To celebrate Women’s History Month and raise funds for breast cancer, the URI Jazz Big Band swings with Mary Lou Williams. PHOTO CREDIT: Maddie Bataille | Photo Editor
On Thursday, March 3, the University of Rhode Island’s Big Band performed in the Fine Arts Center Concert Hall as they presented “Swinging with Mary Lou: Celebrating Women’s History,” a performance dedicated to Women’s History Month and breast cancer awareness.
Alta DeChamplain, a lecturer in amplified voice and the advisor for music education, started the event with a speech dedicated to Mary Lou Williams, an American jazz pianist, arranger and composer who passed away in 1981, and her influence on jazz music.
“This concert is our love letter to all the women who have played such an important role in the history and development of jazz for well over a century,” DeChamplain said. “Women such as our featured artist Mary Lou Williams have not only played but taught and developed the subsequent generations of jazz musicians that came after them.”
After she introduced the event, Emmett Goods, assistant professor of music and teacher in jazz trombone, came out and welcomed everyone to the show. Goods said that growing up he lived in Atlanta, Georgia in the same neighborhood as Williams did. According to him, her music is representative of classic jazz.
For Goods, the cause that this event is for is close to him, as breast cancer has affected people in his life.
“You can see we are all wearing pink ties to celebrate Women’s History Month and raise awareness for an important cause,” Goods said. “I lost my wife to breast cancer so this is my tribute to her and women everywhere.”
He encouraged the audience to donate to the QR codes and Venmo links that were handed out at the door and help those in need.
There were eight pieces performed at the concert, featuring works of composers such as Williams, Melba Liston, a jazz trombonist and vocalist, and Toshiko Akiyoshi, Japanese-American jazz pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader. Goods explained that Akiyoshi is still alive today and how she picked up the women in jazz legacy where Williams and Liston left off.
Two pieces were conducted by graduate student assistants. The first was “Just Waiting” by Melba Liston, conducted by graduate assistant Ben Marcotte. Goods described this piece as “a classic bebop ballad.”
The second was “Walkin’ and Swingin’” by Williams, conducted by graduate assistant Daniel Mach-Holt. Goods said this was one of Williams’ most popular pieces and had more of a blues tune.
For the pieces “In the Land of Oo-Bla-Dee,” written by Williams for Dizzy Gillespie, “Bewitched,” arranged by Mark Taylor and “A Natural Woman” arranged by Paul Murtha, Goods introduced vocalist Tara Gozaydin. Goods invited everyone in the audience to dance with their partners or friends in front of the stage to these three love songs.
Other pieces included classic jazz “Messa Stomp” and “New Musical Express” by Williams and “Road Time Shuffle” by Toshiko Akiyoshi.
URI Music will be holding performances throughout the rest of the spring semester. For a full list of upcoming events visit the music department’s Eventbrite.