A Tribute to the Birthplace of Jazz | August CD of the Month

Music Director and Lunchtime at the Oasis Arturo Gómez shares the August 2015 CD of the Month.

Dee Dee Bridgewater’s amazing résumé is a testimony to her talent and joie de vivre. Much more than just one of the greatest vocalists of all-time, Ms. Bridgewater has been awarded a Tony® for Best Featured Actress in the musical, The Wiz, and was nominated for the UK equivalent, the Laurence Olivier Award.

Since 1999, Bridgewater has served as the Ambassador to the U.N.’s Food and Agriculture Organization.

She was also the host of NPR’s JazzSet® and an authentic globetrotter, having been around the world several times since she first began touring in 1969.

Oh yeah, about her singing, she has garnered three GRAMMY® trophies.

Bridgewater was born into a musical family in Memphis, but was raised in Flint, Michigan. She began singing as a teenager in various clubs.

When she married trumpeter Cecil Bridgewater, her first of three husbands, they moved to NYC in 1969 and as is often stated, “the rest is history.” 

On her newest recording, Bridgewater pays tribute to the culture and tradition of jazz’s birthplace, New Orleans. She teamed up with Crescent City native, trumpeter Irvin Mayfield, and his New Orleans Jazz Orchestra to record Dee Dee’s Feathers for the recently relaunched OKeh Records division of Sony Masterworks.

In the opinion of most jazz critics, reviewers, and broadcasters, this release is a sure shot to receive another GRAMMY® nomination if not award.

Although the music of the album are classics of New Orleans’ past, the injection of modern styles and approach result in a captivating session from beginning to end. Special guests like Dr. John and Bill Summers add electricity to an already exciting musical menu.

Bridgewater and the Irvin Mayfield New Orleans Jazz Orchestra are slated to tour globally beginning in the fall of this year. 

I highly suggest if they play anywhere near you, that you make sure you go see them – it is sure to be a magical concert. In the meantime we have this CD to enjoy time and time again. Like a great pot of gumbo, it gets better with each serving!

Each month, KUVO Music Director Arturo Gómez carefully selects an outstanding new release and then we mail the music directly to you!

Not a member of the CD of the Month Club? Learn how you can join here.