Sep 3, 2026 10:44 AM
In Memoriam: Cassandra Wilson, 1955–2026
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
Dorthaan Kirk, who retired from WBGO in 2018, is among the 2020 NEA Jazz Masters.
(Photo: David Tallacksen/WBGO)A ceremony to honor the 2020 NEA Jazz Masters is set to take place online at 8 p.m. Aug. 20. The event will be MC’d by vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater, a 2017 recipient of the award.
The pivot online comes after the coronavirus pandemic disallowed events planned for April at the SFJAZZ Center in San Francisco, where curator/producer Dorthaan Kirk, singer Bobby McFerrin, saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell and bassist Reggie Workman were to be recognized for their contributions to the music.
“While we were disappointed to have to postpone last April’s events, this virtual concert will be an opportunity to bring together jazz fans around the world in celebration of the 2020 NEA Jazz Masters,” Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, said in a press release. “We appreciate the creativity and dedication of all involved, from the staff at SFJAZZ to the many musicians who are performing in honor of the recipients, so that we can continue our agency’s long tradition of honoring great individuals in jazz.”
The award—established in 1982—has been given to 157 figures associated with jazz who are nominated by the public, considered by a panel of judges and then reviewed by the National Council on the Arts. A recommendation is made to the organization’s chairperson, who then makes a final decision on the awardees.
The streamed event—which can be viewed on arts.gov and sfjazz.org—is set to include remote performances by Terri Lyne Carrington (music director for the proceedings), Ambrose Akinmusire, James Carter, Gerald Clayton, Oliver Lake, Madison McFerrin, Junius Paul, Steve Turre, the SFJAZZ High School All-Stars and others.
Following the initial broadcast, a video of the event will be available at arts.gov. DB
Wilson’s ability to connect to audiences helped her to win two Grammy awards and multiple other accolades. She was named an NEA Jazz Master in 2022.
Sep 3, 2026 10:44 AM
Cassandra Wilson, a singer, songwriter and producer who was one of the most acclaimed and successful jazz vocalists of…
“The love from the jazz and music community restored my faith in humanity,” Walia wrote in an online post upon his release from detention at an ICE facility.
Aug 18, 2026 2:15 PM
Indian jazz guitarist and composer Pritesh Walia has been released after being unexpectedly detained by ICE and taken…
Bertoncini was a specialist and advocate for the nylon-string acoustic guitar, turning down high-profile opportunities that were unsuited to the sound and techniques that he used with that instrument.
Sep 1, 2026 11:06 AM
Gene Bertoncini, an esteemed jazz guitarist, composer, arranger and educator, died Aug. 29 at the Lillian Booth Actors…
A solo concert by saxophonist Joshua Redman will close the first night of the Hyde Park Jazz Festival on Sept. 26.
Sep 22, 2026 12:26 PM
The Hyde Park Jazz Festival will take place for the 20th time on the final weekend of September 2026. Beginning half…
“It was just that suddenly … I could hear it,” Ravi Coltrane said of an epiphany he experienced during his late teens regarding his father’s music. “And it was almost like a calling, like something saying, ‘Hey, man, come on. It’s time to get serious.’ And the first time you really tune in and dial in and focus like that, it can be very life-changing.”
Sep 22, 2026 1:39 PM
Editor’s Note: Tomorrow, Sept. 23, is the 100th anniversary of John Coltrane’s birth. In honor of the tenor and…
