Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 7pm
Flynn MainStage
To Billie with Love
A Celebration of Lady Day
Presented by Flynn Center
$42/$35
“Erotic torque… pioneering every phrase… when she hit the first note, it seemed you could hear the last note in it. And in every note you could almost hear the rest of jazz.” —Hollywood Reporter
Even calling Dee Dee Bridgewater the most brilliant jazz singer of her time doesn’t quite do her justice. Through the sheer force of her ebullient personality, not to mention her astounding vocal technique, the 58-year-old Tony and Grammy Award-winner commands the stage—charming, flirting, and ultimately having her way with an audience. In this performance, Bridgewater delves into the broad-ranging repertoire she explored during Stephen Stahl’s Lady Day, her Laurence Olivier-nominated theatrical portrayal of enigmatic jazz icon Billie Holiday. Bridgewater conveys Holiday’s unique vocals and influential style with performances of Holiday’s jazz standards, including God Bless the Child, Don't Explain, Lady Sings the Blues, and the blazing anthem Strange Fruit.
Presented in association with the Office of the Associate Provost for Multicultural Affairs through the UVM President’s Initiative for Diversity
American Express African-American Legacy Series
Sponsored by IBM
Media Support from Vermont Public Radio
(Artist line-ups and opening acts are subject to change.)
