SFJAZZ DEMO A multi-site cyber-symposium on the music of Mary Lou Williams

HIGH-SPEED BROADBAND USED TO GATHER EXPERTISE FROM AROUND THE COUNTRY Pianist and jazz legend Mary Lou Williams ( ) had an extraordinary musical career. On March 12 musicians and scholars from around the country will celebrate her life and work in a cyber- symposium over Internet2.

MANY LENSES FOR UNDERSTANDING AND CELEBRATING HER WORK The national symposium, streamed live, features:  Improvised piano duets by pianists in studios hundreds of miles apart using JackTrip software  A work-in-progress film on the life of Mary Lou Williams  A presentation by the head of the Mary Lou Williams Foundation  Panel discussions with university scholars at different sites  Participants at eight venues will partake in the online event

PARTNERS INCLUDE University of Pittsburgh Director of Jazz Studies Professor Gerry Allen coordinated the event with:  Columbia University  Emory University  Harvard University  University of Michigan  SFJazz  Kennedy Center  The Guggenheim Museum

SFJAZZ IS NOW CONNECTED TO CALREN This connection allows them to contribute to the symposium by hosting a presentation by Rev. Peter F. O’Brien, executive director of Mary Lou Williams Foundation.

“Bringing SFJAZZ on board as a Sponsored Associate of CENIC has been especially fulfilling given that it is the only institution in the country specially devoted to this uniquely multicultural and American art form. Enabling them to expand their reach across the country and participate in such events like this – events that can only be achieved through advanced networks – brings a tremendous amount of value to the entire CENIC community, and I hope it’s a sign of things to come for California’s cultural institutions and advanced networking. “ - Louis Fox, President and CEO, CENIC

IN TODAY’S SESSION We will connect to the live stream for the session: Mount Allen, SFJAZZ, will introduce a piano duo between:  Ha Vijay Iyer, Harvard University Professor of Music  Geri Allen, Associate Professor of Music and Director of Jazz Studies, University of Pittsburgh Rev. Peter F. O’Brien, Executive Director of Mary Lou Williams Foundation, will play a recording of Praise the Lord, written and played by Mary Lou Williams from the theater at SFJAZZ Mount Allen, Director of Operations at SFJAZZ, will be connected from SF JAZZ via videoconference over CalREN to answer questions from conference attendees.

CONTACT INFORMATION Mount V. Allen CFE III Director of Operations, SFJAZZ Rev. Peter F. O’Brien, Executive Director, Mary Lou Williams Foundation Christine Goodheart Director of Library, Museum and Performing Arts Partnerships, CENIC Geri Allen Director of Jazz Studies, University of Pittsburgh