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 In celebration of Black and Women’s History Months, the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra, led by founder Mark Harvey, will honor the late Mary Lou Williams, an African American who rose to prominence in the pre-Civil Rights/pre-Women’s Rights era. Dubbed the “First Lady of Jazz,” Williams composed and arranged songs for hundreds of bands, most notably Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. She gave the premiere of her masterpiece, the 12-movement “Zodiac Suite,” in Carnegie Hall. Following a spiritual crisis in the 1950s, Williams became a Roman Catholic in 1957 and began to compose sacred music, including “Black Christ of the Andes,” in honor of St. Martin de Porres, and three masses, the most famous being “Mary Lou’s Mass,” performed at the Vatican and later staged as Music for Peace by the Alvin Ailey Dance Theater.
In its 38th season, the Orchestra will showcase such Williams’ masterpieces as the Swing-era classic “Roll ’Em” and the rarely heard Scorpio movement from Zodiac Suite. Eastern’s Chorale, led by David Belles, will join the Orchestra in a rendition of the Gloria from “Mary Lou’s Mass.” Harvey will present his own tributes to Williams, including “Blues for Mary Lou” and the premiere of “Soul on Soul,” a new piece written for the occasion.
The group has won various awards, including one for Best Jazz Song at the 2000 Independent Music Awards, for “Scamology,” and has released eight albums since 1993.
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Tickets |
| Tickets for Arts and Lecture Series events are $10 for the general public and can be reserved by calling (860) 465-0036 or
e-mailing tickets@easternct.edu. |
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The Aardvark Jazz Orchestra’s performance is funded in part by the New England States Touring program of the New England Foundation for the Arts, made possible with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts Regional Touring Program and the six New England states’ arts agencies. |
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