$25,000 fellowships awarded to 13 master artists and advocates in folk & traditional arts and jazz
Through a lifetime of creativity, hard work, and devotion these 13 individuals and groups gain master
status as NEA National Heritage Fellows and Jazz Masters.
For Immediate Release
June 25, 2014
Washington, DC—NEA Chairman Jane Chu announced today the latest recipients of the NEA National Heritage Fellowships and NEA Jazz Masters awards, the nation's highest honors in the folk and traditional arts and jazz fields. These artists, musicians, culture bearers, and advocates have dedicated their lives to their art—mastering the artistic skills needed and preserving the cultural traditions while also using their own creativity to push the boundaries of their respective art forms.
Chu said, "Among these thirteen recipients of NEA National Heritage and Jazz Masters Fellowships there is a recurring theme. Starting at a young age, these individuals were exposed to the arts—whether it was in the home, as is the case with Vera Nakonechny whose fascination with her mother's embroidery inspired her to seek out training when she was older—or in the neighborhood, as with George Coleman and Charles Lloyd's exposure to jazz music in their hometown of Memphis. Today these artists' passion for their art can be seen both in their long and dedicated careers and their willingness to share their knowledge with new audiences."
NEA JAZZ MASTERS
The 2015 NEA Jazz Masters are recognized for their lifetime achievements and exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz. Click on each name for more information on the recipients, including bios and selected discographies:
Carla Bley (Willow, New York)—keyboardist, composer, arranger, bandleader
George Coleman (Jersey City, New Jersey)—saxophonist, composer, educator
Charles Lloyd (Santa Barbara, California)—saxophonist, flutist, composer
Joe Segal* (Chicago, Illinois)—jazz presenter and club owner
* Joe Segal is the recipient of the 2015 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy, which is bestowed upon an individual who has contributed significantly to the appreciation, knowledge, and advancement of the art form of jazz.
The NEA will honor the 2015 Jazz Masters at an awards ceremony and concert at Jazz at Lincoln Center on Monday, April 20, 2015. Please note the concert will take place in April to coincide with Jazz Appreciation Month. The concert will be streamed live on arts.gov and jalc.org/live. More information about the awards ceremony and concert will be released closer to the concert date.
More information about the NEA Jazz Masters.
- See more at: http://arts.gov/news/2014/nea-announces ... 2sBDq.dpuf
