Thursday, February 25, 2010
Montgomery County Community College’s Lively Arts Series will celebrate Women’s History Month and the 100th anniversary of jazz composer, Mary Lou Williams, with a special tribute concert on Friday, March 26 at 8 p.m. in the Science Center Theater, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. For information and tickets, visit
www.mc3.edu/livelyarts or call 215-641-6518.
The performance is made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts’ American Masterpieces Program.
Mary Lou Williams, 1910-1981, was an American jazz stride pianist, composer and arranger. She wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements and recorded as many records. She created arrangements for Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman and was a friend, mentor and teacher to Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.
The tribute concert, as part of the Mary Lou Williams Resurgence Project, will feature an all-star big band, small ensemble and chorus performing a selection of Williams’ compositions led by Artistic Director, Arranger and Vibraphonist Cecilia Smith and Assistant Conductor Cecil Bridgewater. Amina Claudine Myers is the featured piano soloist.
Smith has studied Williams and her music for more than five years in order to present this centennial project in honor of the late jazz composer.
Tickets cost $25 for general admission, $20 for students and seniors and $10 for children.
For more information, visit
www.ceciliasmith.com.
