The National Endowment for the Arts 2011 NEA Jazz Masters were honored this past Tuesday, January 11, 2011, at Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Allen Room in New York City before a capacity crowd and live web telecast. This year’s honorees included: Hubert Laws, flutist/bandleader; Orrin Keepnews, writer/producer; David Liebman, saxophonist /composer/bandleader; Johnny Mandel, composer/arranger/bandleader; and Marsalis family members Ellis, pianist/educator, and family patriarch; Branford, saxophonist/composer/bandleader; Wynton, trumpeter/composer/bandleader and Artistic Director for Jazz at Lincoln Center; Delfeayo, trombonist/producer; and Jason, drummer/vibraphonist. Each honoree received a $25,000 award (only one award was given to the Marsalis family).
The night included tribute reels for each artist with words spoken by friends, family, colleagues, and others who know them best. Artists such as Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, and Harry Connick, Jr., shared their thoughts via video while Ron Carter, Benny Golson, Cedar Walton, David Baker, and Jimmy Heath were among those who offered a few words during their respective roles as awards presenters. The Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, led by 2011 NEA Jazz Master Wynton Marsalis, performed a tribute to Keepnews, the only non-musician of the group, while Laws, Liebman, Mandel, and the Marsalis family each had an opportunity to perform one or two selections along with the Orchestra.
In its tribute to Keepnews, the Orchestra played a Bill Evans song, “Re: A Person I Knew” in honor of Keepnews’s professional relationship with the pianist. Hubert Laws performed “Stella by Starlight” with longtime friend and fellow NEA Jazz Master Kenny Barron (class of 2010) sitting in on piano. David Liebman performed the George Gershwin compositions “Summertime” and “There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York” with his “boss” Justin DiCioccio serving as conductor. Johnny Mandel, who began his career as a trombonist, conducted the Orchestra as they performed one of his original compositions “The Shadow of Your Smile” which featured Wynton on trumpet. Though Ellis is the family’s patriarch, the musical selection performed by the family was a nod to the compositional talents of the youngest Marsalis, Jason. Performing the drummer’s “At the House, in da Pocket,” each of the Marsalis honorees was able to showcase his talents during the very energetic performance.
Jimmy Heath and Roberta Gambarini also performed during the ceremony in memory of those NEA Jazz Masters who died in 2010. Images of Dr. Billy Taylor (class of 1988), Hank Jones (class of 1989), James Moody (class of 1998), and Abbey Lincoln (class of 2003) flashed on the video screen behind Heath and Gambarini during their performance of Jones’s song “Angel Face.” The song, which included lyrics penned by Ms. Lincoln, was preceded by a few words from jazz advocate A.B. Spellman. The performance was a beautiful highlight and touching reminder about the importance of unity and commemoration that's such a big part of the jazz community.
On that note, as I fought for the perfect shot during the Jazz Masters group photo and as I sat in the audience during the ceremony, one thought came to mind-- gratitude. How often do we get to say thank you to people whose life and work inspired the direction our lives have taken? How often do we get an opportunity for a front row view of a moment in history? Jazz Masters have dedicated their lives as musicians to promoting and uplifting the music. While their dedication is more a reflection of purpose fulfilled than of personal reward, jazz masters are such because they understand one very fundamental rule: the music is bigger than the individual is. And that’s a lesson we all could stand to learn—the benefit of embracing something bigger than ourselves.
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