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.

Overview Providers Similar Credits

Cast

Mary Lou Williams

Self (archive footage)

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

Robert O'Meally

Self

Billy Taylor

Self

Geri Allen

Self - Performer

Esperanza Spalding

Self - Performer

Terri Lyne Carrington

Self - Performer

Wycliffe Gordon

Self - Performer

Carmen Lundy

Self - Performer

Joel Haberli

Barney Josephson / Critic (voice)

Robert Casteline

Critic (voice)

Crew

Carol Bash

Director

Carol Bash

Producer

Stacey L. Holman

Co-Producer

Stanley Nelson

Executive Producer

Sumi Tonooka

Music

Michael Chin

Director of Photography

Robert Shepard

Director of Photography

Sandra Christie

Editor

Ken Takeuchi

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Rose Stark

Animation Director

James Richards

Director of Photography

Carol Bash

Additional Camera