2009 NEA Jazz Masters Awards Ceremony & Concert

NEW YORK (Top40 Charts/ NEA Jazz Masters) - Dana Gioia, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts will host the 2009 NEA Jazz Masters Awards Ceremony & Concert featuring the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis in a program dedicated to the honorees' works. Special guest performances to be made by 2009 NEA Jazz Masters George Benson, James "Jimmy" Cobb, Lee Konitz and "Toots" Thielemans. Concert will include video biographies of each 2009 NEA Jazz Master as well as a jam session with previously named NEA Jazz Masters and the 2009 honorees.

WHERE: Frederick P. Rose Hall, home of Jazz at Lincoln Center. Broadway at 60th Street - through Jazz at Lincoln Center marquee to JAZZ elevators to 5th floor press check-in table.

WHEN: Friday, October 17, 2008
6:15 - 7:15 pm Pre-concert talk with NEA Chair Dana Gioia and 2009 Masters - Rose Theater
7:15 PM Photo Op with over 25 Previously named Jazz Masters and 2009 Class - Noble Studio
8 pm Awards Ceremony and Concert - Rose Theater

WHY: The 2009 NEA Jazz Masters-George Benson, Jimmy Cobb, Lee Konitz, "Snooky" Young, "Toots" Thielemnas and Rudy Van Gelder are joining the roster of 80 other jazz greats who have found new and expanded opportunities to reach out to the public through the NEA Jazz Masters and Jazz in the Schools programs.