Wadada Leo Smith, Other Jazz Stalwarts Among 2021 United States Artists Fellows

News, Wadada Leo Smith, Kidd Jordan, Tomeka Reid

By DownBeat I Feb. 3, 2021

Trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith is among several jazz world figures to become a 2021 United States Artists Fellow.
(Photo: Jimmy Katz)

Trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith, saxophonist Edward “Kidd” Jordan and cellist Tomeka Reid are among the 2021 United States Artists Fellows, the organization announced Feb. 3.

Sixty individuals from 22 different states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico received the award, which comes along with a $50,000 prize. According to the organization, the fellowship program has dispensed $33 million to more than 700 artists since its founding in 2006.

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Architects and designers, textile and interdisciplinary artists, sculptors, dancers, filmmakers and others in media also were awarded the fellowship. Last year, composer Anthony Braxton, flutist Nicole Mitchell and pianist Sylvie Courvoisier were among those who received the honor.

For a full list of recipients, visit the United States Artists website. DB