The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation (LAEF) celebrated its annual awards honoring jazz education and music advocacy during Jazz Congress, a two-day series of workshops, panels and networking opportunities produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center, on January 8 and 9. The 2025 recipient of the 14^thSATCHMO™ Award is Pianist/Educator JoAnne Brackeen and the third LAEF Lifetime Achievement Award winner is Roger Dickerson, New Orleans Composer/Pianist/Educator/Mentor.

 

“The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation awards reflect Armstrong's Promethean legacy as the Founding Father of Jazz, celebrating his lifelong mission to elevate the human condition through the down-home nobility of his art,” said Jackie Harris, executive director of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation.

 

This year, we honored two extraordinary individuals – Ms. Joanne Brackeen and Mr. Roger Dickerson – whose contributions continue to make a significant impact within the global jazz community. Their remarkable efforts, both on and off the bandstand, have touched countless lives and exemplify the spirit of Louis Armstrong’s enduring legacy."

 

Multiple award-winning Singer/Pianist/Composer Jon Batiste moderated a discussion with Ms. Brackeen and Mr. Dickerson on Wednesday, January 8, in the Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Atrium for Jazz Congress attendees, including presenters, artists, managers, agents, radio programmers and other jazz professionals.

 

On January 9, in collaboration with Jazz Congress and Jazz at Lincoln Center, the awards were presented at Dizzy’s Club, 10 Columbus Circle in Manhattan, by LAEF Board Members Wynton Marsalis and Dr. David Chevan. The evening featured performances by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation All-Star Sextet: Terence Blanchard, trumpet; Darrell Lavigne, piano; Branford Marsalis, saxophone; Wynton Marsalis, trumpet; Herlin Riley, drums/bandleader; and Chris Severin, bass. Ms. Brackeen also performed two numbers with members of the sextet.

 

THE AWARD RECIPIENTS

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Roger Dickerson, age 90, stands as a towering figure in the world of music, both as an artist of exceptional depth and as a generous mentor and teacher to generations of students. Born in New Orleans, his artistic journey began with the rhythms of street performers and the discipline of formal piano training. His exposure to the city’s vibrant music culture instilled in him a deep appreciation for both classical traditions and the spontaneity of jazz and spirituals. Dickerson earned degrees from Dillard University and Indiana University, and as a Fulbright Scholar, he studied composition at the Akademie für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Austria.

 

Dickerson’s association with the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp and the Thelonious Monk Institute at Loyola University allowed him to work directly with emerging artists, instilling in them the importance of technical precision, historical awareness, and creative individuality. Widely celebrated for his groundbreaking masterpieces, his works include A Musical Service for Louis: A Requiem for Louis Armstrong, the New Orleans Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (which both garnered Pulitzer Prize nominations), Symphonie Congo Square and Preacher Man! Preacher Man!.

 

Whether teaching in classroom, directing choirs, or mentoring young artists, Dickerson exemplified the highest ideals of education and artistry. His impact on the musical world continues through the many students, colleagues and audiences he has touched.

 

Whatever the musical setting, NEA Jazz Master/Pianist and Satchmo™ Award Recipient JoAnne Brackeen's unique style of playing commands attention. In addition to her captivating and complex improvisations, she has written intricate, rhythmically daring compositions in a wide stylistic range. A full-time professor at Boston’s Berklee College of Music and a guest professor at the New School in New York, she has led clinics, master classes, and artistic residencies worldwide.

 

A child prodigy, who at age 11, learned to play the piano in six months, Brackeen was already performing professionally by age 12. Some of her musical constituents were Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Haden, Billy Higgins, Bobby Hutcherson, Scott Lafaro, and Charles Lloyd. Simultaneously, the Los Angeles Conservatory heard of her musicianship and offered her a full scholarship. She attended classes less than one week before deciding the bandstand was more significant.

 

Brackeen moved to New York in 1965 where she worked with George Benson, Paul Chambers, Lee Konitz, Sonny Stitt, and Woody Shaw. She joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in 1969, becoming the first and only female member of the group. Brackeen then performed with Joe Henderson and Stan Getz before emerging as a leader. The pianist has performed with Terence Blanchard, Michael Brecker, Ravi Coltrane, Jack DeJohnette, Eddie Gomez, Billy Hart, Horace "El Negro" Hernandez, Branford Marsalis, Cecil McBee, John Patitucci, Chris Potter, and Greg Osby. She has recorded more than two dozen albums as a leader and has appeared on nearly 100 additional recordings.

 

LOUIS ARMSTRONG

Hailed as one of the most influential and popular musicians in modern music, trumpeter Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) rose out of poverty in New Orleans and became, in the words of music and cultural critic Albert Murray, “the Prometheus of jazz,” as the genre’s first major soloist and vocalist, who invented scat-singing. Growing up in the Crescent City, Armstrong heard music from the Caribbean – especially Cuba – and was greatly influenced by the exceptional Cuban trumpeter Manuel Perez of the Olympia Brass Band. In 1930, Armstrong’s recording of the Cuban standard “El Manisero” (The Peanut Vendor)” sold a million copies and was a precursor to the birth of modern Latin jazz in the 1940’s by Bebop Pioneer Dizzy Gillespie, arranger/trumpeter Mario Bauza and percussionist Chano Pozo. Through the years, Louis, entertained millions from heads of state, royalty to the kids on his stoop in Corona, NY. Despite his fame he remained a humble man and lived a simple life in a working-class neighborhood. To this day, everyone loves Louis Armstrong, and just the mention of his name makes people smile.

 

THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc. was founded and funded by Louis and Lucille Armstrong in 1969 to “give back to the world some of the goodness he received.” The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to perpetuating the legacies of Louis and Lucille Armstrong throughout the world. Its mission includes supporting musicians, Jazz education, performances and programming. LAEF is a living legacy to “Satchmo” Louis Armstrong, the most important creative force in the early development and perpetuation of America’s music, Jazz. His influence, as an artist and cultural icon, is universal, unmatched, and very much alive today. www.louisarmstrongfoundation.org.

 

THE LAEF AWARDS

The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation awards represent a tribute to the life and legacy of Louis Armstrong's passion for jazz and excellence, matched only by his joyous love of life and children.  

 

The SATCHMO™ Award recipients are selected for their important and lasting contributions in the world of jazz education. They reflect the spirit of Louis Armstrong and his inspiring belief in the power of the language of Jazz music, essential in making a “wonderful world.” Past Recipients: Herb Alpert, 2010; Barry Harris, 2011; Clark Terry, 2012; Jon 

 

 

The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation (LAEF) celebrated its annual awards honoring jazz education and music advocacy during Jazz Congress, a two-day series of workshops, panels and networking opportunities produced by Jazz at Lincoln Center, on January 8 and 9. The 2025 recipient of the 14^th SATCHMO™ Award is Pianist/Educator JoAnne Brackeen and the third LAEF Lifetime Achievement Award winner is Roger Dickerson, New Orleans Composer/Pianist/Educator/Mentor.

 

“The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation awards reflect Armstrong's Promethean legacy as the Founding Father of Jazz, celebrating his lifelong mission to elevate the human condition through the down-home nobility of his art,” said Jackie Harris, executive director of the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation.

 

This year, we honored two extraordinary individuals – Ms. Joanne Brackeen and Mr. Roger Dickerson – whose contributions continue to make a significant impact within the global jazz community. Their remarkable efforts, both on and off the bandstand, have touched countless lives and exemplify the spirit of Louis Armstrong’s enduring legacy."

 

Multiple award-winning Singer/Pianist/Composer Jon Batiste moderated a discussion with Ms. Brackeen and Mr. Dickerson on Wednesday, January 8, in the Mica and Ahmet Ertegun Atrium for Jazz Congress attendees, including presenters, artists, managers, agents, radio programmers and other jazz professionals.

 

On January 9, in collaboration with Jazz Congress and Jazz at Lincoln Center, the awards were presented at Dizzy’s Club, 10 Columbus Circle in Manhattan, by LAEF Board Members Wynton Marsalis and Dr. David Chevan. The evening featured performances by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation All-Star Sextet: Terence Blanchard, trumpet; Darrell Lavigne, piano; Branford Marsalis, saxophone; Wynton Marsalis, trumpet; Herlin Riley, drums/bandleader; and Chris Severin, bass. Ms. Brackeen also performed two numbers with members of the sextet.

 

THE AWARD RECIPIENTS

Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Roger Dickerson, age 90, stands as a towering figure in the world of music, both as an artist of exceptional depth and as a generous mentor and teacher to generations of students. Born in New Orleans, his artistic journey began with the rhythms of street performers and the discipline of formal piano training. His exposure to the city’s vibrant music culture instilled in him a deep appreciation for both classical traditions and the spontaneity of jazz and spirituals. Dickerson earned degrees from Dillard University and Indiana University, and as a Fulbright Scholar, he studied composition at the Akademie für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Austria.

 

Dickerson’s association with the Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong Summer Jazz Camp and the Thelonious Monk Institute at Loyola University allowed him to work directly with emerging artists, instilling in them the importance of technical precision, historical awareness, and creative individuality. Widely celebrated for his groundbreaking masterpieces, his works include A Musical Service for Louis: A Requiem for Louis Armstrong, the New Orleans Concerto for Piano and Orchestra (which both garnered Pulitzer Prize nominations), Symphonie Congo Square and Preacher Man! Preacher Man!.

 

Whether teaching in classroom, directing choirs, or mentoring young artists, Dickerson exemplified the highest ideals of education and artistry. His impact on the musical world continues through the many students, colleagues and audiences he has touched.

 

Whatever the musical setting, NEA Jazz Master/Pianist and Satchmo™ Award Recipient JoAnne Brackeen's unique style of playing commands attention. In addition to her captivating and complex improvisations, she has written intricate, rhythmically daring compositions in a wide stylistic range. A full-time professor at Boston’s Berklee College of Music and a guest professor at the New School in New York, she has led clinics, master classes, and artistic residencies worldwide.

 

A child prodigy, who at age 11, learned to play the piano in six months, Brackeen was already performing professionally by age 12. Some of her musical constituents were Art Farmer, Dexter Gordon, Charlie Haden, Billy Higgins, Bobby Hutcherson, Scott Lafaro, and Charles Lloyd. Simultaneously, the Los Angeles Conservatory heard of her musicianship and offered her a full scholarship. She attended classes less than one week before deciding the bandstand was more significant.

 

Brackeen moved to New York in 1965 where she worked with George Benson, Paul Chambers, Lee Konitz, Sonny Stitt, and Woody Shaw. She joined Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers in 1969, becoming the first and only female member of the group. Brackeen then performed with Joe Henderson and Stan Getz before emerging as a leader. The pianist has performed with Terence Blanchard, Michael Brecker, Ravi Coltrane, Jack DeJohnette, Eddie Gomez, Billy Hart, Horace "El Negro" Hernandez, Branford Marsalis, Cecil McBee, John Patitucci, Chris Potter, and Greg Osby. She has recorded more than two dozen albums as a leader and has appeared on nearly 100 additional recordings.

 

LOUIS ARMSTRONG

Hailed as one of the most influential and popular musicians in modern music, trumpeter Louis Armstrong (1901-1971) rose out of poverty in New Orleans and became, in the words of music and cultural critic Albert Murray, “the Prometheus of jazz,” as the genre’s first major soloist and vocalist, who invented scat-singing. Growing up in the Crescent City, Armstrong heard music from the Caribbean – especially Cuba – and was greatly influenced by the exceptional Cuban trumpeter Manuel Perez of the Olympia Brass Band. In 1930, Armstrong’s recording of the Cuban standard “El Manisero” (The Peanut Vendor)” sold a million copies and was a precursor to the birth of modern Latin jazz in the 1940’s by Bebop Pioneer Dizzy Gillespie, arranger/trumpeter Mario Bauza and percussionist Chano Pozo. Through the years, Louis, entertained millions from heads of state, royalty to the kids on his stoop in Corona, NY. Despite his fame he remained a humble man and lived a simple life in a working-class neighborhood. To this day, everyone loves Louis Armstrong, and just the mention of his name makes people smile.

 

THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION

The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation Inc. was founded and funded by Louis and Lucille Armstrong in 1969 to “give back to the world some of the goodness he received.” The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to perpetuating the legacies of Louis and Lucille Armstrong throughout the world. Its mission includes supporting musicians, Jazz education, performances and programming. LAEF is a living legacy to “Satchmo” Louis Armstrong, the most important creative force in the early development and perpetuation of America’s music, Jazz. His influence, as an artist and cultural icon, is universal, unmatched, and very much alive today. www.louisarmstrongfoundation.org.

 

 

THE LAEF AWARDS

The Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation awards represent a tribute to the life and legacy of Louis Armstrong's passion for jazz and excellence, matched only by his joyous love of life and children.  

 

The SATCHMO™ Award recipients are selected for their important and lasting contributions in the world of jazz education. They reflect the spirit of Louis Armstrong and his inspiring belief in the power of the language of Jazz music, essential in making a “wonderful world.” Past Recipients: Herb Alpert, 2010; Barry Harris, 2011; Clark Terry, 2012; Jon Hendricks, 2013; David Baker, 2014; Norma Miller, 2015; Jimmy Heath, 2016; Kidd Jordan, 2017; Shelia?Jordan, 2018; Dick Hyman, 2019; Ron Carter, 2020-2021; Ran Blake, 2022; Reggie Workman, 2023.

 

The Lifetime Achievement Award recipients are selected for their contributions in music advocacy and can include writers, artists, journalists, elected officials and music industry professionals. Past Recipients: Stanley Crouch, 2019, and Dan Morgenstern, 2021.

 

For more information, log on to: https://louisarmstrongfoundation.org.

 

 

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