Concert: The Soundworld of Mary Lou Williams

In the early 1940s, a small Brownstown apartment in Harlem served as a salon for artists like Dizzie Gillespie, Billie Holliday and Thelonious Monk. Soon to be household names of jazz, these young artists made a nightly pilgrimage to the living room of pianist Mary Lou Williams. Led by Mary Lou, a new generation of jazz musicians would explore a radical new sound and form what we now know as bebop.

This February, New World Symphony’s I Dream a World festival returns to celebrate the life of pianist, activist, arranger and composer Mary Lou Williams.

Photo: New World Symphony

Now in its third year, the I Dream a World festival is curated by musicologist and author Dr. Tammy Kernodle. “Mary Lou’s music gives us a way of hearing Black America, jazz and classical music in a different way,” says Dr. Kernodle.

As part of the festival, a chamber ensemble of New World Symphony Fellows will perform jazz and classical music written and inspired by Mary Lou Williams at The Black Archives Historic Lyric Theater in Overtown. The concert, called “In the Land of Oo Blah Dee,” will be at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 8, 2024.

Photo: Dr. Tammy Kernodle, musicologist, courtesy of New World Symphony

Featured composers include Duke Ellington, Valerie Coleman, Thelonious Monk, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson and, of course, Mary Lou Williams.

South Florida author and educator Darius Daughtry will recite two original poems: Maestro and Crystal Stair.

Tickets for this pay-what-you-wish performance start at $5, making for an affordable and glamorous night out with New World Symphony and the Historic Lyric Theater.

Photo: New World Symphony

Learn more about this concert at nws.edu/lyric or by calling 305.673.3331.

More NWS I Dream a World events

CONCERT FOR KIDS: I DREAM A WORLD

New World Center
Sunday, February 4 at 11:30 a.m.

Tickets from $35

DON’T MISS THIS: Bring your little ones to this family-friendly jazz concert designed with children ages 4 to 9 in mind. Arrive early for arts and crafts with the Miami Children’s Museum and free ice cream from Salt & Straw.
Reserve your tickets today at nws.edu/kids or by calling 305.673.3331.

THE SOUNDWORLD OF MARY LOU WILLIAMS

New World Center
Saturday, February 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 25 at 2:00 p.m.

$10 student tickets are available with the promo code STUDENT

DON’T MISS THIS: Celebrate the leading lady of jazz with New World Symphony. Don't miss this chance to hear the groundbreaking music of Mary Lou Williams brought to life by Grammy nominees Aaron Diehl, piano, and Carmen Lundy, vocalist.

Reserve your tickets today at nws.edu/jazz or by calling 305.673.3331.