New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2025 Next Jazz Legacy Cohort

Next Jazz Legacy has announced the eight emerging improvisers in jazz that make up its 2025 cohort of its forward-looking programme, jointly created by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice with the aim of tackling gender and racial inequities in the jazz and wider music industry. Offering intergenerational apprenticeship, mentorship and professional development opportunities those who have been historically underrepresented in jazz, the programme is funded by the Mellon Foundation.

With gender and racial justice as guiding principles, this group 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 NEA Jazz Master and Next Jazz Legacy’s Artistic Director, 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.

The fourth cohort of eight Next Jazz Legacy artists represents a dynamic mix of backgrounds, talents, and perspectives, and according to the press release “embody a commitment to innovation and artistic excellence within the jazz community”. As a genre that has long embraced cultural diversity and creative exploration, jazz continues to evolve through the voices of musicians from all traditions.

Among the musicians selected is British trumpeter Alexandra Ridout (above, second right). A former student at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Ridout’s many accolades to date include winning the BBC Young Musician Jazz Award 2016, British Jazz Awards ‘Rising Star’ 2018, being named one of ‘London’s Most Influential People’ under 25 in 2019, a Parliamentary Jazz Awards nominee 2020, won the Laurie Frink Career grant in 2022 and recently received ‘Best Soloist’ at the ‘Keep an Eye International Jazz Award 2023’ and 2nd place at the Prestigious Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet competition 2023.

This year’s cohort continues to highlight the sheer diversity of talent coming through with artists playing unconventional instruments, such as the traditional Korean gayageum, Afro-Cuban percussion, and even a multidisciplinary tap artist. Beyond their musical achievements, the artists selected overcome challenges including sexism, socio-economic barriers, and limited access to opportunities, further reinforcing the programme’s mission to foster equity and inclusion in jazz. The members of this year's cohort are:

Alexandra Ridout: Trumpeter, Bandleader, Composer & Educator
Bandleader: Melissa Aldana; Creative Mentor: Marquis Hill,
Manhattan, NY

April May Webb: Vocalist, Composer & Educator
Bandleader: Danilo Perez; Creative Mentor: Ledisi, West
Hartford, CT

Brenda Navarrete Guzman: Afro-Cuban Percussionist, Singer & Composer
Bandleader: Kassa Overall; Creative Mentor: Terri Lyne Carrington
Miami, FL

Carmen Quill: Upright bass, Composer, Songwriter
Bandleader: Billy Hart; Creative Mentor: Becca Stevens
Brooklyn, NY

Chanelle Ignant: Guitarist, Educator & Composer
Bandleader: Meshell Ndegeocello; Creative Mentor: Matthew Stevens
Oakland, CA

DoYeon Kim: Gayageum performer
Bandleader: Kris Davis; Creative Mentor: Mark Dresser
Brooklyn, NY

Melissa Almaguer: Tap dance/feet percussion, Multidisciplinary artist & Educator
Bandleader: David Virelles; Creative Mentor: Susie Ibarra
Brooklyn, NY

Nora Stanley: Saxophonist & Composer
Bandleader: Tyshawn Sorey; Creative Mentor: Ellen Arkbro
Brooklyn, NY

Awardees have performed at some of the most prestigious jazz events across the country, including New York City’s Winter Jazzfest, Washington, DC’s Mary Lou Williams Festival & DC Jazz Festival, and Los Angeles’ Angel City Jazz Festival. Next Jazz Legacy awardees have also had the chance to work and perform with some of the most acclaimed names in jazz including Makaya McCraven, esperanza spalding, Tia Fuller, Nasheet Waits, Moor Mother, Brandee Younger, Patrice Rushen, Craig Taborn, Nicole Mitchell, Marcus Miller, Regina Carter, Christian McBride, Nicholas Payton, Helen Sung, Bobby McFerrin, the late Wayne Shorter, and two recent GRAMMY winners, Meshell Ndegeocello and Miguel Zenón. Furthermore, Next Jazz Legacy has gained national recognition from top media outlets like PBS NewsHour, Billboard, GRAMMY.com, AllArts, and more.

Next Jazz Legacy Artistic Director and GRAMMY award-winning artist Terri Lyne Carrington says about the new cohort: “I’m very excited about Next Jazz Legacy moving into its fourth year! We have been working with some amazingly diverse improvisers in jazz, 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 apprenticeship and mentorship in their artistic journey.”

New Music USA President & CEO Vanessa Reed adds: “I’m thrilled to welcome our latest cohort of Next Jazz Legacy awardees to the fourth year of this pioneering program which lays the foundation for a more inclusive jazz future. Thanks to the Mellon Foundation’s renewed support of our program until 2027, vital funding, collaborative learning, and performance opportunities will now benefit many more awardees, bandleaders and mentors from the jazz community. I look forward to staying in touch with the growing community of Next Jazz Legacy alumni when I move to my new role at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in the UK in May.”

Next Jazz Legacy 2025 awardee Melissa Almaguer shares: “I am so excited to be part of the 2025 Next Jazz Legacy cohort. As a woman tap dancer in this industry, to be acknowledged and accepted as a musician in this program is reassuring and an honor. I’m looking forward to learning from all the resources that NJL provides and to receive guidance from some of my biggest inspirations. I’m grateful for programs like this that are community-oriented; in this chaotic world it’s important to have a safe space where you are supported and guided.”

The 2025 Next Jazz Legacy cohort will take the stage for the first time together in New York on Wednesday 14 May at The Jazz Gallery, with sets at 7:30 and 9:30pm – for more info visit jazzgallery.org/calendar/next-jazz-legacy-may14-2025