NEA Jazz Masters Award: What Do Musicians Think Of It?

[Hot Ptah]

I have read about the new group of musicians who have received the NEA Jazz Master award. I have read the list of those previously honored.

My question is, what do leading jazz musicians think of this award?

When they are named as a Jazz Master by NEA, do they feel a small amount of pride and gratitude?

When others are named and they are passed over, do they feel disappointed?

Or do leading jazz musicians see the honor as meaningless, one more bit of foolishness that the jazz community is forced to endure?

[jazzy mary]

They don't feel it's meaningless and they are proud. And, although it's too little $, they like the $25,000.00 too!

From what I've heard, the one thing the musicians aren't all "honored" & "proud" and all that is when an award has no monetary value. A few years ago, I was congratulating a wonderful pianist & composer on his Downbeat award of "Artist of the Decade" or something like that or being in the hall of fame--I forget. I was all very excited about meeting this cat (he is a nice guy) and I was all like "Oh, Mr. so and so, congratulations blah, blah." I expected him to answer in some standard way "Oh thank you " or whatever. Instead he said "thanks, I didn't get any money though!". At which point all the musicians at the table cracked up. I was a bit taken aback. I'm not taken aback anymore.

[Hot Ptah]

I see. It's the money.

I had wondered if most great musicians would feel a sense of inward pride based on their accomplishments, which would not need validation from any organization.

I have been to a series of concerts at which the presenter, who appeared to know next to nothing about jazz, went on and on in the opening introductions about how an NEA Jazz Master was about to step out onto the stage, as if it were the equivalent of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Each time, the audience seemed to be appropriately restrained in their enthusiasm for this bit of news.

[jazzy mary]

I didn't mean to imply that jazz musicians aren't proud of their work--they are. They are just tired, yet used to, not being appreciated, so they may be somewhat cynical or, let's say, realistic about these awards.

This music is created and appreciated by, basically,a small portion of the world and, imho, that's ok. It is an elite music. I use the term elite in a literal sense.

[Sandi22]

Originally Posted by Hot Ptah

I see. It's the money.

I had wondered if most great musicians would feel a sense of inward pride based on their accomplishments, which would not need validation from any organization.

I have been to a series of concerts at which the presenter, who appeared to know next to nothing about jazz, went on and on in the opening introductions about how an NEA Jazz Master was about to step out onto the stage, as if it were the equivalent of the Baseball Hall of Fame. Each time, the audience seemed to be appropriately restrained in their enthusiasm for this bit of news.

A sardonic dry wit? That's how I'd take it, having heard such chatter from musicians while in a group.

[Mike Schwartz]

See NEW NEA JAZZ MASTERS NAMED thread @ JazzNews