“Congratulations to the 2021 National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters who help to ensure jazz continues to grow, innovate, and find new audiences.” — Mary Anne Carter, Chair, National Endowment for the Arts

Congratulations to the 2021 recipients of a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in jazz. For their contributions to the advancement of this art form, the National Endowment for the Arts is honoring Terri Lyne Carrington, Albert “Tootie” Heath, Henry Threadgill, and Phil Schaap, who is the recipient of the 2021 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy.

In addition to receiving a $25,000 award, the 2021 NEA Jazz Masters will be honored through a tribute concert, which due to COVID-19 will be available in an online-only broadcast on April 22, 2021. The National Endowment for the Arts will again collaborate with SFJAZZ on this virtual event, which will be free to watch, and no registration or tickets are required. More information will be available in early 2021.
 
Read our complete press release to learn more about the 2021 NEA Jazz Masters.