Pianist/composer/vocalist Deanna Witkowski’s second appearance on Jazz Inspired celebrates one of her favorite musicians, Mary Lou Williams, with a new CD of Williams compositions, Force of Nature, and Mary Lou Williams: Music for the Soul, her biography of Mary Lou Williams.

Mary Lou Williams transcended a difficult life of racism, sexism and financial difficulty to become one of the most respected jazz musicians of her time. She wrote and arranged for Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, and mentored and taught Thelonious Monk, Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Tadd Dameron, Bud Powell, Dizzy Gillespie and many others.

Although Deanna’s life experience is much different from Mary Lou’s, she feels a special kinship with Williams through their music and spiritual focus.