Pianis/composer Mary-Lou Williams: "Zoning"

Mary-Lou Williams begins our month of Jazz Features spotlighting great woman instrumentalists and Mary-Lou Williams was the "first lady of Jazz". A musical pioneer, Mary-Lou was active as a pianist/composer and arranger from the early 1920s until her death at 71 on May 8, 1981, This album done in 1974 captures Mary-Lou at her creative best with younger energetic sidemen and playing her own compositions. Her piano playing is contemporary and her tunes are so modern. Mary-Lou was a great influence on some of the pioneers of modern Jazz piano like Thelonious Monk, Bud Powell, Elmo Hope and others. All of the compositions are hers with the exception being "Olinga" written for her by Dizzy Gillespie. For the bulk of the date Mary-Lou is backed by Bob Cranshaw on bass and Mickey Roker on drums and later near the end she is backed by bassist Milton Suggs and conga master Tony Waters. "Zoning" is a pivotal album and a fine musical portrait of a great innovator....Mary-Lou Williams.