NEA Jazz Masters Live!

NEA Jazz Masters Live is a new NEA initiative and Earshot Jazz has been chosen to participate. The program celebrates the living legends who have made exceptional contributions to the advancement of jazz, NEA Jazz Masters Live supports meaningful, in-depth, extended engagements featuring NEA Jazz Masters that:

* honor their body of work, history, or styles
* provide understanding of their significance to jazz through thematically-designed or retrospective programming
* broaden audiences' awareness of their unique contributions to this original American art form.

NEA Jazz Master James Moody w/ The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra Saturday, November 1, 2008 Nordstrom Recital Hall/Benaroya Hall, 7:30 pm Sunday, November 2, 2008 Kirkland Performance Center, 3 pm One of the surviving champions of Dizzy Gillespie's music, James Moody is an accomplished musician on the tenor and alto saxophones, as well as the flute, despite being born partially deaf. In addition to his instrumental prowess, Moody is an engaging entertainer, captivating audiences with his personal charm and wit.

Toshiko Akiyoshi in solo performance at the 2007 Earshot Jazz Festival Photo by Daniel Sheehan

NEA Jazz Master Toshiko Akiyoshi w/ The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra Saturday, March 7, 2009 Nordstrom Recital Hall/Benaroya Hall, 7:30 pm Sunday, March 8, 2009 Kirkland Performance Center, 3 pm Internationally renowned, award-winning composer, pianist, and NEA Jazz Master Toshiko Akiyoshi to lead the SRJO in a concert of big band works from her many years touring the globe with the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band. Born in Manchuria, Akiyoshi took up jazz as a teenager in Japan, coming to the US in her 20s to immerse herself in the sounds of Basie and Ellington. She became the first woman named "Best Arranger and Composer" by Down Beat magazine, and has recorded over 45 albums with a refreshing view of the art of jazz.

The National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters program confers the nations's highest honor for this uniquely American art. Each year since 1982, the program has elevated to its ranks a select number of living legends who have made exceptional contriubtions to the advancement of jazz.

The Touring and Residencies component of the program was established in 2004 and ran through 2006 to provide funds to not-for-profit presenting organizations to encourage bookings of NEA Jazz Masters. NEA Jazz Masters on Tour is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts sponsored by Verizon in partnership with Arts Midwest. Additional support is provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation through a grant to Chamber Music America.

NEA Jazz Master Gerald Wilson directing the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra (SRJO) durring a performance at Benaroya's Nordstrom Recital Hall on November 5, 2005. Photos by Daniel Sheehan. During his visit to Seattle the venerable bandleader undertook a multi-day residency with the SRJO that included open rehearsals, educational outreach events and two concerts.

As a not-for-profit presenting organization, Earshot Jazz participated in the NEA Jazz Masters Touring and Residencies Program and during that time presented NEA Jazz Masters Benny Golson, Jim Hall, Gerald Wilson, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and Jimmy Heath. Although the funding portion of the Touring and Residencies program is complete, Earshot Jazz is devoted to bringing the NEA Jazz Masters to Seattle. Check back regularly to see who is coming to town.

More information available about the NEA Jazz Masters program at www.neajazzmasters.org.

Earshot Jazz is a Seattle based nonprofit music, arts and service organization formed in 1984 to support jazz and increase awareness in the community.  Earshot Jazz publishes a monthly newsletter, presents creative music and educational programs, assists jazz artists, increases listenership, complements existing services and programs, and networks with the national and international jazz community.