The Mellon Foundation has announced a multifaceted $35 million 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.
The initiative, which will provide support for scholarly and storytelling initiatives, and partnerships with the archives, clubs, and other institutions critical to preserving and amplifying jazz’s impact on future generations, is anchored by the ‘Jazz Legacies Fellowship’—a newly created $15 million fellowship founded in partnership with the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA). The inaugural class of 20 Jazz Legacies Fellows represent the pinnacle of creative achievement, technical mastery and boundary-pushing expression, and are the first of 50 artists to be named fellows over the next four years.
The 2025 Jazz Legacies Fellows are:
George Cables, 80, pianist, Queens, NY
Humble keyboard genius with impeccable technique and distinctive songbook
Valerie Capers, 89, pianist, Bronx, NY
Groundbreaking artist-educator melding classical and jazz
George Coleman, 89, saxophonist, New York, NY
Peerless soloist from fabled ‘50s Memphis scene and bridge between jazz eras
Akua Dixon, 76, cellist, Westchester, NY
String specialist who blazed new trails in all styles of music
Manty Ellis, 92, guitarist, Milwaukee, WI
Local icon known as the “Godfather of Milwaukee Jazz”
Tom Harrell, 78, trumpeter, New York, NY
Beloved bandleader-soloist with a deep emotional resonance
Billy Hart, 84, drummer, Montclair, NJ
Hero of jazz rhythm and esteemed mentor known to fans worldwide as “Jabali”
Bertha Hope, 88, pianist, New York, NY
Bebop torchbearer and pioneering advocate for women in jazz
Roger Humphries, 81, drummer, Pittsburgh, PA
Jazz phenom who committed career to nurturing his hometown scene
Carmen Lundy, 70, vocalist, Los Angeles, CA
Multi-instrumentalist and composer who sets a standard for artistic independence
Amina Claudine Myers, 82, pianist, New York, NY
Avant-garde legend firmly grounded in gospel and blues traditions
Roscoe Mitchell, 84, multireedist, Fitchburg, WI
Illustrious experimental composer and educator; Art Ensemble of Chicago mainstay
Johnny O’Neal, 68, pianist, New York, NY
A musicians’ musician with a “million-dollar touch”
Shannon Powell, 62, drummer, New Orleans, LA
New Orleans jazz ambassador known as the King of Tremé
Julian Priester, 89, trombonist, Seattle, WA
Multifaceted jazz virtuoso and invaluable educator
Dizzy Reece, 94, trumpeter, Bronx, NY
Enigmatic musical metaphysician whose influence spans generations
Herlin Riley, 68, drummer, New Orleans, LA
Irrepressible bandleader bringing the rhythm of New Orleans to the world
Michele Rosewoman, 71, pianist, New York, NY
Singular composer, bandleader and teacher fusing jazz, Cuban folkloric sounds
Dom Salvador, 87, pianist, Long Island, NY
Brazilian visionary who fuses samba, jazz and funk
Reggie Workman, 87, bassist, New York, NY
Master artist-educator; jazz luminary for nearly 70 years
