Kennedy Center: Honoring Jazz?

Like many of you, I spent the evening of December 26th watching the 30th Annual Kennedy Center Honors on CBS. I love the Kennedy Center Honors show, which airs each year during the holidays. You not only get to see icons of our culture celebrated nationally but you also see their peers perform entertaining tributes on stage. All in all, the Kennedy Center Honors puts major talents in perspective and thanks them warmly for their extraordinary contribution.

The 2007 honorees were Steve Martin, Martin Scorcese, Diana Ross, Brian Wilson, and classical pianist Leon Fleischer. According to Kennedy Center Chairman Stephen A. Schwarzman, the 2007 award was bestowed on these five individuals for their "extraordinary talent, creativity, and perseverance" and because "they have transformed the way we, as Americans, see, hear, and feel the performing arts."

I'm certainly not qualified to say whether Steve Martin meets that standard or not, or whether he has dramatically changed comedy and how we laugh. I also have nothing against him or his contribution to our culture.

I do know, however, that Sonny Rollins does fit Mr. Schwarzman's criteria. So does Roy Haynes, Ahmad Jamal, Hank Jones and about 20 other living jazz musicians who have for decades transformed jazz and brought joy to listeners both here and abroad.

True, these artists aren't boldface names in gossip columns, and they're clearly not effective lobbyists. They're just quietly doing what they've always done—working hard to create improvised music that has served as America's soundtrack for more than 90 years.

All of this prompted me to have a look at the complete list of Kennedy Center Honorees dating back to 1978. I also did a little math. According to the Kennedy Center site, 157 honorees were celebrated over the past 30 years, yet only 6 were jazz artists. The last one—Benny Carter—had the distinction in 1996.

Again, that's 6 out of 157 honorees—or less than 4%. (I excluded Tony Bennett,  Quincy Jones and Lena Horne—great artists and honorees all, but pop artists, to be fair.)

Here's a list of the jazz artists who have been Kennedy Center Honorees:

• Benny Carter (1996)
• Lionel Hampton (1992)
• Dizzy Gillespie (1990)
• Benny Goodman (1982)
• Count Basie (1981)
• Ella Fitzgerald (1979)

While filling five slots a year certainly requires careful thought , the right mix and a dash of political savvy, there's surely a jazz musician around today who's worthy of the Kennedy Center's prestigious award in 2008.

Which motivated me to come up with a list of jazz artists who I believe merit consideration:

• Sonny Rollins
• Roy Haynes
• Wayne Shorter
• Ahmad Jamal
• Horace Silver
• Hank Jones
• James Moody
• Bob Brookmeyer
• Phil Woods
• Freddie Hubbard
• Dave Brubeck

I'm sure I've missed a few giants still among us whose life work deserves national recognition and praise from the Kennedy Center.

To be fair, the Kennedy Center is committed to jazz and offers one of the country's best jazz concert series featuring many of the greats on my list above. But a concert isn't national recognition or thanks.

The Kennedy Center has an opportunity in 2008 to honor a true jazz artist and remind America and the world that it treasures the musicians who have devoted their lives to making so many listeners happy.

Which is why I hope the Kennedy Center in 2008 will at least consider honoring  our greatest living jazz treasure—Sonny Rollins.

Comments

[Michael J. West]

How about Ornette Coleman? He's MY pick for our greatest living jazz treasure (no disrespect intended towards Sonny, of course) - and talk about transforming the way Americans hear music!

[Eric Hines]

Quincy Jones has enough in the way of jazz credentials to be so honored, I'd say. But that's probably not what they had in mind at the time.

[Chris]

Was it in one of Giddins' books that he talked about how he suggested some jazz guys to the Kennedy Center and was met with a complete blank stare.

[Tony]

Marc, great article, well-argued. While I esteem all the jazz musicians mentioned, I really have to cast my vote for Sonny Rollins. He is truly a giant of jazz--and American music generally.