The Adam Lee-Morgan Jazz Orchestra

Revitalizing the big band works of Mary Lou Williams
Friday, May 8, 2026
8:30 – 12:00

Get ready for a powerful night of live jazz, dancing, and musical history at ATOMIC Ballroom. On Friday, May 8, 2026, The Adam Lee-Morgan Jazz Orchestra brings a special project to the floor: Revitalizing the Big Band Works of Mary Lou Williams. From 8:30 PM to 12:00 AM, dancers and jazz lovers will get the chance to experience the music of one of the most important figures in jazz through a live big band performance that feels historic, exciting, and very alive in the room.

Mary Lou Williams was one of the great musical minds in jazz history. A Pittsburgh-raised pianist, composer, and arranger, she wrote for Andy Kirk and later contributed to the worlds of Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman, while also influencing legends like Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk. Her harmonic and rhythmic ideas helped shape the future of jazz, yet her name and catalog are still not as widely recognized as they should be. This event is a rare chance to hear her legacy brought to life on the bandstand in a way that is meaningful for both dancers and music lovers.

Why This Night Matters

This project is not just about performing great music. It is about bringing Mary Lou Williams’ big band works back into the spotlight and making sure new generations get to hear how brilliant, swinging, and influential her writing really was. Some of this material has required careful reconstruction from handwritten notes and deep musical research, which makes this performance even more special.

For dancers, it is a rare chance to move to big band jazz rooted in the swing era while hearing the bold ideas that helped shape what came next. For music lovers, it is a chance to hear a live orchestra dig into this material with depth, style, and real purpose. It is the kind of night that feels exciting, energizing, and worth showing up for.

About Adam Lee-Morgan

Adam Lee-Morgan is a Pittsburgh-based jazz scholar, bandleader, and educator with deep roots in both jazz and the swing dance world. He is a Ph.D. candidate in Jazz Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, holds a Master’s degree in Music Education from New York University, and leads the Adam Lee-Morgan Jazz Orchestra. He has also led projects including the LA Swing Barons and the Beijing Big Band. As an avid Lindy Hopper, he brings both musical depth and dance-floor awareness to this project, joined by top West Coast jazz talent from Seattle to San Diego.

The Adam Lee-Morgan Jazz Orchestra
Revitalizing the Big Band Works of Mary Lou Williams

  • Date: Friday, May 8, 2026
  • Time: 8:30 PM to 12:00 AM
  • Location: ATOMIC Ballroom

Sign Up and Be There

This is a rare chance to hear the music of Mary Lou Williams brought to life by The Adam Lee-Morgan Jazz Orchestra at ATOMIC Ballroom. Sign up now and be part of it.

Live Band Pricing:

  • $20 pre-sale
  • $25 at the door
  • $10 with a group class
  • or 2 Cover Charges
  • Included with VIP Membership
  • Atomic Campus Access Members
    • $15 pre-sale
    • $20 at the door