Churchill Grounds Jazz

"It's truly an honor to uplift her legacy, and we will work hard to maintain her high standard of excellence in our space."- Will Scruggs and team

Some artists entertain. Others change the world. Mary Lou Williams did both.

As we prepare to open Churchills inside the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Center, we thought it was fitting to introduce her story to some who may not be familiar with the legend, the icon, Mary Lou Williams.

Born in Atlanta in 1910, Mary Lou brought her gift to a jazz world that was just finding its voice — and she helped shape every note of it. From big band to bebop, she arranged music for legends like Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Dizzy Gillespie. She earned her seat at the table not just as a pianist and composer, but as a true peer. She was more than just "one of the guys" in a world that rarely made room for women, she was the woman that made the music that moved the room!

But Mary Lou was so much more than her music. She was a teacher at Duke University, a devoted Catholic, and a humanitarian who used her faith and her art to challenge the world around her. Her presence alone was a statement.

There's a reason they say artists like her come along once in a lifetime. 💫


For more information on her remarkable life, please read the book "Morning Glory" by Linda Dahl

This Memorial Day weekend jazz musicians and enthusiasts will gather at Piedmont Park for another incredible weekend of music. In years past artists such as Lizz Wright, David Sanchez, Julie Dexter, Kemba Cofield, Michael Justice and the Passage, Julie Dexter and many, many more were recognized as festival headliners and supporting acts. They were deeply connected through Churchill Grounds. This year the Churchill legacy continues with Dashill Smith, Kevin Smith, Justin Varnes and others making their rounds on the Atlanta Jazz Festival stage. We encourage you to support the event sponsored by the City of Atlanta this weekend and hope you'll to support your local jazz scene throughout the year! Jazz has always had a place Atlanta. Whether you're in town for the festival or a native to Atlanta, the Churchill Grounds family has a way of making artists and jazz lovers from other places feel at home.

Atlanta Jazz Festival – Home of Atlanta Jazz Festival Atlanta Jazz Festival is funded through the support of corporate sponsorships as well as Atlanta Jazz Festival, Inc., a non-profit entity dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Atlanta Jazz Festival.