Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, March 17, 1995 TAG: 9503180031
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MARK MORRISON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Even the composer herself, noted jazz pianist Marian McPartland, shrugged off the distinction. "God, you know, that sounds like a big deal," she said with a laugh during a telephone interview from her actual residence on Long Island, N.Y.
In truth, McPartland hasn't been to Roanoke since she performed a pops concert here in 1989, and she said her role as the symphony's resident composer this season isn't as big as it sounds. All it means is that one of her compositions will make its world premiere in Roanoke when she performs with the orchestra Monday night at the Roanoke Civic Center auditorium.
World premiere - that still sounds like a big deal.
But not so fast.
She further explained that the composition, titled "For Dizzy," was actually written several years ago during an improvisation on her "Piano Jazz" radio program. Technically, that is where the piece enjoyed its premiere. Plus, it appeared on her 1993 piano album, "In My Life."
So, what gives?
McPartland continued. The difference is that for her symphony performance, the piece has been arranged for a full orchestra with strings, percussion, woodwinds, the works. "It has never been played before in this form," she said.
Ah, but here is another catch.
McPartland actually didn't write the arrangement. She offered her input, but the final orchestration was handled by a professional arranger, Ellen Rowe. In fact, McPartland hasn't yet heard what Rowe came up with.
"It will be my first time to see what she did when I get to Roanoke," she said.
At least McPartland will be here all weekend for a series of rehearsals with the symphony to work out any last glitches in the final product. And she is excited about adding this new version of "For Dizzy" to her repertoire. "If I do say so myself, it's a very pretty piece," she said.
"I'm hoping it will be something that I play a lot."
The composition also has special meaning for McPartland because it was written for the late jazz great Dizzy Gillespie, who was a friend of McPartland's for 40 years. "I felt very bad when he died, and this is something I feel good about doing as a tribute to him," she said.
"For Dizzy" was born when Gillespie was a guest on McPartland's syndicated radio show, which airs locally on public radio WVTF (89.1, FM). As she often does on the show, McPartland improvised a piano piece inspired by her famous guest, and this time "For Dizzy" came out.
"It was like magic. I just played the whole thing."
She said it is a piece you could imagine Gillespie playing. In the jazz tradition, it even has a place for additional improvisation, although McPartland said that, for the symphony show, those improvisations have been written into the arrangement. "We don't give the symphony anything to play that would get them to swing or do anything crazy," she said.
McPartland is originally from England, where she studied piano at a London music school and started in the music business by playing vaudeville theaters. During World War II, she joined the English equivalent of the USO and met renowned American cornet player Jimmy McPartland.
They married and returned to America after the war. For several years, she played in her husband's quintet before striking out on her own in 1950. Since then, she has recorded several dozen albums and still remains one of the few female writer/instrumentalists on the jazz scene.
For 19 years, she has hosted "Piano Jazz," which, in addition to Gillespie, has featured a distinguished roster of guests, including Tony Bennett, Oscar Peterson, Mel Torme, Bobby Short, Herbie Hancock, George Shearing, Wynton and Branford Marsalis, Andre Previn and many others.
Her connection to Roanoke goes back to 1975, when she gave a concert and workshop here for Roanoke city school children. She also is a friend of Roanoke Symphony conductor Victoria Bond. But her ties won't end completely with Monday's concert.
McPartland will return in June to complete her composer-in-residence duties by conducting a workshop for music students from Roanoke College, Virginia Tech, James Madison University and Radford University. She also will perform with her trio at a farewell concert and gala for Bond, who is stepping down as Roanoke's conductor at the end of this season.
Jazz pianist Marian McPartland: Monday, 8 p.m., Roanoke Civic Center Auditorium. Tickets, $14-20. As of noon Thursday, only 50 tickets remained. 343-9127.
by CNB