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2026 NEA Jazz Masters (clockwise from top left) Airto Moreira, Carmen Lundy, Rhonda Hamilton and Patrice Rushen will be honored in a concert at the Kennedy Center on Saturday, April 18.
(Photo: Courtesy NEA)The National Endowment for the Arts will honor the 2026 Jazz Masters at a free concert on Saturday, April 18, at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. All performances will be streamed online at arts.gov.
The newest recipients of the Jazz Masters Fellowship include vocalist, composer and arranger Carmen Lundy; drummer, percussionist, composer and educator Airto Moreira; and pianist, composer, musical director and educator Patrice Rushen. The A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy went to jazz broadcaster Rhonda Hamilton.
Lundy’s multifaceted artistry has influenced modern jazz over a career spanning more than five decades and including more than 150 published songs.
Moreira is a defining voice in jazz percussion, with skills on instruments ranging from the tambourine to the bongos.
Rushen has led a pioneering career that bridges jazz, R&B, classical and pop genres. Her distinctive sound blends melodic sophistication and instrumental prowess.
Hamilton played a key role in the early days of jazz radio station WBGO-FM (Newark, New Jersey) and has served as a guide for generations of jazz listeners, including in her current role as host of a weekday radio show on KKJZ-FM in Los Angeles.
“As we celebrate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026, the NEA is proud to also honor these individuals who have played a significant role in jazz, considered one of our country’s greatest cultural gifts to the world,” said NEA Senior Advisor Mary Anne Carter. “As with our nation, jazz is an art form with a rich heritage that continues to evolve, thanks to those who have dedicated their lives and creativity to this music over generations.”
Since 1982, the National Endowment for the Arts has awarded 181 fellowships to great figures in jazz, such as Muhal Richard Abrams, Kenny Barron, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Dave Brubeck, Regina Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Quincy Jones, Bobby McFerrin, Dan Morgenstern, Maria Schneider, Wayne Shorter, Henry Threadgill and Chucho Valdés.
The NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships are awarded to living individuals on the basis of nominations from the public including members of the jazz community. NEA Jazz Masters Fellowships are $25,000 and can be received once in a lifetime.
Explore the NEA’s website for more information on the April 18 concert. The site also features 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. DB
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