Dee Dee Bridgewater's music has long been a reflection of her spirit and passion, but lately, it's taken on a new dimension - one of urgency and activism. The 75-year-old jazz legend is using her powerful voice to speak out against the injustices she sees in the world today.
Bridgewater's frustration with the current state of affairs was palpable as we spoke at length about everything from racism to democracy, and even the latest antics of former US President Donald Trump. While she doesn't mention his name directly, it's clear that he's a major source of inspiration for her anger and determination to use her platform to make a difference.
As one of America's greatest jazz voices, Bridgewater has had an incredible career spanning six decades, from her early days with legendary musicians like Max Roach and Dizzy Gillespie, to her work in the US and Europe. But it was during her time in France that she discovered a new side of herself - a love for West African music that would inspire some of her most innovative work.
Today, Bridgewater is on a mission to promote women in jazz, an area where she believes there's still much work to be done. Her all-female band, We Exist!, has become a powerful force in the genre, and she's using their platform to push back against chauvinism and sexism in the industry.
But it's not just about promoting women - Bridgewater is also using her music as a form of protest against racism and social injustice. Her recent album, Elemental, features songs that reflect her outrage at what's happening in the world today, from Billy Taylor's civil rights anthem "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" to Bob Dylan's barbed warning "Gotta Serve Somebody".
Despite the many challenges she's faced throughout her career, Bridgewater remains undaunted. She continues to tour and record, using her music as a way to connect with fans and inspire a new generation of musicians.
As for what drives her passion for activism, it's clear that she'll never be silenced. "I'm too old and I've been through too much," she says, "but I won't let anyone tell me what to do or how to feel." Her music is a reflection of this spirit - powerful, urgent, and full of life.
For Bridgewater, there's no going back - only forward. And as one of the greatest jazz voices of all time, her message is sure to resonate with fans around the world. "I always wanted to be like Miles Davis," she says, "but not just in his music - in his spirit of freedom and independence." With Bridgewater at the helm, it's clear that the future of jazz will be a wild and exciting ride.
Bridgewater's frustration with the current state of affairs was palpable as we spoke at length about everything from racism to democracy, and even the latest antics of former US President Donald Trump. While she doesn't mention his name directly, it's clear that he's a major source of inspiration for her anger and determination to use her platform to make a difference.
As one of America's greatest jazz voices, Bridgewater has had an incredible career spanning six decades, from her early days with legendary musicians like Max Roach and Dizzy Gillespie, to her work in the US and Europe. But it was during her time in France that she discovered a new side of herself - a love for West African music that would inspire some of her most innovative work.
Today, Bridgewater is on a mission to promote women in jazz, an area where she believes there's still much work to be done. Her all-female band, We Exist!, has become a powerful force in the genre, and she's using their platform to push back against chauvinism and sexism in the industry.
But it's not just about promoting women - Bridgewater is also using her music as a form of protest against racism and social injustice. Her recent album, Elemental, features songs that reflect her outrage at what's happening in the world today, from Billy Taylor's civil rights anthem "I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free" to Bob Dylan's barbed warning "Gotta Serve Somebody".
Despite the many challenges she's faced throughout her career, Bridgewater remains undaunted. She continues to tour and record, using her music as a way to connect with fans and inspire a new generation of musicians.
As for what drives her passion for activism, it's clear that she'll never be silenced. "I'm too old and I've been through too much," she says, "but I won't let anyone tell me what to do or how to feel." Her music is a reflection of this spirit - powerful, urgent, and full of life.
For Bridgewater, there's no going back - only forward. And as one of the greatest jazz voices of all time, her message is sure to resonate with fans around the world. "I always wanted to be like Miles Davis," she says, "but not just in his music - in his spirit of freedom and independence." With Bridgewater at the helm, it's clear that the future of jazz will be a wild and exciting ride.
she's like 75 years young but still firing on all cylinders 
and I gotta say her music is getting me hyped for change 
we need more people like her who aren't afraid to speak truth to power 
her band We Exist! is doing some amazing work promoting women in jazz and pushing back against sexism 
and let's be real her album Elemental is straight fire 
she's not gonna stop until everyone knows how it feels to be free from all this oppression 
. It's awesome that she's promoting women in jazz, it's not an easy gig but someone's gotta do it 
Dee Dee Bridgewater is getting real about using her platform to fight for justice 
! At 75, she's still got the passion and fire to speak out against racism, sexism, and democracy issues. I love how she's promoting women in jazz - it's time we see more female faces behind those instruments! 
I gotta correct you on one thing, Dee Dee Bridgewater is actually 75, not old, she's just got wisdom and experience on her side 
. And while it's great that she's using her platform to promote women in jazz, it's also worth mentioning that we're living in a time where feminism has come a long way, especially with the #MeToo movement and all. It's not as much of an issue as it used to be, imo. Also, I'm not sure if she's really saying that she wants to be like Miles Davis in spirit, he was a total trailblazer for jazz, but Dee Dee is her own unique artist 
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. I'm so inspired by her determination to use her voice for good and never being silenced 
. Her music is a powerful call to action, and I know she'll keep rocking on with We Exist! 
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But seriously, her message of freedom and independence is something we can all get behind 