Next Jazz Legacy Set to Open Applications For Third Year of Mentoring Emerging Women & Non-Binary Jazz Musicians on August 31, 2023

Program Created by New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Pairs Emerging Musicians With Leading Jazz Musicians For Mentorships + Apprenticeships

2023 Emerging Artists Partnered With Christian McBride, Makaya McCraven, Moor Mother, Meshell Ndegeocello, Craig Taborn, Brandee Younger + Many More



2022 Awardees Partnered With Mary Halvorson, Bobby McFerrin, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Wayne Shorter, Esperanza Spalding + More

Following a transformative first two years providing invaluable guidance and mentorship to emerging women and non-binary musicians, Next Jazz Legacy is thrilled to announce that they will be accepting applications for their 2024 cycle beginning on August 31st. Applications will be due by October 16, 2023, and will be submitted at New Music USA’s website here.

Focused on increasing opportunities for musicians most underrepresented in the art form, the three-year, national program launched by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice – is a partnership between the two organizations, with funding from the Mellon Foundation, and Joe & Nancy Walker. GRAMMY-winning artist and NEA Jazz Master Terri Lyne Carrington is the program’s Artistic Director.

NJL’s first two cohorts of awardees gained invaluable experiences under the tutelage of some of the jazz world’s biggest names. For its 2023 cohort, NJL set up apprenticeships with Regina Carter, Makaya McCraven, Nicholas Payton, Craig Taborn, Nasheet Waits, Brandee Younger, and Miguel Zenón and recruited Tia Fuller, Christian McBride, Nicole Mitchell, Moor Mother, Meshell Ndegeocello, Patrice Rushen, and Helen Sung to provide creative mentorship. For its 2022 cohort, NJL arranged apprenticeships under Esperanza Spalding, Lizz Wright, Marcus Miller, Mary Halvorson, Tia Fuller, Linda May Han Oh and Chris Potter, while luminaries like the late Wayne Shorter, Bobby McFerrin, Georgia Anne Muldrow, Brandon Ross, Bill Stewart, Kris Davis and Jen Shyu were also brought in by NJL for mentorships. Over the past several years, NJL has also set up various seminars, from a social media crash course from Samara Joy — who was awarded the 2023 GRAMMY for Best New Artist — to a discussion on independent artistry with GRAMMY-nominated jazz vocalist Somi and the acclaimed drummer / composer Kassa Overall.

Throughout Next Jazz Legacy’s time, awardees have performed on prestigious stages at local and national jazz events throughout the country, including at Winter Jazzfest 2023, the Kennedy Center’s Mary Lou Williams Jazz Festival, and as part of a special Livestream Concert produced by WBGO. The 2023 awardees are also slated to perform at the DC Jazz Festival and Angel City Jazz Fest.

2023 NJL Awardee Tatiana LadyMay Mayfield recently performed with her NJL mentor Brandee Younger for NPR Music's Tiny Desk. Watch that performance here.

2023 Next Jazz Legacy Tatiana LadyMay Mayfield says:

The Next Jazz Legacy program has been the most life-changing and amazing experience I’ve had thus far in my career. Between the mentorship from the legendary Patrice Rushen and my apprenticeship with the amazing Brandee Younger, I could not have asked for a greater experience. Through this opportunity I’ve also had a chance to perform at venues that have been a dream since I’ve been a musician: The Kennedy Center, Blue Note Tokyo (with Brandee Younger), Berklee College of Music, the DC Jazz Festival, and more! I’ve also been able to connect with other music industry professionals that are helping me in other aspects of my career. In addition, I’m really excited about the fact that I’ve had the pleasure of working and connecting with other amazing women and non-binary musicians who are all making their mark on this industry through their extraordinary musicianship. I’m learning so much from these outstanding musicians and I’m looking forward to continuing my fellowship with them even after my time with the program has ended.

2022 Next Jazz Legacy Awardee Alexis Lombre, who is currently playing with Jon Batiste, says:

Next Jazz Legacy gave me a real validation that I needed at a very very important time. I just got out of college and because of the pandemic it would've been so easy for me to just slip through the cracks and to no one ever hear of me. Also the networks that I had before were so closed off and limited. I felt like people wanted me to stay small to keep them comfortable but thanks to Terri Lyne and this program I was able to be really pushed to the limit of what I could do. The only thing that's truly holding me back now is my mind and how far I want to go. I am no longer afraid.

Next Jazz Legacy Artistic Director and GRAMMY award-winning artist Terri Lyne Carrington is optimistic about the third year saying, “I’m very excited about Next Jazz Legacy moving into its third year! We have been working with some amazing women and non-binary musicians, as well as seasoned veterans, toward a more inclusive jazz future. I have always felt that on stage apprenticeship was highly beneficial in my own development and am so happy that we can assist these incredible emerging musicians with an apprenticeship in their artistic journey.”

New Music USA President & CEO Vanessa Reed says:

The first two editions of our Next Jazz Legacy program have demonstrated the importance of funding, mentorship, collaborative learning and performing opportunities to the talented artists selected for this program. I am honored to be working with Terri Lyne Carrington to sustain this pivotal undertaking and to keep extending its impact across the US. I hope that any women or non-binary jazz instrumentalists who are interested in being part of this creative journey will put themselves forward and make themselves known!