On Wednesday, the National Endowment for the Arts made an announcement regarding 2015’s NEA Jazz Masters Award. The NEA will honor Composer Carla Bley, saxophonists George Coleman and Charles Lloyd, and Chicago jazz club owner, Joe Segal.
The NEA Jazz Masters Award is the nation’s highest award in jazz. According to the NEA’s official website, the award is for “living legends who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz.” The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that funds and promotes artistic excellence.
Bley of Willow, New York, is hailed as one of the premier composers of the last 50 years. Bley’s music is often played by other artists, and was recently played by guitarist Nels Cline, according to Rolling Stone.
Coleman is a blues musician from Memphis. He toured with B.B. King. Lloyd is honored for his improvisational skills and for fusing jazz with other music. Segal has been presenting jazz in Chicago since 1947.
The musicians will be honored at New York’s Lincoln Center. Each musician receives a $25,000 fellowship, according to the Associated Press. The award has been given since 1982.