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The 2010 NEA Jazz Masters Awards Ceremony And Concert Seven great musicians and one record producer were recognized with the country's highest honor for jazz artistry — and then took the stage to perform. Hear a recording of the live broadcast, which took place at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York.

Concerts

The 2010 NEA Jazz Masters Awards Concert

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Listen Now: The 2010 NEA Jazz Masters Awards Show

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The 2010 NEA Jazz Masters. Clockwise, from upper left: Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, Yusef Lateef, George Avakian, Bobby Hutcherson, Annie Ross, Muhal Richard Abrams, Bill Holman (center). clockwise from upper left: Gene Martin, Carol Friedman, Michael DiDonna, Ian P. Clifford, Francis Wolff/Mosaic Images, Barbara Bordnick, Alan Nahigian, William Claxton hide caption

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clockwise from upper left: Gene Martin, Carol Friedman, Michael DiDonna, Ian P. Clifford, Francis Wolff/Mosaic Images, Barbara Bordnick, Alan Nahigian, William Claxton

The 2010 NEA Jazz Masters. Clockwise, from upper left: Cedar Walton, Kenny Barron, Yusef Lateef, George Avakian, Bobby Hutcherson, Annie Ross, Muhal Richard Abrams, Bill Holman (center).

clockwise from upper left: Gene Martin, Carol Friedman, Michael DiDonna, Ian P. Clifford, Francis Wolff/Mosaic Images, Barbara Bordnick, Alan Nahigian, William Claxton

In a concert and ceremony held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York, the National Endowment for the Arts recognized its 2010 Jazz Masters — recipients of the country's largest federally supported award for jazz artistry. Seven master musicians and one record producer each received public recognition, a $25,000 grant and an opportunity to perform, some with the Jazz at Lincoln Center orchestra by request. The gala was broadcast live over Sirius/XM satellite radio, terrestrial radio via WBGO and online at this page on NPR Music.

Set List

  • Muhal Richard Abrams, solo and conducting the JALC Orchestra
  • --Solo Piano Improvisation/"2000 Plus The Twelfth Step" (feat. Marcus Printup, trumpet; Ted Nash, saxophone; Carlos Henriquez, bass)
  • Kenny Barron, solo piano
  • --"Song For Abdullah"
  • Bill Holman, conducting the JALC Orchestra
  • --"Make My Day" (feat. Vincent Gardner, trombone; Walter Blanding, saxophone)
  • Bobby Hutcherson, composing for the JALC Orchestra
  • --"Little B's Poem" (feat. Warren Wolf, vibraphone; Ted Nash, saxophone)
  • Yusef Lateef, performing with Adam Rudolph, percussion
  • --"Brother Hold Your Light"
  • Annie Ross, with the JALC Orchestra
  • --"Music Is Forever" (feat. Wynton Marsalis, trumpet)
  • Cedar Walton, with the JALC Orchestra
  • --"Dear Ruth"
  • George Avakian, introducing the JALC Orchestra
  • --"Stompy Jones" (feat. Wynton Marsalis, trumpet; Joe Temperley, saxophone; Chris Crenshaw, trombone; Victor Goines, clarinet; Dan Nimmer, piano)

The artists selected for 2010 include the well-traveled, stylish pianists Kenny Barron and Cedar Walton, vibraphone and marimba master Bobby Hutcherson, singer Annie Ross (known for her vocalese as a member of Lambert, Hendricks and Ross), influential big-band writer Bill Holman, AACM co-founder and pianist/composer Muhal Richard Abrams and reedman and international music pioneer Yusef Lateef. Record producer George Avakian also received a special award for jazz advocacy.

The NEA has now inducted 114 Jazz Masters. The award is given only to living musicians and advocates; recipients are also invited to participate in NEA-sponsored live performances and education programs throughout the country. NEA chairman Rocco Landesman and Jazz at Lincoln Center artistic director Wynton Marsalis introduced the event, and many previously-inducted NEA Jazz Masters, some of whom introduced this year's class, attended the ceremony.