“Mary Lou Williams” (1951) – Mary Lou Williams

Album: Mary Lou Williams

Artist: Mary Lou Williams

Year: 1951

Genre: Bebop

Grade: A

Released in 1951 as a 10” LP on Atlantic Records, this self-titled Mary Lou Williams set finds the incomparable pianist in peak form. Her lush, soft, subtly dark, depressing, ambiguous, impressionist style keeps the listener hanging on every note. Backed only by soft bass and drums, Williams’ unpredictable piano melodies are given free room to roam, with delicate key changes transforming each song when you least expect it.

There are two great haunting modernist ballads at the end of the album (“Mary’s Waltz” and “My First Date With You”), both sounding very far ahead of their time (ironically, they’d be right at home on 1945’s Zodiac Suite, too). The rest of the tunes are straight-ahead swingin’ bop numbers, authorized by Williams’ signature, singular musical twists: strategic silences, occasional dissonances and melodies that beautifully alternate from bright to deep blue. Recommended for fans of Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans and Erik Satie.

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Accolades

• Top 10 Albums of 1951 — #9