Date: 201701
Local time of day: 1201-1800
Location: ATL.Airport, GA
Light: Daylight
Aircraft: B737 Undifferentiated or Other Model
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Initial Approach
Airspace: Class B ATL
ATC / advisory: TRACON A80
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; First Officer
Human factors: Time Pressure; Situational Awareness; Distraction; Confusion; Workload; Communication Breakdown
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; Captain
Anomaly: ATC Issue All Types; Deviation - Track / Heading All Types
Detector: Person Air Traffic Control; Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Contributing factors: Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Procedure

Narrative: Flying the WINNG 1 Arrival to 27L we checked-in with ATL Approach; the Controller issued several descents and speed restrictions. He then told us to contact a different ATL Controller on a new frequency and to report the field in sight if we saw it. We contacted the second Approach Controller and reported the field in sight. This Controller issued us a descent to 8000' and a speed of 210 knots. Soon thereafter the Controller instructed us to 'cross POSEY (next fix on the arrival approximately eight due north of the 27L extended final) at or above 8000' cleared Visual Approach Runway 27L; 210 knots until GRMPI contact the Tower at DEPOT.'We were in LNAV and VNAV; I selected direct to GRMPI after POSEY since we were cleared for a visual approach and ensured we crossed POSEY at or above 8000' before continuing our descent. Approximately not quite half way to GRMPI; the Controller queried us '(Call sign) where are you going?' We replied that we crossed POSEY at 8000' and we were cleared the visual. The Controller then stated that there must be some confusion; canceled our approach clearance; issued a 190 heading and told us maintain 6000'. He subsequently recleared us to join the Localizer and cleared us for a Visual Approach with the same speed restriction he issued earlier. The flight landed safely and terminated without further incident.Nearly every time I go to Atlanta there is drama. ATC is so keyed up on shoving as many aircraft as possible in a given spot even when it isn't busy they have invented all these special Atlantaisms that cause a lot of headaches. In this instance we complied with all ATC instructions; and there were still issues. I think this event was caused by the Controller expectations for us to NOT fly a visual approach even though we were cleared for a visual. Based on what the Controller said that there was confusion based on us doing the most basic approach in aviation. If ATC would instead of trying to fit all the square pegs (different Operators; different aircraft; different Pilots; etc.) into the round ATL hole and instead operated in basic aviation norms and expectations and procedures instead of everything being special it would be a less confusing; less stressful and safer operation.


Second narrative: [Narrative contained no additional information.]


Synopsis: An air carrier crew reported confusion caused while flying the ATL WINNG 1 STAR after ATC cleared them for visual approach; uncleared them with a vector then recleared them for the visual.