April 14: Jazz for the Soul: The Life and Music of Mary Lou Williams

Mary Lou Williams believed that jazz music has the power to heal individuals and communities. At age forty-seven, she converted to Catholicism, and chose voluntary poverty in order to rehabilitate the sick in her community. Her gospel message that “jazz is love” lives on through her extraordinary—if little heard—catalog of recordings and compositions.

In this event, jazz pianist-composer Deanna Witkowski will share excerpts from her forthcoming biography, Mary Lou Williams: Music for the Soul (Liturgical Press, August 2021) and perform live selections from her recently recorded Williams tribute album, Force of Nature (MCG Jazz, release date TBA).

Wednesday, April 14, 2021
12 – 1 PM, CDT

Did you miss this event? Watch a recording below or on Facebook:

Resources mentioned:

• Pre-order Mary Lou Williams: Music for the Soul by Deanna Witkowski
• Deanna Witkowski’s personal website
• Deanna’s blog post about her move to Pittsburg, PA
• Watch Mary Lou’s Mass with choreography by Alvin Ailey
• Deanna’s new, weekly sacred music video series
• Playlist of Deanna’s sacred jazz
• To sign up for Deanna’s music e-news, contact Deanna at deanna@deannajazz.com.

Deanna Witkowski is an award-winning jazz pianist and composer and former participant in the Collegeville Institute’s resident scholar and writing workshop programs. She recently relocated to Pittsburgh after spending twenty-three years as a New Yorker. As a frequent guest music leader, Witkowski has shared her original liturgical jazz in over one hundred churches throughout the United States. Her seven recordings include the forthcoming Force of Nature (MCG Jazz) featuring all Mary Lou Williams compositions, and Makes the Heart to Sing: Jazz Hymns (Tilapia Records), featuring 14 jazz arrangements of classic hymns alongside a companion sheet music book. A noted Mary Lou Williams scholar, her biography, Mary Lou Williams: Music for the Soul (Liturgical Press) will be published in August 2021. Experience Deanna’s music at deannajazz.com.