3/19/09: Jane Reynolds/Fabu Carter Brisco on Mary Lou Williams
Jazz pianist, arranger, and composer, Mary Lou Williams, has long been regarded as one of the significant female pioneers in Jazz, both as an instrumentalist and as a composer, but her achievements are remarkable by any standard, regardless of genre.
An important swing pianist, she continued to develop by constantly exploring and extending her style and retained the status of a modernist for most of her career, which spanned over fifty years.
In March, designated Woman’s History Month, the MMC would like to honor Mary Lou William’s by presenting Jane Reynolds and Fabu Carter Brisco’s program of music and poetry based on her life, music, and times.
Based on Williams’ biography "Morning Glory", Jane Reynolds selected compositions representing various styles Williams embraced throughout her career. Fabu Carter Brisco wrote poetry about the people and events in William’s life as an African-American woman and artist, taking her titles from Williams’ compositions. Together, they combine to create moving, informative tribute to this great Jazz artist.
Jane Reynolds, a talented Jazz pianist and composer in her own right, earned a Ph. D. in music composition and theory from UW-Madison. Her recording of original works with bassist Hans Sturm entitled "Blue Got Up" was described by Cadence Magazine as "…a tour de force in the art of the duo".
Fabu Carter Brisco, the current Madison Poet Laureate, serves the Madison community as poet, storyteller, and educator. Her enchanting original and unique stories are most often from the perspective of women, children, and African Americans. Her poetry has appeared in Callaloo, Black Books Bulletin, The Wisconsin Academy Review, UMOSA Magazine, and Rosebud Magazine.