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.
The NEA will honor the 2025 NEA Jazz Masters—Marshall Allen, Marilyn Crispell, Chucho Valdés, and recipient of the 2025 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy Gary Giddins—at a series of public events April 24-26, 2025, in Washington, DC.
- Thursday, April 24 at 12:30-2:00 p.m.—Chucho Valdés will lead a masterclass with Howard University music students (open to the public to observe).
- Saturday, April 26 at 10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.—Listening Party with the 2025 NEA Jazz Masters at NPR’s Headquarters, hosted by NPR Music’s Felix Contreras (free but reservations are required).
- Saturday, April 26 at 8:00 p.m.—NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert at the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater (free but tickets are required) and available through a live webcast and radio broadcast.
Visit the NEA’s newsroom for full details.
