a song for Mary Lou Williams, presented by Alfreda's Cinema x Sistas' Place

Alfreda’s Cinema & Sistas’ Place present
A Song for Mary Lou Williams 🎹 Q&A with curator/writer, Daniella Brito.
7:30 PM, Friday, March 20

$15 suggested donation✨

Sista's Place
456 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, 11216

Join Alfreda’s Cinema and Sistas' Place for a special evening honoring the extraordinary life and legacy of Mary Lou Williams—one of the most visionary yet often overlooked architects of jazz history.

A child prodigy turned master pianist, prolific composer, and groundbreaking arranger, Williams helped shape the Kansas City swing sound, composed hundreds of works, and mentored a generation of innovators who transformed the music. Her Harlem apartment famously became a gathering place for the pioneers of bebop, including Thelonious Monk, whom she championed and supported during his formative years.

Featuring live performance footage and storytelling, A Song for Mary Lou Williams reflects on her profound influence, from the blues and big band era to bebop and beyond, and honors her role as a cultural force who expanded the possibilities of jazz while navigating the industry as a Black woman in segregated America.

Come gather with us as we celebrate the enduring brilliance, mentorship, and sonic imagination of a true architect of modern music.

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