The City Where Jazz is Love
Read Deanna's October 2019 article, "The City Where Jazz is Love," on why she took up temporary residence in Williams's hometown of Pittsburgh.
Playing Music Again (in some cases, with others)
Just two weeks ago, I played a live, socially distanced outdoor gig with a bassist and drummer (see photo above). It was my first time making music with other musicians in exactly six months and one day. SIX MONTHS AND … Continue reading
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Tagged city of asylum, con alma, festival of friendship, mary lou williams
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We Walk in Love- a modern justice anthem
“We Walk in Love” is for this moment. “Witkowski did a wonderful job of honoring the gospel style with We Walk in Love and the lyrics carry such a beautiful message that resonates with singers of all ages. I’ve conducted … Continue reading
Even, Only for This Day: a hymn for this uncertain time
“Do not depend on the hope of results.” This quote comes from a letter that Thomas Merton wrote to activist (and my Facebook friend), Jim Forest. Our worldwide reality is forcing us to truly live in the present, to take … Continue reading
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Tagged jim forest, pandemic hymn, thomas merton, virtual choir
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Length of Days $10 CD sale through June 15!
For the last two months, I’ve been away from my home in NYC and living at my mom’s. In addition to boxes of my high school mementos, my mom also has five large boxes of my 2006 quartet CD, Length … Continue reading
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Tagged cd sale, dave ambrosio, donny mccaslin, vince cherico
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All Mary Lou Williams this Fri on the Con Alma Solo Series
On Fri, May 8 from 7-8 pm EST, I’ll be celebrating the 110th anniversary of Mary Lou Williams’ birth by playing an all Williams set on the Con Alma Solo Series! Watch the concert HERE at deannajazz.com, HERE at Facebook, … Continue reading
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Tagged con alma, mary lou williams, pittsburgh jazz
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Jazz is Love: The Life & Music of Mary Lou Williams
Last week I gave a performance-talk entitled Jazz is Love: The Life & Music of Mary Lou Williams at Fordham University. Here is a three minute video interview with clips from the performance.
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Tagged american catholic studies, black catholics, black history month, catholicism, fordham, jazz pianist, mary lou williams
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The blues and an 84-year-old prophet named Anna
In this new year, I am picturing the Pittsburgh friends who were digging my solo on the blues in the above video as being with me in my New York apartment as I finish my Mary Lou Williams book manuscript. … Continue reading
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Tagged Anne Lamott, blues, pittsburgh jazz, prophetess Anna, Saint Luke
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The City Where Jazz is Love: Pittsburgh and Mary Lou Williams
Tomorrow will mark three weeks since my arrival in Pittsburgh. I initially came here for an engagement with my New York City trio; I chose to stay here for two months because of Mary Lou Williams and the musicians who … Continue reading
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Tagged con alma, mary lou williams, pittsburgh, pittsburgh jazz, teenie harris
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Some thoughts on Mary Lou Williams
UPDATE: Read Deanna’s article, The City Where Jazz is Love: Pittsburgh and Mary Lou Wiilliams to learn why Deanna spent two months in Williams’s hometown in the fall of 2019. This week NPR is shining a light on pianist-composer Mary Lou … Continue reading
When Joy Overflows into Music
I’m back home in New York City after a couple of whirlwind weeks in Pittsburgh, Minneapolis/St. Paul, and Philadelphia. A few photo highlights: On June 22, photographer Urban Landreman took this shot of me performing with Nnenna Freelon, Chris Berger … Continue reading
