The annual Rosslyn Jazz Festival is one month away, and this year’s lineup includes a trio of acclaimed performers.
The festival headliner for 2011 is Dee Dee Bridgewater, who won a Tony Award for her acting performance in ‘The Wiz’ and who has also snagged two Grammy Awards for ‘Best Jazz Vocal Performance’ and ‘Best Arrangement Accompanying a Vocal.’ In addition to her musical and acting accomplishments, Bridgewater hosts the weekly NPR jazz program ‘JazzSet.’
Also on the bill is New Orleans native Henry Butler, an eight-time W.C. Handy ‘Best Blues Instrumentalist – Piano’ award nominee. Blind since birth, Butler not only is a musical chameleon — mixing jazz, Caribbean, classical, pop, blues and R&B influences — but he’s also an accomplished photographer whose work has been displayed at exhibitions.
Rounding out the lineup is rising jazz star Grace Kelly. A saxophonist, singer, composer and arranger, Kelly has already amassed an impressive array of awards and accolades at the age of 19.
The Rosslyn Jazz Festival will take place from 1:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, in Gateway Park (1300 Lee Highway). D.C.’s own Al Williams Quartet and guest vocalist Juanita Williams will kick off the event, which is free and open to the public.
Photo via Rosslyn BID