“Can’t we women make our own contribution to jazz by playing like women,” asks pianist Marian McPartland, “but still capturing the essential elements of jazz—good beat—good ideas—honesty and true feeling?” Blazing the trail for gender equality, McPartland contributed this quote in her 1957 article “Playing Like a Man” in the London publication Just Jazz.
Seattle writer Paul de Barros honestly captures these female contributions, ideas and feelings in Shall We Play that One Together? – The Life and Art of Jazz Piano Legend Marian McPartland. The 496-page biography released by St. Martins Press on October 16 features a black and white cover photo of a young brunette McPartland at the piano, smiling a playful glance at the camera over her right shoulder.
