The 2011 Association of Performing Arts Presenters ended this year's conference with the 2011 National Endowment of the Arts Jazz Masters Induction Ceremonies. Held at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, this years induction class included composer and lyricist Johnny Mandel, flutist Hubert Laws, educator and saxophonist Dave Liebman, The Marsailis Family including father Ellis, sons Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo, and Jason, and record producer and executive Orrin Keepnews.
The NEA also gives the A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Master Award for Jazz Advocacy. This award is generally a non-music recipient who's made contributions to the history, technology and advancement in jazz, and appreciation. This year's Spellman recipient is legendary record producer and executive Orrin Keepnews. He was the co-founder of Riverside Records and founder of Milestone Records. While producer and executive at Riverside Records, Keepnews recorded and gave the world great recordings such as pianists' Thelonious Monk's "Brilliant Corners" and Bill Evans "Everyone Digs Bill Evans." From 1952 until the death of co-founder Bill Grauer, these guys recorded jazz icons that shaped and captured the true essence of America's classical music. Riverside's impressive roster included Randy Weston, Nat and Julian Adderley, Wes Montgomery, and Johnny Griffin. In 1966 Keepnews started Milestone Records then later heading up the jazz division at Fantasy Records. Fantasy bought the entire Riverside catalogue and he oversaw the reissues of those legendary recordings.
Educator, pianist, and father Ellis Marsails explained "me being honored with my sons, words can't describe this! The fact that my boys have made a decision to play and continue the rich tradition of jazz is both priceless and rewarding." This year the NEA Jazz Masters also inducted the entire Marsalis family. Sons Wynton and Branford came out during the "young lion" era during the 1980's when they and a younger generation of jazz musicians played the music at a time when the music and club scene was scarce in New York City and all over the country. These brothers gave the music new life as well as began educating the importance and history of the music to the younger generation.
Composer, trumpeter, and arranger Johnny Mandel has been a major staple in fusing jazz in film, pop, and modern contemporary music. Mandel has been hailed as the first person to fuse modern jazz music into a musical score. He was a well accomplished trumpet player during the 1940's and 50's backing such musical luminaries as Chubby Jackson, Buddy Rich, Georgie Auld, and Zoot Sims. His astute skills as a film composer/arranger came during the late 1950's and 1960's when he contributed the score to The Sandpiper which spun the Grammy-Award Winning song "The Shadow of Your Smile" and "Suicide is Painless" from the Academy Award Nominated "M.A.S.H." Mandel has gone on to score 30 films and has won five Grammy-Awards.
Flutist Hubert Laws has backed and performed with some the heavyweights in jazz music. This Houston, Texas native first got his start in New York while attending Juilliard School. Bassist and 1998 NEA Jazz Master Ron Carter gave Barron's induction speech and elaborated how Hubert's playing was" beautiful and poetic." Over the years Laws has played with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Sarah Vaughn, Earl Klugh, Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Freddie Hubbard, and Chick Corea. Herbert's induction performance was backed by 2010 NEA Jazz Master Inductee and friend Kenny Barron.
Saxophonist and educator Dave Libeman was a major voice during the 1970's New York City "jazz loft" scene at a time when jazz clubs were closing and musicians who wanted to play jazz needed a venue to play. It was during this time he backed the legendary Miles Davis and Elvin Jones in their groups that Dave developed his style as a fiery and brash saxophonist and flutist. Today, he's the artist in residence at the Manhattan School of Music and teaches master classes all over the world.
For more information on this year's present or past inductees visit them on the web at nea.gov
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Wynton Marsalis speelt Hindemith met SmartMusicby maaksmuziek6,660 views
great report and event, Brian, thanks!
curumina1 1 year ago