Musical Style: Jazz

This time around, the Tenia Nelson Trio (TNT!) trio will be diving head-first into the music of the amazing Mary Lou Williams, one of the greatest jazz pianists, composers, and arrangers of all time. Though lesser-known, Mary Lou Williams influenced jazz, swing and bebop as much or more than more famous names of the day.

Known as “The Lady Who Swings the Band”, she wrote and arranged for Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, and she was friend, mentor, and teacher to Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Tadd Dameron, Bud Powell, and Dizzy Gillespie. At a time when it was unusual for women to play Jazz much less be arrangers, her talent broke through race and cultural barriers. She became a sought-after player known for her boogie-woogie & stride left hand and creative interpretations of standards.

“Williams was an arranger, composer, pianist, educator, and activist that exemplified all the complexities, tragedy, and joy that is embodied in jazz and American music.” She had an amazing career, and is the only jazz performer to date to have played in every stylistic period of jazz spanning the years from 1920s to the 1970s. At the time of her death in 1981, Mary Lou Williams had written more than 100 compositions or arrangements, recorded over 100 records, and performed on stages from California to New York, Florida to Canada, London to Copenhagen, and many points in between.

NPR  Article: How Mary Lou Williams Shaped The Sound of the Big-Band Era

"The greatest woman jazz pianist in captivity." "The greatest woman jazz pianist in the world." "Highly acclaimed as a deluxe tickler of the ivories." "One of the foremost swing pianists of either sex." By 1936, then-25-year-old Mary Lou Williams' reputation already preceded her. 

WUNC Podcast: The hunt for a long-lost musical masterpiece

Perhaps more than any other artform, the 20th century was shaped by jazz. And piano player and composer Mary Lou Williams was there at nearly every turn. 

The Tenia Nelson Trio (affectionately known as TNT 🧨) has been bringing a breath of jazz to a wide variety of genres at Dazzle, some particular highlights include RnB, Swing and Jazz over the years .

Tenia Nelson- Piano

Brendan O' Donoghue- Bass

Alex Tripp- Drums