|
Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZMcPARTLAND, Marian(b Marian Margaret Turner, 20 March 1918, Windsor, England; d 20 August 2013, Port Washington NY ) Pianist, songwriter. From musical family; studied at Guildhall School of Music, played in piano duo (stage name was Marian Page); entertained troops in WWII, met Jimmy McPartland in Belgium '44 (married '45, divorced c.'65 but remained close friends). They played for Eisenhower in Paris. In the USA from 1946, she played in a combo with Jimmy, formed her own trio '51 and soon became highly rated in her own right, maturing from a derivative stylist to a fine ballad player with her own harmonic ideas. She wrote soundtrack music and songs ('There'll Be Other Times' recorded by Sarah Vaughan; 'Twilight World' played by Doc Severinsen on TV, recorded by Tony Bennett; 'Ambiance' recorded by Thad Jones/Mel Lewis band, nominated for a Grammy); she toured with a Benny Goodman sextet '63, played at Newport with Jimmy '78. Meanwhile she formed her own Halcyon label '69 (not to be confused with a UK label of the same name, using same numbering system): albums (some later on Jazz Alliance CDs) included tracks with Jimmy, the album now called A Sentimental Journey; music written for her by the composer on Plays Alec Wilder; also Solo Concert At Haverford '74, The Maestro And Friend '74 (duos with Joe Venuti made in Nice), Now's The Time '77, Live At The Carlyle '79, several more. She became a famous and much-loved broadcaster and journalist. Her award-winning Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz show on NPR started in 1979, interviews and duets with Bobby Short, Bill Evans, Tommy Flanagan, Mary Lou Williams, Oscar Peterson, many more: over 30 of the programmes had been issued on Jazz Alliance CDs by '96: her ability to talk about music for the lay audience while getting the other musician to open up was unique. Other albums include Let It Happen on RCA by a Jazz Piano Quartet with Dick Hyman, Hank Jones and Roland Hanna; two-disc At The Hickory House on Savoy (NYC club '52-3), and on Concord Jazz: At The Festival, Portrait Of Marian McPartland '79, Personal Choice '82, Plays The Music Of Billy Strayhorn '87, Plays The Benny Carter Songbook '90, Plays The Music Of Mary Lou Williams '94, Live At Yoshi's '96, all small groups with a few solo tracks here and there; solo recitals are Willow Creek And Other Ballads '85 and Vol. 9 in Concord's Live At Maybeck Hall series. Her book All In Good Time '87 collected essays on musicians. |