Celebrate Black History Month with NEA Jazz Masters!

Jazz musicians and advocates receive the NEA Jazz Master Fellowship—the highest honor the nation bestows on jazz artists—because of the indelible mark they have made on the history of jazz, and on our country. From the moment they receive the honor they become a part of our nation's living history, and their spirit, dedication, and passion for "America's music" lives on even after their passing through their fellow musicians, their students, and jazz fans here at home and around the world. Here are just some of the NEA Jazz Masters we have celebrated over the years. Browse the NEA Jazz Masters playlist on the National Endowment for the Arts YouTube channel for more—including the full concert programs for each year—and also visit the NEA Jazz Masters section on arts.gov to learn more about these magnficent musicians. Save the date to join us as we celebrate the 2019 class of NEA Jazz Masters—Stanley Crouch, Bob Dorough, Abdullah Ibrahim, and Maria Schneider—on April 15, 2019, and stay tuned for our announcement of the 2020 class of NEA Jazz Masters this summer!