm,” “St. Louis Blues,” “Honeysuckle Rose,” theme.
7/29/45 With Josh White (v and g), Bunny White (v). Theme, “Honeysuckle Rose” (piano solo), “Tea for Two” (piano solo), “I Want You, I Need You” (v and g by Josh White only), “Waltzing Matilda” (B. White, v), “Mary Lou’s Boogie” (piano solo), “Lord Randall” (B. White, v), “Free and Equal Blues” (by Josh White), theme, piano solo.
8/5/45 Personnel unclear; probably Al Hall (b), Specs Powell (d), Bill Coleman (t). “When Dreams Come True” and “Lonely Moments” introduced, but only the last chorus is on the tape, “Roll ’Em.” “Sleep” on LP (see p. 416).
8/12/45 Same personnel, also Ann Hathaway (v). “Gjon Mili Jam Session” (on LP: see p. 416), “Persian Rug,” news interruption, “Let My People Go” (Bill Coleman, v), “How High the Moon,” “The Man I Love,” “Ghost of Love” (Ann Hathaway, v).
On the WNEW program, Mary played the following signs of the Zodiac:
4/4/45 Gemini
4/11/45 Cancer
4/18/45 Leo
4/25/45 Virgo
5/2/45 Libra
6/17/45 Capricorn (piano solo)
6/24/45
Aquarius—incomplete sketch.
7/1/45 Pisces
7/8/45 Scorpio
7/22/45 Aquarius
7/29/45 Sagittarius
8/5/45 Pisces
WOR RADIO
9/7/45 Interview and performance before a studio audience, Mary with Al Lucas (b), Jack Parker (d). “Waltz Boogie” and “Fifth Dimension.”
Mary also performed frequently on radio in the 1940s, early 1950s, and mid-1960s (WABC, circa 1964).
Compositions and Arrangements by Mary Lou Williams
1. Mary Lou Williams’s Compositions and Co-compositions for Andy Kirk and the Clouds of Joy
1936
Walkin’ and Swingin’
Lotta Sax Appeal
Git
Froggy Bottom (rearranged version)
Bearcat Shuffle
Steppin’ Pretty
Corky
Cloudy (rearranged version)
1937
In the Groove
A Mellow Bit of Rhythm
1938
Twinklin’
Little Joe from Chicago
Messa Stomp (rearranged version)
Toadie Toddle
Ghost of Love
What’s Your Story, Morning Glory?
Dunkin’ a Doughnut
Mary’s Idea (rearranged version)
1939
Close to Five
Big Jim Blues
1940
Why Go on Pretending
Scratchin’ in the Gravel
1941
Big Time Crip
2. Selected Arrangements by Mary Lou Williams for Other Big Bands
For Benny Goodman: “The Count,” “Messa Stomp,” “Toadie Toddle” (and see below)
For Cab Calloway: “Ghost of Love,” “Toadie Toddle”
For Louis Armstrong: “Messa Stomp,” “Walkin’ and Swingin’,” “A Mellow Bit of Rhythm,” “Cloudy”
For Bob Crosby: “Steppin’ Pretty,” “Ghost of Love”
For Tommy Dorsey: “Little Joe from Chicago”
For Red Norvo: “A Mellow Bit of Rhythm,” “Messa Stomp”
For Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra: “Walkin’ and Swingin’,” “What’s Your Story, Morning Glory?”
For The Sweethearts of Rhythm: “St. Louis Blues”
3. Selected Compositions and Arrangements by Mary Lou Williams for Benny Goodman
Most of the material that Mary Lou Williams arranged for Benny Goodman in the 1930s and 1940s, including many incomplete scores, is contained in the Benny Goodman Archive at Yale University; other material is at the Library of the Performing Arts, at Lincoln Center in New York.