HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER

May 27 marks American jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater’s milestone 75th birthday. To celebrate the life of this phenomenal, Grammy-winning singer, actress, producer, and educator, Stingray DJAZZ presents a November 21, 2007 recording of this versatile artist performing at La Cigale in the French capital Paris. In the mid-2000s, after performing jazz standards, appearing in musicals, and hosting NPR’s radio show JazzSet for decades, Dee Dee Bridgewater embarked on a journey through Mali in search of her musical and spiritual roots. In Mali, she was inspired by the popularity and strength of female Malian artists who, since the growth of cassette-based music culture in the 1980s, had come to dominate the music scene. Aided by producer Cheick Tidiane Seck, she collaborated with singers, drummers, ngoni and kora players. Wishing to present this music to a global audience, Dee Dee presented her project ‘Red Earth: A Malian Journey’ to international audiences. At La Cigale, she was joined by Kabine Kouyate, Mamani Keita (vocals), Cherif Soumano (kora), Moussa Sissokho (djembe), Baba Sissoko (talking drum, ngoni), Lansine Kouyate (balafon), and special guest Bassekou Kouyaté (ngoni), as well as her own trio of Edsel Gomez (piano), Ira Coleman (bass), and Minino Garay (percussion). Celebrate Dee Dee Bridgewater’s birthday on Tuesday, May 27 at 21:00 on Stingray DJAZZ!