Mary Lou Williams - Credo / Aint Necessarily So

Since 1998 Jazzman Records has led the way in reissuing the rarest and best soul, jazz and funk 45s. Always on premium vinyl, and always with warm, rich, analogue sound.
With the belief that jazz was the only true art form and Catholicism the only true faith, pianist, composer, arranger, author and philanthropist Mary Lou Williams headed to the studio in 1964 to record her album ‘Black Christ of the Andes’.
The album included a much slowed-down version of the Gershwin classic ‘It Ain’t Necessarily So’. Built upon a melancholy bass figure in 6/8 time, there is a clarity and purity about the arrangement, with single notes from her right hand picking the melody out of the blues, with the left hand adding subtle chords. “Cool as the smoke off dry ice” said Life magazine. Spiritual jazz indeed.
In 1971 the instrumental version of ‘Credo’ was recorded. During this period in her life Williams was engaged in the writing and recording of jazz for performance in church. In ‘Credo’ we can hear influence from the street, as the funk rhythms of the day were omnipresent, permeating even the church walls.

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