Joan Stiles Performs Mary Lou Williams Tribute Concert at Iridium Jazz Club, 5/12

2010 is the centennial of the birth of jazz icon, Mary Lou Williams. On Wednesday, May 12th, the Joan Stiles Sextet will celebrate Williams' 100th birthday at Iridium. Since 2000, Stiles has been re-arranging and performing the music of Mary Lou Williams in the concert series, "Mostly Mary Lou." She titled her CD, 'Hurly-Burly' after her composition of the same name--an homage to Williams, whose maiden name was Burley.  'Hurly-Burly' was one of Downbeat's Top CD's of the year; #11 on the JazzWeek Radio chart!

On' Hurly-Burly', pianist/composer Joan Stiles leads an all-star sextet with Jeremy Pelt, StEve Wilson, Joel Frahm, Peter Washington and Lewis Nash. Hurly-Burly is an eclectic, upbeat mix of original compositions and new arrangements of pieces by great pianist/composers--Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk and Mary Lou Williams (Stiles' major influences). In the liner notes, Doug Ramsey writes, "Adventure, daring, exuberance and wit inform this second collection." He praises "the vigor of her piano work, the musicianship and camaraderie of the band" and how "she weaves into her modern piano style the blues, swing, stride and boogie that still inspire her."

Stiles will perform her Mary Lou Williams tribute with two sets on May 12th, at 8 and 10pm. 

The Iridium Jazz Club is located at 1650 Broadway (Corner of 51st) NEW YORK, NY 10023.  For reservations and ticket information, call 212-582-2121 or visit http://www.iridiumjazzclub.com/.

For more information about Joan Stiles, visit www.joanstilesmusic.com. 

To post a comment, you must register and login.