Kennedy Center After Sonny: Who’s Next?
Now that Sonny Rollins has been honored by the Kennedy Center as one of the leading performing artists of our time, who would be the next jazz musician in line for the honor? One of the obvious ones, not based on his music as much as his contribution to reviving jazz commercially, would be Wynton Marsalis. He’ll get his eventually, but he’s a relatively young guy and should have to wait. Among musicians here are a few names to ponder: Horace Silver, Ornette Coleman, Wayne Shorter. To me, those are the most viable candidates. I would imagine Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea would also get consideration. None of them, in my eyes, is in the same category as Sonny Rollins but, to be fair, a few years ago the honor went to Benny Carter and I didn’t think he was worthy either. What do you think?
Well…if it Benny got the award during the Carter administration, it would’ve been appropriate and following that thread, here’s my short list:
Abbey Lincoln
Roosevelt Sykes
Jimmy Cleveland
Eddie Jefferson
Grant Green
I knew the pianist who played every inaugural ball for 50 years. I asked him “how was Nixon as a pianist?” He replied “He was no Harry Truman.”
Very good, Dan. In the same vein, we also have Grover Washington, Jack Wilson, Budd Johnson, Willis Jackson, George Adams and probably a bunch of others.
I just went on the Kennedy Center website to see the list of honorees.
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/specialevents/honors/history.cfm
I was floored to find that Miles Davis was not a past honoree. I assume that these awards are only made when the artist is still alive. Still, Miles was around til 1991. Now he wasn’t a perfect citizen, but still – he would have seemed the perfect candidate while he was alive.
Past jazz honorees in jazz were Ella, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Diz, Lionel Hampton, Benny Carter, Dave Brubeck, now Sonny Rollins. Candidly, the list seems a bit underwhelming to me. Clearly, many of our favorites died young (like Clifford, Bird, Sonny Clark, Trane).
Yes Miles was quite a notable omission. Honorees have to be alive. There were also Ray Charles, who you’d consider partially as a jazz artist, and Quincy Jones, who certainly got started as a jazz guy.
Al, my nomination would be the 91 year old Gerald Wilson. One of the more impressive west coast jazz contributors, who is a first class composer, arranger, band leader and music educator. He still teachers at various universities in Southern California. I don’t quite understand why he is always overlooked. FYI, Marc Meyers, the jazz critic of the Wall Street Journal, agrees with me……..
I have been thinking about the next honoree for a few days now. I am not sure anyone really stands out as an obvious choice. If I needed to name the next one it would probably be Herbie Hancock, with Ornette in second place. Herbie sort of crossed genres for a bit with his Grammy Rock It, has had longevity and a history of being innovative.
I think Al’s idea of Wynton Marsalis in a few years makes sense as well.
It is just a shame that guys like Miles, Trane, Monk, Bird, Mingus, are not included and we are considering guys like Herbie, Wynton and Ornette.
Happy new year fellow jazz lovers!
Benny and Horace are certainly top contenders in my opinion but I wouldn’t overlook Benny Golson or Marian MacPartland.
Two others to consider (but not sure if already honored) would be John McLaughlin and Jim Hall.
Finally, my longshot pick – the core of Steely Dan, Becker and Fagen. I know that might elicit some groans but I’ve always enjoyed them immensely.
Tim