Ledisi Announces Dinah Washington Tribute Album, Shares ‘This Bitter Earth’

Grammy-winning singer Ledisi will honor legendary blues and jazz singer Dinah Washington with a tribute album, For Dinah.

The album, set to launch Oct. 3 through Pay attention Again Leisure/Candid Information, was produced by jazz titan Christian McBride and Ledisi’s frequent collaborator Rex Rideout.

For Dinah will embrace a duet with Gregory Porter and have contributions from musicians corresponding to Paul Jackson Jr. and Michael King.

“She gave me permission to maneuver freely, create freely, be a lady in management, put on and say what I would like,” Ledisi says of her connection to Washington. She continues, “Earlier than there was Aretha, there was Dinah. She deserves to be acknowledged in in the present day’s music as effectively. So as a substitute of asking me ‘Why Dinah?,’ try to be asking ‘Why not Dinah?’”

Relating to her determination to pay homage to Washington, Ledisi notes, “I felt her ache, her rejection. That is the place I come from — and that is my approach of claiming her title out loud.”

A photo of singer Ledisi smiling — Ledisi. (Picture Credit score: Ron T. Younger)

Together with the announcement of her new album, Ledisi has shared the lead single, “This Bitter Earth,” a canopy of Washington’s 1960 aching ballad. The unique music, written and produced by Clyde Otis, appeared on her album Unforgettable.

Aretha Franklin later lined the music for her 1964 album, Unforgettable: A Tribute To Dinah Washington. Different vocalists, together with Miki Howard, Gladys Knight and Deborah Cox, additionally lined the stirring tune.

Talking on “This Bitter Earth,” Ledisi shares, “This music is so reflective of any period, particularly in such a chaotic time as this. Folks want music proper now, and this music is a phenomenal sentiment depicting a eager for life being crammed with love. Once I hear Dinah, I hear that longing. It’s an ideal approach to announce my tribute to The Queen of The Blues.”

She provides, “Dinah and Aretha impressed me to need to sing this music. My model, organized by the nice Christian McBride, blends that longing, soulfulness of soul, jazz and blues collectively easily with a up to date/basic sound. I’m grateful to create artwork that shows my love for being a hybrid of music.”

“This Bitter Earth” arrives with a dwell in-studio efficiency by Ledisi, which could be watched under.

Ledisi's For Dinah album cover — Candid Information

For Dinah follows Ledisi’s 14th album, The Crown, which was launched April 25. The empowering undertaking included the singles “Love You Too” and “BLKWMN.” The latter was a heartfelt tribute to Black girls of the previous, current and future.

Ledisi, a classically educated jazz vocalist, is not any stranger to honoring her musical heroes. In 2021, she launched Ledisi Sings Nina, a tribute album to the Excessive Priestess of Soul, Nina Simone. The undertaking earned Ledisi a Grammy nomination for Finest Conventional Pop Vocal Album on the sixty fourth Grammy Awards.

The next 12 months, she starred because the Queen of Gospel, Mahalia Jackson, in Keep in mind Me: The Mahalia Jackson Story.

Hearken to Ledisi’s cowl of Dinah Washington’s “This Bitter Earth” under.