Book Review
Nov. 25th, 2022 01:04 pmSoul on Soul: The Life and Music of Mary Lou Williams
by Tammy Kernodle
This biography of jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams was both enjoyable and illuminating. Kernodle provides a clear-eyed and sympathetic recounting of Williams' life, detailing the ups and downs of her career and the evolution of her music. I liked the way Kernodle addressed the effects of racism and sexism on Williams, and the way she wrote about the pianist's religious awakening and the way it shaped her later music. This book brought Williams and her music to life and, like all good music writers, Kernodle made me want to listen to her subject's work.
by Tammy Kernodle
This biography of jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams was both enjoyable and illuminating. Kernodle provides a clear-eyed and sympathetic recounting of Williams' life, detailing the ups and downs of her career and the evolution of her music. I liked the way Kernodle addressed the effects of racism and sexism on Williams, and the way she wrote about the pianist's religious awakening and the way it shaped her later music. This book brought Williams and her music to life and, like all good music writers, Kernodle made me want to listen to her subject's work.