The 2016 NEA Jazz Masters Concert

In a tribute concert at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., the National Endowment for the Arts will recognize its 2016 class of NEA Jazz Masters — the highest honor the U.S. gives to a jazz musician or advocate. The performance will be webcast live on Monday, April 4 at 8 p.m. ET here and via arts.gov, Kennedy-Center.org, and broadcast on Sirius XM radio.

The NEA honors four individuals in 2016: vibraphonist, bandleader and educator Gary Burton; musicians' advocate Wendy Oxenhorn; saxophonist and composer Pharoah Sanders; and saxophonist, composer and educator Archie Shepp. Each Jazz Master receives a $25,000 grant.

The performance will feature NEA Jazz Masters Randy Weston and Jimmy Heath, as well as Ambrose Akinmusire, Lakecia Benjamin, Stefon Harris, Justin Kauflin, Rudresh Mahanthappa, Jason Moran, Linda Oh and Roswell Rudd. Moran will host the concert, with remarks from Jane Chu, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts; Deborah F. Rutter, president of the Kennedy Center; as well as the 2016 NEA Jazz Masters themselves.

With this new class, the NEA has honored 140 great figures in jazz.

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