Michael Fitzgerald

Composer-arranger-pianist Bill Potts played an important role as educator and mentor to many musicians in the DC area. Beginning in 1974 he taught at Montgomery College in Rockville, Maryland.

These four videos are from a concert on July 1, 1990 celebrating his retirement.

Bassist Marshall Hawkins was born in the Anacostia neighborhood of Washington, DC and was an important jazz figure in Washington through the 1970s, playing with Shirley Horn, Roberta Flack, Miles Davis, and Richie Cole, among others. This documentary includes material on his Washington period but focuses on his work with students at Idyllwild Arts Academy in California.

In memory of the saxophonist, who died May 1, 2020. This is an abbreviated half-hour video – there is a one hour version, but unfortunately, it’s not online now. Nevertheless, it gives a great sense of the exuberance of this band, featuring Bruce Forman (g), Bobby Enriquez (p), Marshall Hawkins (b), and Scott Morris (d).

This is a tremendous video documentary on one of the most important of all Washington, DC jazz musicians, Shirley Horn. With relaxed pacing and uncluttered focus, it presents a well-rounded picture of a great artist and features Shirley Horn at her home in Washington, in a Los Angeles studio with orchestra, and in public performances from the Village Vanguard and Lincoln Center in New York, all from 1991.