Group of four awards on table.

NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships

The NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship is the highest honor that our nation bestows on jazz artists. Each year since 1982, the program has elevated to its ranks a select number of living legends who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz. For more information, read our brief history of the program.

In honor of the 2023 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Masters—Regina CarterKenny GarrettLouis Hayes, and Sue Mingus—the NEA is collaborating with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on a series of free events March 30-April 1.

The 2023 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert will take place Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. ET at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and will also be available through a live webcast and radio broadcast. Starting on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 10 a.m. ET, up to two tickets may be reserved for this free concert in person at the Kennedy Center Box Office, at [tkc.co/JazzMasters]kennedy-center.org, or by dialing 202-467-4600 or 800-444-1324.

Additional events include a masterclass with Kenny Garrett at Howard University on March 30 and a listening party with the honorees at NPR’s headquarters, also on April 1.

Read the press release for full details on the 2023 events.

Tribute Concerts (2012-2022) | Photo Gallery

All Jazz Masters

2023 NEA Jazz Masters Fellows

2023

Regina Carter

Violinist, Educator
2023

Kenny Garrett

Saxophonist, Composer, Arranger, Bandleader
2023

Louis Hayes

Drummer, Bandleader
2023

Sue Mingus

Author, Archivist, Band Manager, Educator, Musical Director, Record Producer

Nominate an NEA Jazz Master Fellow!

The Arts Endowment encourages nominations from the public of a broad range of individuals who have been significant to the field of jazz through vocal and instrumental performance, creative leadership, and education.
Make a Nomination!

Recent NEA Jazz Masters Podcasts

Louis Hayes

Drummer and 2023 NEA Jazz Master

Revisiting Henry Threadgill

Composer, multi-instrumentalist, and 2021 NEA Jazz Master

Stanley Clarke

Bassist, Composer, and 2022 NEA Jazz Master