All That Jazz: Ledisi Channels ‘The Queen Of The Blues’ With Your MSO

Described as “one of the great singers in the world, period” by John Legend and sporting a voice of “breathtaking range and reach” (The New York Times), Grammy Award-winning Ledisi brings her genre-bending artistry to the Bradley Symphony Center on May 16, 2026 for an exclusive one-night-only engagement, paying tribute to the legendary Dinah Washington.

Trained in both the classical and jazz idioms from an early age, Ledisi is simply an artist who transcends definition. With more than a dozen studio recordings spanning every style from soul, gospel, and R&B to blues, jazz, and funk, her inspiration as a young artist came from the legendary Nina Simone — and, of course, the too-often overlooked Dinah Washington. “She gave me permission to move freely, create freely, be a woman in leadership, wear and say what I want,” Ledisi noted via The Urban Music Scene.

Her appearance with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, led by Associate Conductor Ryan Tani, features timeless classics from the Great American Songbook in technicolor orchestral arrangements, such as the Gershwins’ “Love is Here to Stay,” Cole Porter’s “Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love),” and Duke Ellington’s “Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me” alongside Washington’s signature tunes, including “What a Difference a Day Makes,” “If I Never Get to Heaven,” and “This Bitter Earth.”
Don’t pass up your chance to catch this living legend live in concert: experience the magic of Ledisi’s one-of a-kind vocal magic and secure your seats today at mso.org or by contacting the MSO Box Office at 414-291-7605 or tickets@mso.org. Office hours are Monday – Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, Saturday 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm, and 90 minutes before all MSO performances.

Ledisi with the MSO
One night only!
Saturday, May 16 at 7:30 pm