Announcing the 2024 Recipients of CMA’S New Jazz Works Grants

Today, Chamber Music America, the national network for small ensemble music professionals, announced the recipients of its 2024 New Jazz Works grant program, which provides grant funding to U.S.-based jazz ensembles to create, perform, and record new compositions. A total of $477,000 has been awarded to 14 ensembles located in 12 cities across eight states.

CMA’s New Jazz Works program is supported by the Doris Duke Foundation. More than 200 bandleaders from 24 states submitted applications, which were then reviewed by two independent panels. Of the 14 award recipients, three ensembles have selected female composers, and 71 percent of the ensemble bandleaders identify as African, Latinx, Asian, Arab, and Native American (ALAANA). Nearly 100 instrumentalists will be supported by the 2024 grant program.

Since 2000, CMA has awarded 291 original jazz works grants, reflecting a broad range of traditions. The most recent grantees propose compositions in free jazz, Latin jazz, harmolodic jazz, and jazz fusion styles that pull from Latin American traditions from the Caribbean and South America; traditional Indian ragas; and West African, contemporary classical, and contemporary electronic music and blend with straight-ahead jazz. Details on the 14 ensembles follow.

The 2024 New Jazz Works Grantees:

Ricano
Quincy, MA
Leader/Composer: Jonathan Suazo
Instrumentation: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, electric saxophone, drums, bass, piano, guitar, voice, percussion
Ensemble Size: 10 

Jon Irabagon Group
Park Ridge, IL
Leader/Composer: Jon Irabagon
Instrumentation: tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, bass saxophone, alto clarinet, trumpet, piano, keyboards, synthesizer, acoustic bass, electric bass, drums
Ensemble Size: 5

Donald Vega
Oyster Bay, NY
Leader/Composer: Donald Vega
Instrumentation: piano, bass, drums, percussion, trumpet, tenor saxophone
Ensemble Size: 7

Edward Simon Trio
Emeryville, CA
Leader/Composer: Edward Simon
Instrumentation: piano, drums, bass, violin, viola, cello, tenor saxophone
Ensemble Size: 8

Travis Reuter Group
Waverly, IA
Leader/Composer: Travis Reuter
Instrumentation: bass, tenor saxophone, vibraphone, drums, guitar, mrudangam, flute, oboe, trumpet
Ensemble Size: 9

Anthony Branker & Imagine
Somerset, NJ
Leader/Composer: Anthony Branker
Instrumentation: trumpet, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophones, alto saxophone, electric guitar, piano, double bass, electric bass, drum set, voice, spoken word
Ensemble Size: 10

Anna Webber’s Clockwise Septet
Greenfield, MA
Leader/Composer: Anna Webber
Instrumentation:  flute, tenor saxophone, clarinet, trombone, cello, piano bass, drums, timpani, vibraphone, guitar, trumpet
Ensemble Size: 9

BLOW GLOBE
Brooklyn, NY
Leader/Composer: John Sturino
Instrumentation: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, trumpet, flugelhorn, horn in F, trombone, electric guitar, nylon guitar, piano, double bass, drums
Ensemble Size: 10

We Love Ornette
Brooklyn, NY
Leader/Composer: Lisa Parrott
Instrumentation: baritone saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, drums, double bass, guitar, cornet, trombone
Ensemble Size: 7

Walter Smith III Quintet
Sudbury, MA
Leader/Composer: Walter Smith III
Instrumentation: tenor saxophone, piano, guitar, bass, drums
Ensemble Size: 5

Edmar Castañeda
Teaneck, NJ
Leader/Composer: Edmar Castañeda
Instrumentation: harp, soprano saxophone, drums, voice
Ensemble Size: 4

Martin Bejerano Trio
Miami, FL
Leader/Composer: Martin Bejerano Trio
Instrumentation: piano, bass, drums
Ensemble Size: 3

Baltimore Jazz Collective
Baltimore, MD
Leader/Composer: Brinae Ali
Instrumentation: trumpet, bass clarinet, voice, tap dance, piano, bass, drums, beatbox, electronics, turntables
Ensemble Size: 7

José Carlos Cruzata Revé
Brooklyn, NY
Leader/Composer: José Carlos Cruzata Revé
Instrumentation: alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone, suona, Afrocuba percussion, drums,
double bass
Ensemble Size: 5

Chamber Music America, the national network of ensemble music professionals, was founded in 1977 to develop, strengthen, and support the chamber music community. With a membership including musicians, ensembles, presenters, artists’ managers, educators, music businesses, and advocates of ensemble music, CMA welcomes members representing a wide range of musical styles and traditions. In addition to its funding programs, CMA provides its members with consulting services, access to instrument and other insurances, conferences, seminars, and its quarterly publication, Chamber Music magazine.

The mission of The Doris Duke Foundation is to improve the quality of people’s lives through grants supporting the performing arts, environmental conservation, medical research, and child well-being, and through preservation of the cultural and environmental legacy of Doris Duke’s properties.