A.B. Spellman & Sonny Rollins: Meet The Artist

A.B. Spellman, retired NEA Deputy Chairman, jazz historian (Four Lives in the Bebop Business and Art Tatum: A Critical Biography) and poet (The Beautiful Days) meets with Sonny Rollins for an on-stage interview and Q&A. During his time at the NEA, Spellman was a powerful force for the affirmative recognition of cultural expression previously marginalized in the domain of arts funding. Jazz profoundly influenced Spellman and he helped shape the contemporary understanding of what jazz is and can be. NEA jazz initiatives launched during his tenure include the NEA Jazz Masters Award and a revealing assessment of the field, “Changing the Beat: A Study of the Worklife of Jazz Musicians.”

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