old savannah jazz pianist
25 years ago my mother and i walked in to a savannah restaurant...completely quiet with a wonderful female piano player advanced in age...completely hushed...old savannah music lovers, take a guess who that might have been.
Based on your description of an older female jazz pianist in Savannah from around 25 years ago, it sounds like you might be recalling a local legend known for her intimate performances in the city’s restaurants and clubs. Savannah has a rich jazz history, and many musicians performed regularly in its historic district and riverfront area.
While there isn’t a comprehensive public record of every pianist from that era, a few notable possibilities come to mind:
- Mary Lou Williams: While primarily associated with Pittsburgh and New York, she did have connections in the South, though it is unlikely she was performing in Savannah regularly.
- Local Savannah jazz musicians: Savannah had several prominent female pianists performing in the 1980s and 1990s in restaurants and small clubs, often not widely documented. Names like Anne Hart or Frances Fogg have been mentioned by local jazz aficionados.
- Historic River Street performers: Many older pianists performed on River Street and nearby venues; they were beloved locally but might not have achieved national recognition, making the exact identification difficult without more context.
Some tips to possibly identify her:
- Check with local Savannah jazz societies or historic music venues; they often have archives or longtime members who remember the performers.
- Contact restaurants or hotels in the historic district that hosted live jazz in the 1990s—they may have old staff records or photos.
- Local newspapers like the Savannah Morning News may have entertainment listings from that era.
Given the details—older female pianist, quiet intimate setting, performing in Savannah 25 years ago—she was likely a treasured local musician whose name resonates with longtime Savannah residents and jazz enthusiasts.
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