NEA Jazz Master

Archie Shepp, the fearless saxophonist, composer, playwright and poet, was born on May 24, 1937. As he turns 85, we honor his recorded legacy with a special edition of Take Five.

Hear stories from New Orleans saxophonist Donald Harrison Jr.'s upbringing, words from his mentee, drummer Joe Dyson, and a performance on his home turf recorded at Snug Harbor.

The WBGO Journal is hosted by News Director Doug Doyle

Donald Harrison preserves legacy as an alto saxophonist and composer, and as Big Chief of the Congo Nation Afro-New Orleans Cultural Group. He is this year’s recipient of the A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy.

Performances and speeches honor this year's NEA Jazz Masters award recipients, including Stanley Clarke, Donald Harrison, Jr., Billy Hart & Cassandra Wilson. Watch live Thu, March 31, 10:30 p.m. ET!

"I've never really defined myself within a genre of music," says Stanley Clarke, on the cusp of his induction as an NEA Jazz Master. "I play bass."

For more than 60 years, Billy Hart has brought an earthy, exacting style to the art of jazz drumming. He officially joins the ranks of NEA Jazz Masters this week.

The Art of the Story, from WBGO News, toasts vocalist Cassandra Wilson as she joins the ranks of NEA Jazz Masters.

What better way to celebrate our latest class of NEA Jazz Masters — Billy Hart, Stanley Clarke, Cassandra Wilson, and Donald Harrison, Jr. — than with their music?

For their third collaborative effort as In Common, tenor saxophonist Walter Smith III and guitarist Matthew Stevens brought in two NEA Jazz Masters and a celebrated peer.