New biopic about Mary Lou Williams premieres in Los Angeles this Friday

Vocalist Carmen Lundy features in a biographical documentary about pianist and composer Mary Lou Williams called ‘The Lady Who Swings The Band’, which premieres at the Pan African Film Festival in Los Angeles on Friday February 6th.

Mary Lou Williams was a prolific jazz composer and arranger during an era when jazz was the nation's popular music and is regarded as one of its greatest innovators. She helped shape the sound of jazz in an art form dominated by male instrumentalists. She wrote and arranged for band leaders Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington and was friend and mentor to Thelonius Monk, Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie.

Carmen Lundy’s latest album ’Soul To Soul’ features a cover of Mary Lou’s ‘What’s Your Story, Morning Glory’ and she features in the film performing the title song.