"When Seymour saw me seated at the piano at that first rehearsal, he shouted: 'What's that kid doing here? Call your piano player and let's get started.'"
- Mary Lou Williams
About this Quote
This quote is from Mary Lou Williams, a jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. In the quote, she is describing her very first rehearsal with bandleader Seymour Simons. When Seymour saw her seated at the piano, he marvelled and asked why she existed. He desired her to call her piano gamer and get the practice session began. This quote reveals Seymour's surprise and shock that a young woman might be a gifted musician. It also reveals Mary Lou's determination and confidence in her capabilities, as she was not prevented by Seymour's reaction. Mary Lou's quote is a testament to her strength and strength, as she had the ability to overcome the obstacles she dealt with as a female artist in a male-dominated market.
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