Dec 8 and 10: Music for Peace by Mary Lou Williams
On Dec 8 and 10, "Music for Peace," Mary Lou Williams's third Mass, will be performed by the Rutgers Newark Chorus and the Deanna Witkowski Trio.
Jazz hymn arrangements
Deanna’s latest trio recording and companion sheet music features 14 jazz arrangements of traditional hymn tunes.
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
Mary Lou Williams Video and Deanna’s June dates in Pittsburgh
Here’s new video from Jazz Congress 2019, where I gave a six-minute pitch on my 2021 book/concert tour, Mary Lou Williams: Music for the Soul. I’ve been working steadily on my Mary Lou Williams biography (of the same title) to be … Continue reading
New Video! Deanna plays with Vanessa Rubin on WBGO’s Singers Unlimited
Last week I played with vocalist Vanessa Rubin on two radio tapings for Sirius XM’s Real Jazz and WBGO’s Singers Unlimited. The WBGO broadcast airs on Sunday, May 19 from noon-1 pm. Hear it live or archived after the fact here … Continue reading
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Tagged jazz, kenny davis, michael bourne, piano jazz, tadd dameron, vocal jazz, wbgo, winard harper
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Gigs in MN and NYC: 4/29 in Collegeville, MN; 5/3 in Nyack, NY; 5/13-17 in NYC
I’ve been in Collegeville, Minnesota for the entire month of April working on my Mary Lou Williams biography. More on that in the next blog post! In the meantime, here are some performance dates coming up super soon (check my … Continue reading
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Tagged bryant park, collegeville, mary lou williams, maureen's jazz cellar, pittsburgh
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We Walk in Love- the story behind Deanna’s Justice Choir song
In early 2017, I responded to a call for scores for a new collection of social justice songs being curated by Abbie Betinis, Tesfa Wondemagegnhehu, and Ahmed Anzaldúa. The songs to be selected as part of a new movement called … Continue reading
Mary Lou Williams and Deanna’s trip to Pittsburgh
UPDATE: Click to hear audio from Deanna’s December 2018 performance-lecture on the sacred music of Mary Lou Williams. As a musician, the sensation of being “in the flow” occurs when music is easily moving through me; when group interplay rises … Continue reading
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Tagged #justicechoir, dr. harry clark, east liberty presbyterian church, grace aquilina, hillman center performing arts, lighthouse arts, liturgical press, mary lou williams, mike aquilina, pittsburgh christian studies, pittsburgh girls choir, pittsburgh jazz festival, pittsburgh jazz history, tania grubbs, wzum
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NEW! Comfort Ye: 5 Advent and Christmas pieces
As a former church music director, I know what it feels like to look at your upcoming calendar and realize that you need to quickly fill a spot or two for the Advent or Christmas season. With that in mind, … Continue reading
GRAMMY For Your Consideration: Makes the Heart to Sing: Jazz Hymns
Makes the Heart to Sing: Jazz Hymns is in three pre-nomination categories for the 2019 Grammy Awards! •Category 33: Best Jazz Instrumental Album (#287, Makes the Heart to Sing: Jazz Hymns) •Category 31: Best Improvised Jazz Solo (#391, “Lord, I Want … Continue reading
