Churchill Grounds Jazz

06/12/2026

"It's truly an honor to uplift her legacy, and we will work hard to maintain her high standard of excellence in our space."- Will Scruggs and team

Some artists entertain. Others change the world. Mary Lou Williams did both.

As we prepare to open Churchills inside the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Center, we thought it was fitting to introduce her story to some who may not be familiar with the legend, the icon, Mary Lou Williams.

Born in Atlanta in 1910, Mary Lou brought her gift to a jazz world that was just finding its voice — and she helped shape every note of it. From big band to bebop, she arranged music for legends like Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Dizzy Gillespie. She earned her seat at the table not just as a pianist and composer, but as a true peer. She was more than just "one of the guys" in a world that rarely made room for women, she was the woman that made the music that moved the room!

But Mary Lou was so much more than her music. She was a teacher at Duke University, a devoted Catholic, and a humanitarian who used her faith and her art to challenge the world around her. Her presence alone was a statement.

There's a reason they say artists like her come along once in a lifetime. 💫


For more information on her remarkable life, please read the book "Morning Glory" by Linda Dahl

06/03/2026

Some buildings are more than brick and marble.
They carry memory. Soul. History.

In 1935, this historic Decatur post office was built during one of America’s hardest chapters — a place created to connect people and carry stories forward.

Ninety years later, it will begin a new life as the future home of Churchill Grounds inside the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Center.

And honestly… it feels meant to be.

Because jazz has always done the very same thing.
It brings people together.
It carries stories.
It creates community.

There is something beautiful about jazz finding a permanent home inside a building born during the very era when jazz was transforming America through artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman, and Mary Lou Williams herself.

The marble floors remain.
The history remains.

Soon, the sound of jazz will fill these halls once again with new life and new generations.

We cannot wait to share more of the journey with you.

06/03/2026

Some buildings are more than brick and marble.
They carry memory. Soul. History.

In 1935, this historic Decatur post office was built during one of America’s hardest chapters... a place created to connect people and carry stories forward.

Ninety years later, it will begin a new life as the future home of Churchill Grounds inside the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Center.

And honestly, it feels meant to be.

Because jazz has always done the very same thing.
It brings people together.
It carries stories.
It creates community.

There is something beautiful about jazz finding a permanent home inside a building born during the very era when jazz was transforming America through artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie, Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman, and Mary Lou Williams herself.

The marble floors remain.
The history remains.

Soon, the sound of jazz will fill these halls once again with new life and new generations.

We cannot wait to share more of the journey with you.

05/29/2026

Influential, legendary, groundbreaking and "award-winning" are just some of the words used to describe the musical giant and jazz pioneer Sonny Rollins. This week we honor the life and legacy of Saxophone Colossus. Leaving us with a catalog of over nearly 70 years and 60 albums of his unique gift, the music he created served as the soundtrack for literally a lifetime of memories. Sonny Rollins played with the greats and influenced generations after him, including many of the saxophone players who sat in at Churchill Grounds. Sam was no stranger to his music, as he often made it known that Sonny was his favorite saxist. We often heard Sam refer to Coltrane's Love Supreme as his favorite album, but he said Sonny was his favorite saxophone artist. Without a doubt, our community of jazz artists, friends and family felt the loss this week as deeply as we did. The world is a better place because Sonny Rollins never stopped making music that made us pause, sit still, and listen. Today, we pause, sit still, and listen once again.

05/29/2026

A moment of silence to remember Sam's favorite saxophone player. Sonny Rollins, legend, leader, artist, creative, ancestor.

05/22/2026

This Memorial Day weekend jazz musicians and enthusiasts will gather at Piedmont Park for another incredible weekend of music. In years past artists such as Lizz Wright, David Sanchez, Julie Dexter, Kemba Cofield, Michael Justice and the Passage, Julie Dexter and many, many more were recognized as festival headliners and supporting acts. They were deeply connected through Churchill Grounds. This year the Churchill legacy continues with Dashill Smith, Kevin Smith, Justin Varnes and others making their rounds on the Atlanta Jazz Festival stage. We encourage you to support the event sponsored by the City of Atlanta this weekend and hope you'll to support your local jazz scene throughout the year! Jazz has always had a place Atlanta. Whether you're in town for the festival or a native to Atlanta, the Churchill Grounds family has a way of making artists and jazz lovers from other places feel at home.

Atlanta Jazz Festival is funded through the support of corporate sponsorships as well as Atlanta Jazz Festival, Inc., a non-profit entity dedicated to preserving the legacy of the Atlanta Jazz Festival.

05/20/2026

On June 1st, 1999, a homeless man stood outside Churchill listening to the featured band for the evening. When the set was over, he knocked on the door with a dollar in his hand wanting to contribute and thank Sam for the gift of music. Sam said it gave the man so much JOY! When Sam shared this story, he recalled that the homeless man's dollar was "all he had and wished he had more to give". Sam shared that he often thought about that night and realized how important jazz music and Churchill had been for people from all walks of life. The dollar had been stuck to his mirror for over 17 years as a reminder at the original location at the Fox and went with Sam when he relocated to Brew and Bird. We hope you come with us as we relocate to Decatur this year. Stay tuned at the page for more updates.

05/18/2026

Churchill Grounds is pleased to be part of the Mary Lou Williams Jazz Center in Decatur. Mary Lou Williams was a pioneer and worked alongside artists such as Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk and Charlie Parker, and Sarah Vaughan. For more information on Mary Lou Williams, a Georgia native, writer, composer, philanthropist, and much more, please visit the website below and enjoy the article written by Bob Meyers. Whether you are new to jazz or a longtime fan of this great American artform, the article sheds light on the origins of the soul stirring music that Churchill Grounds hopes you will enjoy for years to come.

Mary Lou Williams (born Mary Elfrieda Scruggs; 1910–1981) was born in Atlanta and was one of America's greatest and most multitalented jazz musicians of all time.

04/30/2026

It was never the building that made Churchill Grounds.
It was always the vibe.

Bringing back the vibe in 2026

04/26/2026