Mary Lou Williams: Composer, Pianist, Pioneer

Green Mountain Academy for Lifelong Learning (GMALL) continues its yearlong “Women ’20-’20” celebration by welcoming composer Erik Nielsen to talk about jazz pioneer Mary Lou Williams. Her name is not as well known in the list of important Black American composers as Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker or William Grant Still, but she deserves to rank with all of them. Not only was she a great arranger, composer and pianist, highly respected among her peers, in a jazz world dominated by men, but she created choral and large ensemble works that bridged jazz and concert music. As if that weren’t enough, she mentored and encouraged young musicians such as Parker and Thelonious Monk to explore new paths, and continued such mentoring work right up to her death in 1981. And her influence continues today. Nielsen will discuss Williams, her life, work and some of the contemporary black women composers who are her heirs. Registration for the talk is $10 per person in advance. For more information or to register, please call 802-867-0111 or visit our website at greenmtnacademy.org.