by Doug Tatum

An Elegant Finale
The Folly Theater is indeed honored to close the 2001-2002 Folly Jazz Series with the presentation of the Marian McPartland Trio on Saturday, May 4. For this concert, the Folly Theater and KANU 91.5 FM are joining forces in a celebration of Marian McPartland and her wonderful program on National Public Radio, "Piano Jazz."

This concert is also a great opportunity for the Folly to help KANU celebrate its 50th year on the air. In case you haven't noticed, KANU is now the only radio station in the Kansas City area that broadcasts Marian McPartland's show (Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m.).

Since 1977, McPartland has served as producer, host and performer on her award-winning program. Marian skillfully plays the role of radio interviewer, duet partner, and oral historian. Her natural relaxed manner puts nervous guests at ease, and her brilliant playing and engaging conversational style result in entertaining programs that provide an enlightening insider's view of jazz. (Incidentally, the show now holds the record as radio's longest-running jazz program.)

For her work, Marian has received the George Foster Peabody Award for broadcasting excellence, and the programs are archived at the Rodgers & Hammerstein Collection at New York's Lincoln Center and the Library of Congress.

McPartland's virtuoso performances at the piano and her own personal style have won her international acclaim as one of the most important figures in jazz today. Marian is remarkable in her ability to adapt to virtually any jazz style, from Eubie Blake to Bill Evans, from swing and bebop to contemporary and everything in between. She is just as comfortable playing a John Coltrane modal tune as she is performing the standards of her youth. In describing Marian's playing, jazz historian James Maher wrote, "She has a beguiling presence, a rare mixture of elegance and impishness... and both are reflected in her music, in her cool command of labyrinthine invention and sudden bursts of pure fun."

Marian worked very hard to earn her place in jazz history, however. In the words of jazz writer Chip Deffaa, "When she first came on the scene, she had to overcome the narrow-minded prejudices of some who believed that because she was white, female and British, she couldn't possibly play jazz well."

Born in England as Marian Turner, she began her studies preparing for a career in classical music. At age seventeen she began studying at the Guildhall School of Music in London, but she had already fallen in love with jazz, and after three years she left the Guildhall to join a four-piano group touring in vaudeville theaters countrywide.

During World War II Marian joined ENSA, the English equivalent of USO Campshows, and later transferred to the USO, going to France with the first group after the Normandy invasion. Sitting in on a jam session in Belgium, she performed with the renowned cornetist Jimmy McPartland who was then a member of the U.S. Army Special Services. The two formed a small combo with a USO rhythm section and played for troops in the front lines.

Shortly thereafter Jimmy and Marian were married in Aachen, Germany. The couple came to the United States in 1946, where she performed with her husband's quintet in Chicago before establishing herself as an important jazz soloist and leader. She opened in New York in 1959 at the Embers Club. And two years later the Marian McPartland Trio played what was supposed to be a two-week engagement at the Hickory House on 52nd Street, but they were held over for an entire year.

The Hickory House became home base for Marian and her group into the 1960s. During this time they made several recordings for Capitol and Savoy, the first of which was Marian McPartland at the Hickory House.

Marian is also a notable composer; her songs have been recorded by Tony Bennett, Peggy Lee and Sarah Vaughan. About her song writing, Marian says, "I never had all that much faith in myself as a composer. I've never pushed my tunes on lyricists, or on other musicians. And I never wanted to play only my own things, either, the way some people do, though now I play a few of them more often than I used to. They've been tested now, and so I don't feel chicken about doing them."

One of the activities most important to Marian is her work in colleges and universities, playing concerts and conducting residencies. She is the recipient of the Duke Ellington Fellowship Medal from Yale University and honorary doctorates from Ithaca College, Union College and Bates College. In 1994, Marian received Down Beat's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Today, Marian makes her home in Port Washington, Long Island. She remains extremely busy with her group doing what she loves best: playing jazz! Marian states, "I feel that working is the best thing anybody can be doing, especially when you're doing something you like, and when you're able to give other people some work, and generally be helpful all around. I certainly wouldn't want just to sit in the back yard and dig bulbs."

For ticket information, please call the Folly Theater at 816-474-4444.

Doug Tatum is the Executive Director of the Folly Theater.



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