National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of NEA Jazz Master Ahmad Jamal
 

Portrait of Ahmad Jamal

Photo by Tom Pich/tompich.com

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of pianist and composer Ahmad Jamal, recipient of a 1994 NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship, the nation’s highest honor in jazz.

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of National Heritage Fellow Fujima Kansuma
 

A Japanese woman holding a fan poses for a photo in front of a large white home

1987 NEA National Heritage Fellow Fujima Kansuma. Portrait by Tom Pich

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of NEA Jazz Master Wayne Shorter
 

Black man in gray suit in wheelchair with medal with rainbow colored bow around his neck.

NEA Jazz Master Wayne Shorter was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2018. Photo by Scott Suchman, courtesy of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter, recipient of a 1998 NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship.

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of National Heritage Fellow Mary Holiday Black 

An elderly woman with glasses sits in the high desert holding two handwoven Navajo baskets. The red clay soil stands against the stark landscape and bright sky streaked with clouds.

1995 NEA National Heritage Fellow Mary Holiday Black. Portrait by Tom Pich

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the death of Navajo Basketweaver, Mary Holiday Black, recipient of a 1995 NEA National Heritage Fellowship.

NEA Statement on the Death of National Heritage Fellow James Ka'upena Wong
 

Man holding gourd while sitting in chair

Photo by Michael Stewart.

NEA Statement on the Death of National Heritage Fellow Kevin Locke

Kevin Locke 1990. Photo by Tom Pich
Kevin Locke 1990. Photo by Tom Pich

NEA Statement on the Death of NEA Jazz Master Sue Mingus
 

Head shot of Sue Mingus
Sue Mingus first met her future husband in 1964, when Charles Mingus was appearing at the Five Spot in New York City. The couple lived together, not marrying until more than a decade later. In an October 1979 interview with the Washington Post, Sue Mingus remembered, "We just didn't think it was necessary . . .Actually, we were 'married' by Allen Ginsberg in the mid-60s. Charles just said, 'Hey man, marry us.' And he did. He chanted for an hour." Photo courtesy of Jazz Workshop, Inc.

NEA Statement on the Death of NEA Jazz Master Pharoah Sanders
 

A man stands behind a podium with hands raised

NEA Jazz Master Pharoah Sanders at the 2016 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert. Photo by Shannon Finney

NEA Statement on the Death of NEA Jazz Master Ramsey Lewis

Portrait of Ramsey Lewis

photo by Tom Pich/tompich.com

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the passing of pianist Ramsey Lewis, recipient of a 2007 NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship.

National Endowment for the Arts Statement on the Death of National Heritage Fellow Mick Moloney

A man with brown hair and a beard smiles while strumming his tenor banjo

1999 National Heritage Fellow Mick Moloney. Portrait by Tom Pich

It is with great sadness that the National Endowment for the Arts acknowledges the death of Irish musician Mick Moloney of New York, New York, recipient of a 1999 NEA National Heritage Fellowship.
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