The National Endowment for the Arts, in collaboration with the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, honored the 2025 NEA Jazz Masters at a series of public events in Washington, DC. The weekend culminated in a tribute concert on April 26, hosted by Kennedy Center Artistic Director for Jazz Jason Moran. The concert featured performances by and in honor of the 2025 NEA Jazz Masters.
The 2025 award recipients were announced last summer; they are: Marshall Allen, Marilyn Crispell, Chucho Valdés, and recipient of the 2025 A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy Gary Giddins.
WBGO is proud to present the 2025 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert, from the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The concert feature dperformances by, and in honor of, the 2025 Jazz Masters. Marshall Allen will lead the Sun Ra Arkestra. Marilyn Crispell will perform with the 2020 NEA Jazz Master and bassist Reggie Workman. Chucho Valdés performed with his ensemble, Chucho Valdés Royal Quartet. In honor of Gary Giddins, David Murray performed alongside Russell Carter, Emma Dayhuff and Marta Sánchez. The NEA Jazzmasters Tribute Concert encore broadcast is Sunday, April 27 at 9pm on WBGO 88.3 FM or your WBGO Mobile App.
About the NEA Jazz Masters
Since 1982, the National Endowment for the Arts has awarded 177 fellowships to great figures in jazz, such as Kenny Barron, Terence Blanchard, Carla Bley, Dave Brubeck, Terri Lyne Carrington, Betty Carter, Stanley Crouch, Roy Eldridge, Paquito D’Rivera, Quincy Jones, Sun Ra, Dianna Reeves, and Henry Threadgill. The NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships are awarded to living individuals on the basis of nominations from the public including members of the jazz community. Visit the NEA’s website for detailed information.Explore the NEA’s website for photos and bios of all of the NEA Jazz Masters, as well as archived concerts, video tributes, podcasts, and more than 350 NEA Jazz Moments audio clips. The National Endowment for the Arts has also supported the Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program , an effort to document the lives and careers of nearly 100 NEA Jazz Masters.
