The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) recently announced the recipients of the 2012 NEA Jazz Masters Award — the nation’s highest honor in jazz. The five recipients will receive a one-time award of $25,000 and be publicly honored at the annual awards ceremony and concert, produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center at its home, Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City.

With this class, the NEA is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the NEA Jazz Masters Awards, which recognize outstanding musicians for their lifetime achievements and significant contributions to the development and performance of jazz.

 

The 2012 NEA Jazz Masters are:

 

Jack DeJohnette, Drummer, Keyboardist, Composer
Born in Chicago, IL; lives in Willow, NY)
Von Freeman, Saxophonist
Born in Chicago, IL; lives in Chicago, IL)
Charlie Haden, Bassist, Composer, Educator
Born in Shenandoah, IA; lives in Agoura Hills, CA)
Sheila Jordan, Vocalist, Educator
Born in Detroit, MI; lives in Middleburgh, NY and New York, NY)
*Jimmy Owens, Educator, Trumpeter, Flugelhorn Player, Composer, Arranger
Born in Bronx, NY; lives in New York, NY)

 

*Jimmy Owens is the recipient of the 2012 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy.

 

“These artists represent the highest level of artistic mastery and we are proud to recognize their achievements,” said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. “Through their contributions, we have been challenged, enlightened, and charmed, and we thank them for devoting their careers to expanding and supporting their art forms.”

Check out our recent conversation with vocalist Gretchen Parlato from May 5th, 2011. We spoke with Gretchen about her career and latest recording, The Lost And Found.

You can listen here: http://thejazzpage.com/conversations/2011/05/05/gretchen-parlato.html

The conversation runs about 35 minutes.

(New Orleans - March 26, 2011) To celebrate America’s musical gift to the world, the U.S. Postal Service has issued the Jazz Appreciation Forever Stamp.Inspired by vintage jazz record-album covers, Pasadena, Calif., artist Paul Rogers captured the eclectic nature of jazz music and the spontaneity and improvisation of jazz artists in creating art for the Jazz Appreciation Forever Stamp.

“With this evocative Jazz stamp, we celebrate the music and the musicians who play it in studios, clubs and concert halls and on festival stages,” said Thurgood Marshall Jr., vice chairman, Postal Service Board of Governors. “I can’t think of a more perfect place to dedicate this new stamp than here in New Orleans, the birthplace of so many legendary jazz performers… and where jazz first flowered near the dawn of the 20th century.

“Jazz is a pastime that brings people together, regardless of race, ethnicity or background,” said Marshall. “It’s a lot like the Postal Service, which has been bringing people together for over 235 years, through the power of the mail.”

Forever Stamps are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce rate. The Jazz Appreciation stamps go on sale today nationwide at Post Offices and online at usps.com/shop.

Joining Marshall to dedicate the Jazz Appreciation Forever Stamp were Guy Cottrell, chief postal inspector; Nancy Marinovic, president, New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation; Shamarr Allen, leader of the funk band Underdawgs; Jeffery Taylor, manager, Louisiana District, Postal Service; and Paul Rogers.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-postal-service-is-stampin-at-the-savoy-118706349.html

Saxophonist Sonny Rollins was one of ten honorees who received the 2010 National Medal of Arts for outstanding achievements and support of the arts. The presentation was held on March 2nd with President Barack Obama in an East Room ceremony at the White House. 

“I’m very happy that jazz, the greatest American music, is being recognized through this honor, and I’m grateful to accept this award on behalf of the gods of our music,” Rollins said of the award.
 
The National Medal of Arts is a White House initiative managed by the National Endowment for the Arts. Each year, the NEA organizes and oversees the National Medal of Arts nomination process and notifies the artists of their selection to receive a medal, the nation’s highest honor for artistic excellence.
 
“The National Medal of Arts recipients represent the many vibrant and diverse art forms thriving in America,” said NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman. “From criticism to literature, music, poetry, sculpture, and theater, these honorees’ devotion to shaping and sharing American art is unrivaled, and I join the President and the country in saluting them.”
 
The 2010 National Medal of Arts Recipients are: Robert Brustein, theatrical critic, producer, playwright, educator; Van Cliburn, pianist, music educator; Mark di Suvero, sculptor; Donald Hall, poet; Quincy Jones, musician, music producer; Harper Lee, author; Sonny Rollins, jazz musician; Meryl Streep, actress; James Taylor, singer, songwriter; Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.

You can check out video of the ceremony above.

We talked to the Trio of OZ‘s Rachel Z and Omar Hakim on March 10, 2011.

You can check out the conversation here.

In the past decade there has been a steady movement away from presenting jazz at the Grammy Awards primetime telecast, so it came as a shock to many people when bassist/composer Esperanza Spalding was presented the Best New Artist Award at 53rd Annual Grammy Awards ceremonies. Spalding was the choice of a majority of NARAS voters.

The award had been expected by most to go to popular teen vocalist Justin Bieber among 4 other nominees which included, Drake, Florence & The Machine, Mumford & Sons 

Spalding, in shock, thanked the Academy for the “tremendous honor”. Anyone who has met the 26-year old young woman knows what a gracious person she is, and if you’ve talked to her, you know how serious she is about music.

In the past few days since the awards, there have been questions about Esperanza’s win and what it means for jazz. No one knows. What really matters is that more of the world is now getting to know about this amazing young women whose effusive love for music makes her one of the best things that has happened to jazz, in particular, and music in general, in some time. We’re glad that a majority of NARAS voters saw it that way.

James Moody, a jazz saxophonist and flutist celebrated for his virtuosity, his versatility and his onstage ebullience, died on Thursday in San Diego. He was 85.

Mr. Moody, who began his career with the trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie shortly after World War II and maintained it well into the 21st century, developed distinctive and equally fluent styles on both tenor and alto saxophone, a relatively rare accomplishment in jazz. He also played soprano saxophone, and in the mid-1950s he became one of the first significant jazz flutists, impressing the critics if not himself.

Read more here.

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.

 

 

Joey DeFrancesco

[HighNote Records]

 

Jeff Lorber Fusion

 [Heads Up International]

 

John McLaughlin

[Abstract Logix]

 

Trombone Shorty

[Verve Forecast]

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of VOCAL tracks.

 

 

Freddy Cole

[HighNote Records]

  

Denise Donatelli

[Savant Records]

 

Lorraine Feather

[Jazzed Media]

 

Gregory Porter

[Motéma Music]

For an instrumental jazz solo performance. Two equal performers on one recording may be eligible as one entry. If the soloist listed appears on a recording billed to another artist, the latter’s name is in parenthesis for identification. Singles or Tracks only.

 

Solar

Alan Broadbent, soloist

Track from: Live At Giannelli Square: Volume 1

[Chilly Bin Records]

 

A Change Is Gonna Come

Herbie Hancock, soloist

Track from: The Imagine Project

[Hancock Records]

 

Body And Soul

Keith Jarrett, soloist

Track from: Jasmine[ECM]

 

Lonely Woman

Hank Jones, soloist

Track from: Pleased To Meet You[Justin Time Records]

 

Van Gogh

Wynton Marsalis, soloist

Track from: Portrait In Seven Shades (Jazz At Lincoln Center Orchestra)

[Jazz At Lincoln Center]

For albums containing 51% or more playing time of INSTRUMENTAL tracks.

 

 

Clayton Brothers

[ArtistShare]

 

Vijay Iyer Trio

[ACT Music + Vision]

 

James Moody

[IPO Recordings]

 

Danilo Perez

[Mack Avenue Records]

 

For large jazz ensembles, including big band sounds. Albums must contain 51% or more INSTRUMENTAL tracks.

 

 

Billy Childs Ensemble Featuring The Ying String Quartet

[ArtistShare]

 

Dave Holland Octet

[Dare2 Records]

 

[Emarcy/Universal]

 

Mingus Big Band

[Jazz Workshop, Inc./Jazz Standard]

 

 

Hector Martignon

[Zoho]

Poncho Sanchez

[Concord Picante]

Chucho Valdés And The Afro-Cuban Messengers

[Four Quarters Entertainment]

Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet

[Patois Records]