On February 18, two of the city’s most revered percussionists, Shannon Powell and Herlin Riley, received national recognition as inaugural fellows of the Mellon Foundation’s newly launched Jazz Legacies Fellowship. Their selection not only honors their decades of contributions to the genre but underscores New Orleans’ enduring role as a cornerstone of jazz innovation and preservation.
According to a statement issued by the foundation, Powell and Riley, both celebrated as standard-bearers of the city’s distinctive rhythmic traditions, are among the 20 musicians named to the first cohort of the $15 million fellowship, created in partnership with the Jazz Foundation of America. The program aims to uplift veteran jazz artists aged 62 and older, providing each with a $100,000 unrestricted grant, professional resources, and the recognition of a lifetime achievement award.
The Mellon Foundation today announced a multifaceted $35 million initiative aimed at supporting the cultural preservation of jazz, championing the legacy of the artists who have played a pivotal role in its formation, and strengthening the broader jazz ecosystem.
The initiative, which will provide support for scholarly and storytelling initiatives, and partnerships with the archives, clubs, and other institutions critical to preserving and amplifying jazz’s impact on future generations, is anchored by the ‘Jazz Legacies Fellowship’—a newly created $15 million fellowship founded in partnership with the Jazz Foundation of America (JFA). The inaugural class of 20 Jazz Legacies Fellows, also announced today, represent the pinnacle of creative achievement, technical mastery and boundary-pushing expression, and are the first of 50 artists to be named fellows over the next four years.
While the Mellon initiative has national scope, its resonance is particularly potent in New Orleans, where jazz remains not merely a historical artifact but a living, breathing cultural force. Powell, known as the “King of Tremé,” and Riley, whose commanding presence has brought New Orleans rhythms to international stages, represent the continuity of a lineage that stretches back to the early days of the music. Their careers embody the blending of tradition and innovation that has defined New Orleans jazz across generations.
The fellowship arrives at a time when the city’s musicians, often revered but not always financially secure, navigate the complexities of sustaining their artistry in an evolving landscape. Powell and Riley’s recognition signifies more than personal accolades—it reaffirms the city’s musicians as stewards of an art form that continues to shape global music culture.
New Orleans also figures prominently in the broader scope of the Mellon jazz initiative. The Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, a key local institution, is one of eight recipients of a $4 million grant aimed at bolstering jazz education and community programming. These investments collectively strengthen the ecosystem that supports the next generation of artists while honoring those who paved the way.
For Powell and Riley, the fellowship serves as both a testament to their mastery and an invitation to extend their influence. Their rhythms have long been the pulse of second lines and the backbone of celebrated ensembles. Now, with Mellon’s support, their legacies are further secured, ensuring that their contributions—and the unique sound of New Orleans—resonate well into the future.
To learn more about Mellon’s jazz initiative, click here.
