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Adam Fairhall & Johnny Hunter — Play Mary Lou Williams
(Discus Music 187CD, 2025, CD / DL)

by Jon Davis, Published 2025-08-27

Play Mary Lou Williams Cover art

Not long ago I wrote about Aaron Diehl’s Zodiac Suite, an album featuring music composed by Mary Lou Williams in the 40s. Pianist Adam Fairhall and drummer Johnny Hunter take on more of Williams’ oeuvre on Play Mary Lou Williams. Being a piano and drums duo, the result is of course quite different in sound than Diehl’s piano trio with lots of guests. And it’s on Discus Music, so you can expect an element of the avant-garde. Fairhall’s take on these pieces, some of which date from even before Zodiac Suite while some came later in her life, is an interesting blend of period-appropriate stride piano and more modern touches, up to and including free jazz. At one moment you might be thinking of Art Tatum, and then the next it’s Cecil Taylor. Hunter likewise incorporates some of the earliest sounds from jazz drumming along with unpredictable freedom, though he seems to be using the kind of kit that would have been available at the time. “Night Life” is a little gem that illustrates their breadth, taking the opening slower than Williams’ original 1930 recording, but very much showing a flair similar to hers, though Hunter’s part certainly takes it to different places. There are times when it almost sounds like the two musicians are playing different songs, but they hold it all together to hit landmarks in unison. A track like “A Fungus Amungus,” which was originally recorded in the early 60s, shows Williams moving well beyond the kinds of rhythms and harmonies that served as her roots. It’s almost like stride piano on an acid trip. In all, I find Fairhall and Hunter’s interpretations as mostly just interesting, and while I applaud their intentions, I’d just as soon seek out the Mary Lou Williams versions of these pieces.

Filed under: New releases, 2025 releases

Related artist(s): Adam Fairhall, Johnny Hunter

More info
http://discusmusic.bandcamp.com/album/play-mary-lou-williams-187cd-2025

 

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