Film: “Mary Lou Williams: The Lady Who Swings the Band”

This acclaimed documentary by filmmaker Carol Bash traces the life of renowned jazz pianist, composer and arranger Mary Lou Williams who battled racial and gender barriers as she made her way as a solo artist in the 1940s. Over the course of her career, Williams composed more than 300 works of music including big band hits for Andy Kirk, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington and others. Her compositions include jazz standards such as “Walkin’ and Swingin’,” “Twinklin’,” “Cloudy” and “Little Joe from Chicago.”

This screening is part of Jazz Appreciation Month programming  and will be held at the Arts Council of Princeton, 102 Witherspoon St.

1 hour, 10 minutes.Co-sponsored by the library and the Arts Council of Princeton.

Presented with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this programming do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.