Next Jazz Legacy

About the Open Call

Next Jazz Legacy is a national apprenticeship and mentorship program designed to elevate emerging jazz improvisers. Operated in partnership with the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, funded by the Mellon Foundation, and led by GRAMMY-winning artist and NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington, the initiative increases opportunities for musicians who will contribute to a vibrant and inclusive jazz future. Awardees receive a comprehensive support package including intergenerational mentorship, performance showcases at major jazz festivals, professional networking opportunities, and financial resources for creative and career development—helping secure a more equitable and sustainable future for jazz. The 2025 cohort of Next Jazz Legacy awardees was chosen through an open application call followed by a meticulous review process by a distinguished panel of jazz luminaries, chaired by Terri Lyne Carrington. Once the awardees were selected, Carrington and the Next Jazz Legacy team worked closely with each of the musicians to match them with a master bandleader for a year-long performance apprenticeship, as well as a creative mentor, both of whom are aligned with the awardees’ unique interests. The selection committee for the 2025 Next Jazz Legacy cohort also included Aja Burrell Wood, Angelica Sanchez, Caroline Davis, Liberty Ellman, Matthew Stevens, and Neal Smith. Next Jazz Legacy (NJL) is guided by an advisory board that includes artists Gerald Clayton and Kris Davis, and representatives from institutions such as Herbie Hancock Institute of Jazz, NPR, WBGO, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, New York Winter Jazz Festival, and beyond. NJL is managed by Harlem-based music event producer and singer-songwriter Kendolyn Walker.

What is Offered

Comprehensive support package including intergenerational mentorship, performance showcases at major jazz festivals, professional networking opportunities, and financial resources for creative and career development.

How to Apply

Applications open. Apply online at https://NewMusicUSA.smapply.io/prog/next_jazz_legacy