Soul on Soul: The Life and Music of Mary Lou Williams

Mary Lou Williams was a jazz musician-composer-arranger who spent her sixty-year career working in a variety of musical styles. Her integration of classical music helped expand jazz's compositional language, and her generosity made her a valued friend and mentor to many influential musicians. Despite controversies over women's place in jazz and arguments over the music's evolution, Williams repeatedly asserted her artistic and personal independence to carve out a place in the industry. Soul on Soul restores a pioneering African American woman to her rightful place in jazz history.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 376 pages
Publication date: 30 September 2020
Publisher: University of Illinois Press

The legendary jazz musician, composer, and arranger Mary Lou Williams embarked on a remarkable sixty-year career, traversing a vast and diverse spectrum of musical styles. Her groundbreaking integration of classical elements into her compositions expanded the expressive language of jazz, leaving an indelible mark on the genre. Her unwavering generosity and support made her a cherished friend and mentor to iconic figures such as Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, and Dizzy Gillespie. As her life journey unfolded, Williams experienced a profound spiritual awakening, embracing a spiritual jazz that aimed to advance the civil rights struggle and provide solace to wounded souls.

In her captivating book, Soul on Soul: The Life and Music of Mary Lou Williams, author Tammy L. Kernodle delves into the intricate details of Williams's life, painting a vivid portrait against the backdrop of controversies surrounding women's roles in jazz and heated debates over the music's evolution. Williams, a trailblazer who defied societal expectations, consistently asserted her artistic and personal independence, carving out a place in a male-dominated industry that often befuddled by her extraordinary genius. Kernodle explores the multifaceted aspects of Williams's life, unearthing her contradictions and complexities. She delves into the personal struggles she faced, including lukewarm professional acceptance, loneliness, relentless poverty, bad business deals, and challenging marriages.

Soul on Soul is an in-depth and epic exploration of Williams's life and music, reclaiming her rightful place in jazz history. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Kernodle provides a comprehensive account of Williams's journey, shedding light on her contributions to the genre and her enduring impact on the world of music. This book is a testament to the resilience and talent of a pioneering African American woman who overcame numerous obstacles to leave an indelible mark on the world of jazz.

Weight: 606g
Dimension: 234 x 157 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780252085536