Legendary jazz musician Dee Dee Bridgewater will visit students from the Black Studies and World Music classes on Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007, then perform that evening at the Tremont Temple.

Her dialogue with the students will be broadcast live to Suffolk’s satellite location in Senegal, Africa, near Bridgewater’s ancestral roots in Mali.

During her visit, Bridgewater will tour the Suffolk University campus and surrounding African American sites, as well as meet with local elected officials. 

Suffolk University and Gather.com, a social media site for adults, will host her performance, which, in addition to her music, will include a discussion about her recent journey to Africa, the inspiration behind her new album, Red Earth.

“I am very much looking forward to sharing my music with the people of this historically rich city,” said Bridgewater, who is the featured artist of the month in Gather.com’s music group.

Role model 
“For decades, Dee Dee Bridgewater has brought people together through the sound of her voice,” said Professor Robert A. Bellinger, associate professor of History and director of the Collection of African American Literature and the Black Studies Program at Suffolk University. “In addition to entertaining people throughout the world, she has also used that voice to bring awareness to famine, world hunger, and human rights, which makes her a brilliant role model for Suffolk students and faculty.”

In addition to winning several entertainment industry awards, including Broadway’s coveted Tony Award (Best Featured Actress in a Musical – The Wiz), Bridgewater also has been recognized for her steadfast humanitarian efforts. In 1999 she was named an ambassador to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, where she plays a critical role in aiding in the fight against world hunger.

Said Gather.com’s Founder & CEO Tom Gerace, “By freely sharing her vast knowledge and enthusiasm about jazz and other topics that matter to her most, Dee Dee has allowed her fans to interact with her in new ways. Her creative video postings, pictures and articles have captivated our members, and we are honored that she has decided to make a special stop to spend the day with us in our hometown.”

Bridgewater's performance, which is free and open to the public, will take place at 7 p.m.Thursday, Oct. 11, 2007, at the Tremont Temple, 88 Tremont St., Boston.