Our nonprofit partners at The Jazz Foundation of America (JFA) – together with the Mellon Foundation – have announced the launch of the ‘Jazz Legacies Fellowship’ – a newly created $15 million fellowship, which will support 50 seasoned and accomplished jazz artists aged 62 years and older over the next four years.
The fellowship honors each recipient with a lifetime achievement award and an unrestricted grant of $100,000. Recipients will also be provided with resources for tailored professional and personal support, including master class and performance opportunities, production assistance, legal and financial counsel and more.
The inaugural fellows are George Cables, Valerie Capers, George Coleman, Akua Dixon, Manty Ellis, Billy Hart, Tom Harrell, Bertha Hope, Roger Humphries, Carmen Lundy, Amina Claudine Myers, Roscoe Mitchell, Johnny O’Neal, Shannon Powell, Julian Priester, Dizzy Reece, Herlin Riley, Michele Rosewoman, Dom Salvador and Reggie Workman. At least 30 more fellows will be awarded over the next four years.
The Jazz Legacies Fellowship is the centerpiece of a $35 million, multifaceted Mellon initiative aimed at supporting the cultural preservation of jazz, championing the legacy of the artists who have played a pivotal role in its formation, and strengthening the broader jazz ecosystem. Mellon’s support of JFA also includes funding for its core program the Musicians’ Emergency Fund, which provides housing assistance, pro bono healthcare, disaster relief and direct financial support to musicians and their families in need across the country.
“We see this fellowship as a community-wide embrace of jazz-world heroes,” says Joe Petrucelli, Executive Director of the Jazz Foundation of America. “We are proud to have launched this project, funded with a grant from Mellon, and guided by input from more than 100 musicians, presenters, educators, and organizers who participated as nominators, panelists and advisors”
The Jazz Legacies Fellowship was designed for artists, and in close collaboration with a host of celebrated musicians, including Terri Lyne Carrington, Christian McBride, Jason Moran, Arturo O’Farrill, Esperanza Spalding, and presenter Sunny Sumter with the aim to foster intergenerational dialogue, honor lifelong artistic contributions, and ensure the integrity of our multivocal historical record.
“The selection process considered creativity, generational impact, and the realities of being a working jazz musician in America,” Petrucelli continues. “With a sense of consensus and urgency, we celebrate these artists as mentors, trailblazers, and inspirational figures. This fellowship not only recognizes their contributions but also provides much-needed financial security—an all-too-rare resource in the field.”