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nea Honorees John Nation Jamey Aebersold Carolyn Wachnicki Anthony Braxton Ken Halfmann Richard Davis Rose Ann Colavito Keith Jarrett National Endowment for the Arts Announces Jazz Masters I n June, the National Endowment for the Arts announced the 2014 NEA Jazz Masters, all unique in their approaches to jazz. Whether it's Richard Davis and Keith Jarrett bringing their jazz background into other musical genres such as classical music and rock and roll, Anthony Braxton's avant-garde creations which defy categorization, or Jamey Aebersold's development of an interactive jazz education tool that can be used anywhere, these artists all show how the art form is evolving and growing in our country. These musicians and educators, now awarded the nation's highest honor in the field, are recognized for their lifetime achievements and exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz. They will each receive a one-time award of $25,000. "On behalf of the National Endowment for the Arts, I am proud to announce the newest class of NEA Jazz Masters," NEA Acting Chairman Joan Shigekawa said. "The NEA is committed to supporting this uniquely American art form, whether it's through educational materials such as NEA Jazz in the Schools, supporting performance and educational activities by the Jazz Masters through Jazz Masters Live, or in this case, honoring the individuals who have devoted their lives and careers to mastering, sharing, and expanding this music."   JAMEY AEBERSOLD Educator, Saxophonist, Pianist, Bassist, Banjo player Jamey Aebersold is the recipient of the 2014 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. "Jamey Aebersold has made enormous 8 PAN PIPESSUMMER 2013 sai-national.org contributions to the jazz world through his tireless efforts as a performer, educator, and publisher," 2000 NEA Jazz Master David Baker said. "As the creator of the innovative and groundbreaking Jamey Aebersold Jazz Play-ALong recordings series, as the longtime director of the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshops, as an exceptional clinician and performer, and as the publisher of an extensive catalogue of jazz materials, Jamey has revolutionized the way people practice, teach, create, and perform their music. Jamey has carried his message that 'anyone can improvise' and that 'creativity is part of the nature of every person' throughout the world to great success, impacting generations of both aspiring and established jazz performers and teachers." ANTHONY BRAXTON Composer, Saxophonist, Clarinetist, Flutist, Pianist, Educator Anthony Braxton's compositions almost defy categorization through his use of the improvised and rhythmic nature of jazz but moving it in a more avant-garde direction, such as in his Ghost Trance Music compositions. Jason Moran, jazz pianist, composer, and artistic advisor for jazz at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, noted, "Anthony Braxton's expansive catalog has always been an inspiration. [He is] a beautiful artist in every sense of the word: performer, composer, educator, co-conspirator. Braxton is a supreme improviser and composer who searches with sounds." RICHARD DAVIS Bassist, Educator One of the premier jazz bassists in history, Richard Davis is widely recorded, not only in jazz settings but also in the pop, rock, and classical genres. "Richard Davis, with his wide palette of skill sets, has been an inspiration for me and many bassists," Bassist and composer Linda Oh said. "To me, he shows strength and versatility within his musicianship—a versatility that seems to not compromise integrity and individuality, something many bassists can only dream to achieve." In addition to his prowess on bass, Davis is a noted educator, having been a professor at the University of WisconsinMadison since 1977. KEITH JARRETT Pianist, Composer Keith Jarrett's talent for playing both abstractly and lyrically, sometimes during the same musical work, continues to astound and delight audiences around the world. His ability to work in both the jazz and classical fields as performer and composer demonstrate the breadth of his creativity. "Along with Bill Evans," 2012 NEA Jazz Master Charlie Haden said, "Keith Jarrett is perhaps the most influential pianist in the history of improvised music because of his mastery of the instrument, his creativity and deep harmonic knowledge. His playing transcends category." The NEA will again partner with Jazz at Lincoln Center to produce an awards ceremony and concert in honor of the 2014 NEA Jazz Masters, that will be webcast live on Jan. 13, 2014 on arts.gov and jalc.org/live. A limited number of free tickets will be available for the public. The NEA is currently accepting nominations for the 2015 class of NEA Jazz Masters. The deadline is October 1, 2013. Fellowships are awarded to living individuals on the basis of nominations from the public including the music community. Nominees must demonstrate a significant contribution to the art form through

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