China Moses

China Moses
Jazz as a Way of Life
by Paola Babich – Elle

Singer, songwriter, and performer China Moses is set to return to Italy on July 11 for a concert at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto, where she will weave jazz, soul, blues, and R&B into an intimate, powerful narrative. A true artist by birth—her mother is jazz legend Dee Dee Bridgewater, her father the director Gilbert Moses—the American artist, born in 1978, describes herself as “the daughter of two wonderful parents” who taught her to believe in art as a form of freedom.

With a career spanning radio, music education, and international tours, Moses has made her voice her instrument and the stage her home. “I’m not a superstar, but I know that our joy reaches the audience,” she says.

The Spoleto concert will also be the occasion to present her new album, It’s Complicated, a project shaped by years of experiences, reflections on loss and solitude, but also on love, sensuality, and the roots of African-American music. “Every time I write songs, I try to help those listening step into my world,” Moses explains, convinced that words are magic and jazz is a way of being.

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“What is jazz to me? It’s my culture, it’s my history,” says China Moses. “It’s a distinctly African American art form, created by people whose precious heritage I share. It’s not just music—it’s a lifestyle, a way of thinking, an ability to improvise and to always give your best. Jazz is multifaceted, intergenerational, ageless; it can open hearts and take you far, and everyone is welcome.”

The American artist, born in 1978, comes from an artistic family—her mother is the celebrated singer Dee Dee Bridgewater, her father the director Gilbert Moses. She radiates energy and enthusiasm, and the perfect opportunity to experience her world up close is just around the corner: on July 11, Moses will perform at Palazzo Collicola in Spoleto as part of the 68th Festival dei Due Mondi. There, she will invite the audience into her universe, where jazz draws on its deep roots while evolving into intimate, contemporary forms capable of striking profound chords.

For the setlist, she will draw especially from her forthcoming project, It’s Complicated, arriving eight years after her previous album, Nightintales. “It’s my seventh album, with original compositions that reflect my journey—a mix of African American music, jazz, soul, blues, R&B, with a touch of hip hop,” she explains. “The difference, compared to the last record, is mostly that time has passed, so I’m not the same person I was years ago. The themes I explored in the lyrics are about resilience flowing so fast, making us feel so many different emotions and states of mind.”

The album also includes songs about loss, especially the loss of loved ones, and about the mass shootings and terrorist attacks that have taken place in France (where she sometimes lives), like the Bataclan attack. “But I also talk about dating apps, I focus on observing what a city means to people, I touch on the theme of loneliness. In short, there is so much love, joy, sensuality and life,” she adds.

Indeed, China Moses’s personal and professional experience is as rich and diverse as her music. In addition to being a prominent figure on the international music scene, she is also a producer, a radio host, and is involved in educational work. Born in Los Angeles and raised between Paris, London and New York, she is always on the move. “I was lucky to have parents who lived for art, who believed in it and considered it a form of freedom—two wonderful people who always encouraged their children to become whoever they wanted to be,” she says.

Her bond with Dee Dee Bridgewater is particularly strong. “She’s simply one of the most incredible musicians I know,” she explains. “And she has been, and still is, a fantastic mother. I have to admit it took me a while to find my own musical identity, but she never interfered, even though she comes to my concerts and knows all my songs; she has always supported and encouraged me. She taught me independence by example, since she was self-produced for many years and has her own label, which my sister now manages.”

Her younger brother, meanwhile, is a multi-instrumentalist. “So yes,” she adds, “I can say we are the children of two good parents. Perfect? No. Fun? Absolutely!”

They also passed on a profound passion for their work, immense respect for audiences, and an extraordinary creative spirit—all fundamental values for Moses. “I believe words are magic. Every time I create my music, I try to write songs that make listeners feel they come from deep commitment: that I took the time just for them, to help them understand who I am and invite them into my world. And then, I also try to compose pieces that my musicians won’t get bored playing, since I perform so often.”

China Moses truly loves singing live. “I’ve been touring since 2008: before the pandemic, I did nearly 60 concerts a year. In 2025, I’ll do 40. My mother has been touring since she was 17, and she’s now 75. It’s a way of life. I don’t take it lightly—it’s a responsibility. Albums, for me, are secondary. They’re like a Polaroid, a snapshot of a moment.”

Her voice is her instrument, but the real thrill is performing live. “With the awareness that I’m singing for people who spent their hard-earned money to give me and my band the chance to be on stage. That, for me, is the greatest honor. I’m not a superstar, I don’t earn a fortune, but I know the audience feels our joy and our commitment. After all, I love human beings, their stories, I love learning about cultures and different places—the more you learn from others, the more you know, the more you grow. Everything I do makes me the artist I am and, most importantly, a better person.”

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