NEW YORK — Singer Dee Dee Bridgewater says she’s proud to be among the few women to be awarded the nation’s highest jazz honor.
The National Endowment for the Arts announced Monday night during a DC JazzFest concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington that Bridgewater and four others were being recognized for their lifetime achievements as the 2017 NEA Jazz Masters.
The other honorees include the British-born bassist and composer Dave Holland; pianist Dick Hyman, the soundtrack composer-arranger for more than a dozen Woody Allen films; Hammond B3 jazz organist Dr. Lonnie Smith, known for his classic soul jazz albums, and jazz historian and writer Ira Gitler, who was recognized for his jazz advocacy.
During her career, Bridgewater garnered a Tony Award for her portrayal of Glinda the Good Witch in the original production of the Broadway musical “The Wiz” and three Grammy awards for albums paying tribute to legendary jazz singers Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. She also hosted the NPR syndicated radio show “JazzSet” from 2001 to 2014.