Three veteran musicians have been added to the National Arts Endowment's unofficial "jazz hall of fame" for helping to write the history of jazz through their "enormous musical gifts."
Bass player Ray Brown, drummer Roy Haynes and pianist Horace Silver were named the 1995 American Jazz Masters, an honor including a one-time-only $20,000 fellowship, during a concert in Anaheim, Calif. Another veteran jazzman, Billy Taylor, was the master of ceremonies.Arts Endowment Chairman Jane Alexander said that Brown, Haynes and Silver have "contributed greatly to America's understanding of this proudly American genre."
Brown, 68, of Los Angeles, was one of the earliest bebop artists. He played in Dizzy Gillespie's first band, toured the world with his wife, Ella Fitzgerald, and performed with the Oscar Peterson trio before forming his own, still-active trio.
Haynes, 68, of New York, got his start with the big band at Harlem's famous old Savoy Ballroom. He went on to perform with such giants as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis and John Coltrane. Still a leading jazz innovator, he leads his own quartet.
Silver, 65, of Malibu, Calif., is a pioneer of hard bop, a fusion of rhythm and blues, gospel and jazz. He honed his style playing piano with such artists as Stan Getz, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young and Art Blakey. Silver is also a prolific composer.
The jazz master fellowships, now in their 14th year, were established to honor living musicians who have made significant contributions to this uniquely American music.
Distributed by Universal Press Syndicate