''Impressions of Mary Lou'' is an album by pianist
John Hicks
Sir John Richards Hicks (8 April 1904 – 20 May 1989) was a British economist. He is considered one of the most important and influential economists of the twentieth century. The most familiar of his many contributions in the field of economic ...
which was recorded in 1998 and released on the
HighNote
HighNote Records is a jazz record company and label founded by Joe Fields with his son, Barney Fields, in 1997.
Joe Fields worked for Prestige Records in the 1960s, and in the 1970s founded Muse Records. After he sold Muse, he started the Highn ...
label. The album features eight compositions by
Mary Lou Williams
Mary Lou Williams (born Mary Elfrieda Scruggs; May 8, 1910 – May 28, 1981) was an American jazz pianist, arranger, and composer. She wrote hundreds of compositions and arrangements and recorded more than one hundred records (in 78, 45, and ...
along with five by Hicks.
Reception
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
reviewed the album stating "What is so compelling about Hicks' salute to Williams is that he ignores her best known secular works; he sticks mostly to excerpts from her religious compositions, which, of course, still swing mightily... Recommended".Dryden, K. AllMusic Review accessed February 25, 2015 ''
JazzTimes
''JazzTimes'' is an American magazine devoted to jazz. Published 10 times a year, it was founded in Washington, D.C. in 1970 by Ira Sabin as the newsletter ''Radio Free Jazz'' to complement his record store.
Coverage
After a decade of growth ...
'' said "Hicks does a good job getting inside the tunes and developing them in his own way... Admirers of Hicks and Williams should enjoy this well-executed homage".Baker, D. JazzTimes Review May 2001
Track listing
''All compositions by Mary Lou Williams except as indicated''
# "Lord Have Mercy" - 4:31
# "Ballad for Mary Lou" (John Hicks) - 3:21
# "O.W." - 4:08
# "Old Time Spiritual" - 3:45
# "Mary Lou's Interlude" (Hicks) - 4:09
# "Medi II" - 7:54
# "Not Just Your Blues" (Hicks) - 4:31
# "Intermission" (Williams, Milton Suggs) - 4:58
# "Not Too Straight" (Hicks) - 4:03
# "Two for You" (Hicks) - 4:31
# "Aries" - 2:15
# "The Lord Says" - 3:55
Personnel
*
John Hicks
Sir John Richards Hicks (8 April 1904 – 20 May 1989) was a British economist. He is considered one of the most important and influential economists of the twentieth century. The most familiar of his many contributions in the field of economic ...
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piano
The piano is a stringed keyboard instrument in which the strings are struck by wooden hammers that are coated with a softer material (modern hammers are covered with dense wool felt; some early pianos used leather). It is played using a keyboa ...
*
Dwayne Dolphin
Dwayne Dolphin is a jazz and funk bassist.
Biography
Dolphin plays acoustic bass and bass guitar (including piccolo bass).bass
*
Cecil Brooks III
Cecil Brooks III (born 1959) is an American jazz drummer and record producer who has worked with Arthur Blythe, Russell Gunn, John Hicks, Andrew Hill, Etta Jones, Roseanna Vitro, Marvin Peterson, and Jimmy Ponder.
A native of the Homewood neig ...
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drums
A drum kit (also called a drum set, trap set, or simply drums) is a collection of drums, cymbals, and other Percussion instrument, auxiliary percussion instruments set up to be played by one person. The player (drummer) typically holds a pair o ...
Production
*Cecil Brooks III - producer
*George Heid - engineer