Churchill Grounds Jazz

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.

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 – Home of Atlanta Jazz Festival 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.

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.

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.

Remembering Mary Lou Williams, Georgia’s unsung jazz great 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.

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

Bringing back the vibe in 2026

Remember when....

Churchill Grounds
Est. 1997
Opening 2026 · Downtown Decatur

No venue, no building, and no brick and mortar structure could ever replace the home we grew to know and love as Churchill Grounds. Just as no one person or team could ever replace the formidable, kind, wise visionary that was Sam Yi. We are committed to extending his legacy and expanding his reach through keeping his vision alive. We owe that committment to him and to you.

When we were considering the new brand for this next chapter of Churchill Grounds, Sam wanted a look that felt true to both its history and its future.

As we explored different directions, one stood out to him immediately for its simplicity.
When Sam saw this design, he said, “I like things simple.” That stayed with us.
The new mark reflects where we’re headed—a permanent home, a stronger foundation, and a continued commitment to the music and community that have always defined Churchill Grounds.

The “Cornerstone Club” logo speaks to that foundation. This is the beginning of something built to last.
Same spirit.
Same music.

If you observe closely, you will notice that the golden color of the new logo was a nod to the 1997 original logo and the person at the center of the logo was designed to reflect every walk of life that has been influential in this great American art form (Sam's words). Jazz appreciation is unrestricted by race, gender, age or language and Sam Yi gave us a place where we could live that truth. We thank you for being with us on this journey as we recap old memories and unpack new developments as they unfold. If you'd like to share some of your fond memories of Churchill Grounds, leave them in the comments below. We'd love to hear them.