Each year, the JVC Jazz Festival in Paris offers a prestigious bill of famous jazz legends. This year, the selection will include Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, a diva night ("La nuit des divas") with Abbey Lincoln, Diana Krall and Dianne Reeves, and two concerts of Dee Dee Bridgewater.

Dee Dee Bridgewater started her career in the States, winning a Tony Award in 1975 as Best Featured Actress in a Musical for The Wiz. But in the eighties, Bridgewater settled down in France. She then appeared in several musical theatre productions in France, portraying Billie Holiday in Lady Day, Carmen in a new jazz version of Bizet's classic called Carmen Jazz and Sally Bowles in Jerome Savary's revised version of Cabaret.

Dee Dee Bridgewater has just released a tribute album to Ella Fitzgerald, called "Dear Ella", and will pay homage to the great jazz singer during her two concerts at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees on Oct. 24 and 25. She will be accompanied by a trio, a big band conducted by Cecil Bridgewater and a symphonic orchestra conducted by Laurent Petitgirard.

For tickets and information on Dee Dee Bridgewater at the Theatre des Champs-Elysees, call 331 49 87 50 50.

-- By Stephane Ly-Cuong
France Correspondent