Dee Dee Bridgewater: a Queen among Kings

Beyond politics, Dee Dee Bridgewater’s artistry shines with passion, joy, and the power to turn every song into a celebration of life.

In 1960, Max Roach and Abbey Lincoln made history with We Insist!, a bold musical manifesto for Civil Rights. Today, the incomparable Dee Dee Bridgewater carries that spirit into the present with We Exist!, her new project with an all-female quartet, Carmen Staaf (piano), Rosa Brunello (bass), and Evita Polidoro (drums). Together they declare: “We exist, we, as women, and especially as women in jazz. We exist, we, Black women and men.”

Dee Dee Bridgewater never stops renewing herself, surprising each time an audience that asks for more. Over the course of a multifaceted career spanning four decades, Grammy and Tony Award-winning Jazz giant she has ascended to the upper echelon of vocalists, putting her unique spin on standards, as well as taking intrepid leaps of faith in re-envisioning jazz classics.

The repertoire is fearless and deeply moving: Ray Charles’s Danger Zone, Nina Simone’s incendiary Mississippi Goddam, Billy Taylor’s anthem I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free, and Abbey Lincoln’s soulful Throw It Away. Each song is both a reminder of past struggles and a call to action for today.

But beyond the politics there is Bridgewater's magic: her legendary warmth, infectious laughter, and boundless energy transform the stage into a place of connection and truth. A concert with her is never just a performance, it’s rhythm, passion, joy, and resistance all at once. We Exist! is a powerful celebration of life and freedom, led by one of jazz’s greatest voices.

Genre Live Show
Production year 2025
TV Director Fabien Raymond
Recording location Jazz à Vienne Festival