The National Endowment for the Arts today named the 2012 NEA Jazz Masters. As announced in the NEA’s news release, the winners 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.
Each recipient will receive a one-time award of $25,000 and be publicly honored next January at the annual awards ceremony and concert, produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center at its home, Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City. This class of NEA Jazz Masters brings to 124 the number of musicians who have received the honor.
Full profiles and photographs of the 2012 NEA Jazz Masters are on the NEA’s website.
Congratulations to all.