The National Endowment for the Arts, in partnership with SFJazz, plans to move its 2020 Jazz Masters Fellowships ceremony and concert online this year due to the pandemic.
The event, which was scheduled to take place at the SFJazz Center in April, is now planned for Aug. 20, with virtual performances scheduled by this year’s prize winners: vocalist Bobby McFerrin, saxophonist Roscoe Mitchell, double bassist Reggie Workman, and Dorthaan Kirk, who is receiving the A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Fellowship for Jazz Advocacy.
Each will receive a $25,000 cash award.
“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,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairwoman of the NEA, in a statement.
The endowment was established in 1965 and has honored luminaries such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sonny Rollins, Dianne Reeves, Miles Davis and Chick Corea.
“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,” Carter said.
The concert is expected to feature remarks by the 2020 fellowship recipients, as well as by Carter and Randall Kline, founder and executive artistic director of SFJazz.
Guests Terri Lyne Carrington, Ambrose Akinmusire, Dee Dee Bridgewater, James Carter, Taylor McFerrin, and the SFJazz High School All-Starsare scheduled to perform along with the honorees.
“It was a great honor for SFJazz to be selected as the venue for the presentation of the 2020 NEA Jazz Masters Awards,” said Kline in a statement. “We are looking forward to all of our communities coming together to honor these legendary jazz masters.”
2020 NEA Jazz Masters Tribute Concert: 5 p.m. Aug. 20. Live streaming on arts.gov and sfjazz.org. A recording of the concert will be available following the event at arts.gov. The concert will be broadcast live on KCSM-FM radio.