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| The Mary Lou Williams Collective At The Iridium Jazz Club The Mary Lou Williams Collective (Geri Allen - piano, Kenny Davis - bass, Andrew Cyrille - drums) will perform May 4-7 at the Iridium Jazz Club, New York, celebrating the release of their new CD Zodiac Suite: Revisited (Mary Records). The Mary Lou Williams Collective, under the musical direction of pianist/arranger/composer Geri Allen, reexamines and revitalizes Mary Lou Williams' Zodiac Suite - the first lady of instrumental jazz's landmark 1945 recording of her collection of twelve solo, duo and trio piano pieces named for the astrological signs of the fellow jazz greats to whom they are dedicated - on Zodiac Suite: Revisited. Allen, joined by virtuoso bassist Buster Williams (Mary Lou Williams' frequent colleague) and drummer Billy Hart (the very creative third member of the younger pianist's working trio from 2003), in the words of producer Father Peter O'Brien, SJ, "explores and explodes the music ... preserving the composition, but putting herself entirely into it." In addition to the selections from the suite, the trio also recreates Williams' exciting collaboration with bassist Milton Suggs, "Intermission." On the date's other two selections, Herbie Nichols' "The BeBop Waltz" (a favorite of Mary Lou's) and "Thank You Madam" (Allen's dedication to Williams), the great Andrew Cyrille, who had performed often with Williams and appeared on Allen's debut recording, makes a guest appearance on drums. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |