The last known work of pioneering jazz musician and East Liberty native Mary Lou Williams was considered to be lost to time — until now. A Duke University professor rediscovered her notes for "History: A Wind Symphony" and the composition made its official debut on April 13.
Have you ever heard her soulful sounds? Williams broke barriers in the male-dominated jazz world of the 1930s. Starting as a self-taught pianist, she gained recognition in Pittsburgh's club scene and became known for her innovative arrangements.
Her collaborations with jazz icons like Andy Kirk and Duke Ellington solidified her as a sought-after composer and arranger during the Swing Era. After moving to New York in 1942, she influenced the emerging bebop movement with her modernized style. Williams' legacy extends beyond her music; she taught at Duke University, leaving a lasting impact on jazz education. Even after her death in 1981, her contributions to jazz endure, inspiring generations of musicians.
🎶 Hear Williams go through the eras of jazz at the Newport Jazz Fest at Carnegie Hall in 1978 or listen to her full album “Zodiac Suite” with the Umlaut Chamber Orchestra, released in 1945.
Learn more about Williams and other groundbreaking Western Pa. women in the Heinz History Center exhibition A Woman’s Place: How Women Shaped Pittsburgh.
