Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band
She fought to create in a world that could not see past her race or gender
Jazz pianist Mary Lou Williams was a genius ahead of her time. From child prodigy to "Boogie-Woogie Queen" to groundbreaking composer to mentoring some of the greatest musicians of all time, she never ceased to astound those who heard her play. But for a Black woman in the early 1900s, life as a star did not come easy.
Directed by Carol Bash
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Cast
- Mary Lou Williams Self (archive footage)
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Alfre Woodard Mary Lou Williams (voice) -
Delroy Lindo John Williams (voice) -
Wendell Pierce Andy Kirk (voice) -
Stanley Crouch Self -
Robin D.G. Kelley Self - Gary Giddins Self
- Tammy L. Kernodle Self
- Farah Griffin Self
- Gayle Murchison Self
- Alexandra Noailles Self
- Peter O'Brien Self
Make it a double feature
3h 17m together
Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band
Olympia Part One: Festival of the Nations
A close match in mood and era.
