Home » Jazz Articles » Dan's Den » Inside the 5th NEA Jazz Masters Awards

Inside the 5th NEA Jazz Masters Awards

Courtesy Fradley Gardner

By Dan Morgenstern
April 25, 2013
View read count

The 32nd class of National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters was formally inducted on January 14, 2013. Numbering just four, this was the smallest class since the threesome of 2003. The following year, new NEA Chairman Dana Gioia upped the ante to six and added the new category of the A. B. Spellman Jazz Advocacy Award, which writer Nat Hentoff was the first to receive.

For each of the next three years there were seven, for 2008 and 2009, six, and in 2010, new chairman Rocco Landesman named a record eight.

Then came the Year of the Marsalis Family, when father Ellis and sons Wynton, Branford, Delfeayo and Jason—with only the elder getting the $25,000—were honored, in addition to four others. Five was the lucky number for 2012, and Landesman having retired, it was acting Chair Joan Shigekawa who inducted this year's quartet:

Mose Allison

piano and vocals
1927 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Mose Allison,

Lou Donaldson

saxophone
1926 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Lou Donaldson,

Eddie Palmieri

piano
1936 - 2025

" data-original-title="" title="">Eddie Palmieri, and Advocate Lorraine Gordon.

There was a major change in the 2013 program, produced for the fifth time in collaboration with Jazz at Lincoln Center. Instead of being presented at JALC's Rose Hall, with the participation of the

Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1987

" data-original-title="" title="">Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis, however, the awards ceremony and concert took place at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola, with a distinguished house trio of alumni—

Kenny Barron

piano
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">Kenny Barron (2010),

Ron Carter

bass
b.1937

" data-original-title="" title="">Ron Carter (1998) and

Jimmy Cobb

drums
1929 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Cobb (2009) on piano, bass and drums , respectively—joined by special guests, including alumni

Sheila Jordan

vocals
1928 - 2025

" data-original-title="" title="">Sheila Jordan,

Jimmy Heath

saxophone, tenor
1926 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Heath,

Randy Weston

piano
1926 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Randy Weston, and Amy Allison, daughter of Mose.

In attendance were past masters, their families and friends, while press was hosted in a nearby room, the one that's been the scene of an annual ritual since 2004, the first year that the Masters induction became a public event—the photo shoot, in-gathering past masters responding to the invitation, plus the new crop.

A Swinging Party

This more intimate setting proved copacetic—the New York Times headlined it "A Swinging Party With Old Friends"—but note that it also replaced an earlier feature, namely a gathering for the same flock at Dizzy's the night before, with live music by a group chosen by JALC. But still in place was the luncheon hosted by BMI, held once again at the Petite Salon (not so petite at that) of the Essex House, including presentations of and to the new inductees.

This is always a most pleasant social event, with much tablehopping and a nice meal. Dizzy's also fed us, and that inadvertently triggered the day's only glitch. You see, at lunch we were served a variation on the proverbial chicken, in this case a very well prepared chicken breast. But when it came to dinner, the main course was—guess what? Yes, chicken breast, this one with stuffing, but even so, less than welcome. It must have pained and surprised Dizzy's chef—and the club does feature a tasty menu—to have, as this observer noted, so many guests leave uneaten chicken on their plates. If there is a next time, I would strongly suggest a menu consultation between BMI, JALC and NEA!

As for the music, there was a mighty pretty "Sweet Lorraine" by Heath and the trio. Alas, the dedicatee was absent due to ill health, her award accepted by her daughter, Deborah Gordon, who assists in running the Village Vanguard. The highlight was Randy Weston's tribute to three Jazz Masters we lost in 2012:

Dave Brubeck

piano
1920 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Brubeck,

Von Freeman

saxophone, tenor
1922 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">Von Freeman, and

John Levy

bass
1912 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">John Levy. With Carter and Cobb, 2001 Master Randy offered his famous "Hi-Fly," which I must have heard him do dozens of times, but never better than here. Donaldson offered "Blues Walk," with splendid assistance from the trio, while Sheila, who looked just great, offered her inimitable, autobiographical "Sheila's Blues," always a pleasure.

I had been seated at lunch with Mose Allison and his wife and daughter, among others. It had been a long time since I'd last seen Mose, and I noted that he had aged and seemed a bit distant. That evening, after a warm introduction by George Wein, Mose said not much more than thanks. He then, somewhat tentatively, accompanied his sweet-voiced daughter's singing of his "Was," a nostalgic waltz. It was a touching moment.

In stark contrast, another pianist, Eddie Palmieri, was not short on words or notes as he introduced and performed his "Iradia." The music ended with a heated version of "All Blues," on which

Dave Liebman

saxophone
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Dave Liebman, on soprano, and

Paquito D'Rivera

clarinet
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Paquito D'Rivera, on clarinet, joined the house trio. It was quite a night, to which the presence of widows Annette Barretto, Hilma Carter, Diana Flanagan, Maxine Gordon, Billie Allen Henderson, Sandra Jackson, and Joanne Robinson Hill added a special historical and personal dimension.

All in all, the National Endowment for the Arts, personified for jazz by Wayne Brown and Katja Von Schuttenbach, is a class act. Thank you, Lyndon B, and long may it live!

PREVIOUS / NEXT

Last Chapter of Dreaming
< Previous

Kate McGarry/Keith Ganz Duo Palooza:...
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.