Grammy and Tony Award-winning Bridgewater Evokes Legendary Billie Holiday in “To Billie With Love”
Grammy and Tony Award-winning jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater will be in concert at Orchestra Hall on Friday, November 5, 2010 at 8 p.m. in her tribute to jazz legend Billie Holiday: To Billie With Love.
This 2010-11 Jazz Series performance is sponsored by MGM Grand Detroit, and will feature selections from Bridgewater's 2010 album Eleanora Fagan: To Billie With Love From Dee Dee. The quartet backing Bridgewater includes saxophonist Craig Handy, pianist Edsel Gomez, drummer Greg Hutchinson, and bassist Ira Coleman. This concert is preceded by Civic Jazz Live, Featuring the Civic Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Combo A in the Music Box at 6:30 p.m.
DEE DEE BRIDGEWATER
As an ambassador of jazz, Dee Dee was familiar with its music before she could walk. Her mother played the greatest albums of Ella Fitzgerald, whose artistry provided an inspiration for Dee Dee throughout her career. Dee Dee’s other vocation as that of globetrotter began when she toured the Soviet Union in 1969 with the University of Illinois Big Band. Dee Dee made her New York debut in 1970 as the lead vocalist for the band led by Thad Jones and Mel Lewis, one of the premier jazz orchestras of the time. These New York years marked an early career in concerts and on recordings with such giants as Sonny Rollins, Dizzy Gillespie, Dexter Gordon, Max Roach and Roland Kirk, and rich experiences with Norman Connors, Stanley Clarke and Frank Foster’s "Loud Minority."
In 1974 she jumped at the chance to act and sing on Broadway where her voice, beauty and stage presence won her great success and a Tony Award for her role as Glinda the Good Witch in The Wiz. This began a long line of awards and accolades as well as opportunities to work in Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris and in London where she garnered the coveted “Laurence Olivier” Award nomination as Best Actress for her tour de force portrayal of jazz legend Billie Holiday in Stephen Stahl’s Lady Day. Performing the lead in equally demanding acting/singing roles as Sophisticated Ladies, Cosmopolitan Greetings, Black Ballad, Carmen Jazz and the musical Cabaret (the first black actress to star as Sally Bowles), she secured her reputation as a consummate entertainer.
Dee Dee Bridgewater: To Billie With Love
Sponsored by MGM Grand Detroit
Dee Dee Bridgewater, vocalist, leader
Craig Handy, saxophone
Edsel Gomez, piano
Greg Hutchinson, drums
Ira Coleman, Bass
Orchestra Hall
November 5, 2010 at 8 p.m.
Program to be announced from the stage.
Concert preceded by Civic Jazz Live! Featuring the Civic Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Combo A in The Music Box at 6:30 p.m.
One FREEISMYLIFE reader will win 2 tickets to see Dee Dee Bridgewater: To Billie With Love on Friday, November 5, 2010 at 8pm at Orchestra Hall.
TO ENTER-
Fill out the information in the form below.
- One entry per person please.
- The contest ends on Monday, November 1st, 2010 at 11:59am EST.
- 1 winner will be selected by random number generation.
- The Winner will be able to pick up the tickets with (with photo id) at the DSO's Will Call Office the night of the performance.
Good Luck!
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CONTEST IS CLOSED.
There were 6 entries in this contest. Random.org has picked #5.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER: Asha P. from Troy!