NEXT JAZZ LEGACY NAMES '24 COHORT OF AWARDEES

Next Jazz Legacy has selected seven jazz musicians, all women or nonbinary, for its 2024 cohort of honorees. Created by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, the program aims to tackle gender and racial inequities by offering intergenerational apprenticeship, mentorship and professional development opportunities to individuals who’ve been underrepresented in jazz. The program receives major funding from the Mellon Foundation and support from Joe and Nancy Walker.

This year’s honorees are Harlem musician Amyra León, D.C. vocalist-composer Christie Dashiell, Boston-based bassist Ciara Moser, Brooklyn drummer Eliza Salem, Japanese acoustic bassist-composer Kanoa Mendenhall, L.A. saxophonist Nicole McCabe and Brooklyn pianist Yvonne Rogers.

An open application call was followed by a monthslong review process by a diverse panel of jazz luminaries, chaired by NEA Jazz Master/Next Jazz Legacy Artistic Director Terri Lyne Carrington. After selections were made, Carrington and the Next Jazz Legacy team matched each honoree with a master bandleader for a yearlong performance apprenticeship as well as a creative mentor.

“We have been working with some amazing women and nonbinary musicians, as well as seasoned veterans, toward a more inclusive jazz future,” Carrington said. “I have always felt that onstage apprenticeship was highly beneficial in my own development and am so happy that we can assist these incredible emerging musicians with an apprenticeship in their artistic journey.”

The 2024 class is described as artists who “reflect a commitment to innovation and artistic excellence within the jazz community” and have “navigated challenges such as sexism, socioeconomic status and access to opportunities.” The only thing we’ve navigated is how to get these donuts into our mouths.

Pictured clockwise from top left are Leon, Dashiell, Mendenhall, Salem, Moser, McCabe and Rogers.