Mary Lou Williams Collective T Zodiac Suite: Revisited CD

Personnel: Mary Lou Williams (piano); Al Lucas (bass); Jack "The Bear" Parker (drums).
Reissue producer: Matt Walters.
Recorded in 1945. Originally released on Asch (620 & 621). Includes liner notes by Dan Morgenstern and Mary Lou Williams.
Contains 17 tracks, including 6 previously unreleased alternate takes.
Mary Lou Williams Collective/Mary Lou Williams: Geri Allen (piano); Buster Williams (bass instrument); Andrew Cyrille, Billy Hart (drums).
Knowing the history of groundbreaking jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams' legendary Suite (penned at various times throughout the 1940s) isn't essential to enjoying this new rendering by this quartet led by contemporary piano master Geri Allen (the group also features bassist Buster Williams, a frequent colleague of Williams, who died in 1981). But as chronicled in the fascinating liner notes, the back-story adds texture and perspective to an intriguing series of interpretations of each sign of the zodiac. Williams launched the endeavor with a moody, melancholy play on her own sign, "Taurus," in 1944, followed by the thoughtful and graceful solo piece "Libra," which she dedicated to Dizzy Gillespie, Bud Powell, and Thelonious Monk. Allen expertly conveys the joyful side of the zodiac via playful swing and spirited improvisations on the opening piece "Aries" and "Gemini," one of the most hypnotic and engaging. Individual numbers of the 12-piece "Suite" can be enjoyed as reflections of the development without knowing their astrological reference, but part of the charm is wondering how and why Williams processed certain signs in the unique ways she did. Following the titular suite, Allen and company engage in three epilogue pieces -- Herbie Nichols' seductive "The BeBop Waltz," a frenetic "Intermission," and Allen's own expansive tribute to Williams, "Thank You Madam," which plays like a free-form love letter -- with a nod to the grand impressionism of Allen's chief influence, Herbie Hancock. ~ Jonathan Widran
Mary Lou Williams' Zodiac Suite, a 12-piece work with a different theme made for each of the signs of the zodiac (and keeping in mind the personalities of a few jazz musicians born during each period), was composed and first recorded in 1945. With the assistance of bassist Al Lucas and drummer Jack "The Bear" Parker, pianist Williams performs these moody and often introspective (but occasionally playful) sketches in a forward-looking swing style. Six alternate takes have been added to the original program on this CD reissue which, although not quite essential, has its interesting moments. ~ Scott Yanow
This tape of an unusual Mary Lou Williams concert was originally stolen and lost for decades until it was found around 1990. The pianist wrote a lengthy suite that was comprised of 12 movements, one for each sign of the zodiac. For her Town Hall concert she wrote her music out for a chamber orchestra that included a small string section, flute, clarinet, bassoon, several brass (including trumpeter Irving Randolph), bassist Al Hall, drummer I.C. Heard and an operatic vocalist (who is heard on "Pisces"); tenor great Ben Webster is featured on "Cancer." The music is obviously influenced by classical music (along with Gershwin) and has its interesting moments, covering a wide range of emotions. This CD is rounded out by a medley of some of Williams' compositions along with versions of "Lonely Moments," "Roll 'Em" and "Gjon Mili Jam Session" that include such players as clarinetist Edmond Hall, Randolph, trombonist Henderson Chambers and Eddie Barefield on tenor and clarinet. Not everything worked during the concert but the music from this historical event never loses one's interest. ~ Scott YanowJazzTimes (p.94) - "It is an extended work of great depth and complexity and diversity."