Deanna Witkowski - Force of Nature (2022)

“DEANNA, YOU’RE A FORCE OF NATURE.”
WHEN guitarist John Shannon made this comment in the fall of 2019 at Con Alma, the Pittsburgh jazz club/restaurant where he serves as music curator, my first thought was that the phrase sounded like a potential tune or album title. At the time, I was visiting Pittsburgh for seven weeks, doing research for Mary Lou Williams: Music for the Soul—my biography on the pioneering pianist and composer who spent her formative years there—and getting to know the Pittsburgh jazz community via playing and hanging. On returning to my rented room later that evening, I grabbed a post-it note (my indispensable book-writing tool) and scribbled the words, “force of nature” to keep the phrase in mind. Several weeks after John’s declaration, I visited Marty Ashby at Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild. I’d met Marty at several arts conferences, and he’d expressed interest in my book progress. During our chat, I mentioned it was a shame that I didn’t have my own recording of Mary’s music to complement the book.” Without missing a beat, Marty responded, “Well, we’ll have to fix that!”

Line-up/Musicians
Deanna Witkowski, piano
Clay Jenkins, trumpet (1, 4, 5, 10)
Daniel Foose, bass (1-7, 10, 11)
Scott Latzky, drums (1-7, 11)
Dwayne Dolphin, bass (8, 9, 12)
Roger Humphries, drums (8, 9, 12)

1.01 - Deanna Witkowski - Gjon Mili Jam Session (4:49)
1.02 - Deanna Witkowski - Aries (from Zodiac Suite) (3:16)
1.03 - Deanna Witkowski - Taurus (from Zodiac Suite) (3:39)
1.04 - Deanna Witkowski - Cancer (from Zodiac Suite)/Act of Contrition (from Mary Lou’s Mass) (5:32)
1.05 - Deanna Witkowski - Lonely Moments (5:59)
1.06 - Deanna Witkowski - What's Your Story Morning Glory / Ghost of Love (9:49)
1.07 - Deanna Witkowski - Force of Nature (5:34)
1.08 - Deanna Witkowski - Intermission (6:12)
1.09 - Deanna Witkowski - Dirge Blues (7:07)
1.10 - Deanna Witkowski - Carcinoma (3:57)
1.11 - Deanna Witkowski - Stompin’ at the Savoy (6:06)
1.12 - Deanna Witkowski - My Blue Heaven (8:53)