Ledisi: For Dinah

Dates and Times

• Friday, Aug 21, 2026  8pm
• Saturday, Aug 22, 2026  8pm

Location

Details

For Ledisi, Dinah Washington is more than a jazz singer; she’s a pioneering icon in the field whose contributions deserve more recognition. In this tribute, the Grammy Award-winning vocalist shines a light on the legacy of the icon whose impact can still be felt and heard today.

Born in Alabama and raised in Chicago, Washington (1924-1963) was one of the 20th century’s most important and influential singers, whose nicknames included both “Queen of the Blues” and “Queen of the Jukeboxes.” She was a brilliant interpreter of jazz and the blues, as well as an R&B and pop hitmaker who heavily influenced Aretha Franklin. But whereas Franklin is a household name and cultural icon, Washington, despite being wildly popular in her heyday, is tragically overlooked by the public.

Ledisi’s album, For Dinah, is an homage to an artist who cleared the path that Ledisi has spent her life navigating. “Her presence was bold,” says Ledisi. “She rebelled against the boxes that couldn’t hold her voice and personality.”

For Dinah finds the vocalist blending Washington’s signature charisma with her own identity, balancing the spirit of the hip-hop generation with the elegance of R&B history.

At the artist’s request, tickets include a $1 contribution in support of the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music.