New Music USA and Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice Announce 2025 Next Jazz Legacy Cohort The fourth year of the program, led by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, continues to advance jazz inclusivity.By
Tori Donahue
March 25, 2025
The 2025 Next Jazz Legacy cohort
Next Jazz Legacy (NJL) is excited to announce the eight emerging improvisers in jazz that make up its 2025 cohort. The trailblazing program, created by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, aims to tackle gender and racial inequities by offering intergenerational apprenticeship, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to people who have been historically underrepresented in jazz. The program is funded by the Mellon Foundation.
The 2025 Next Jazz Legacy CohortAlexandra Ridout (she/her): Trumpeter, bandleader, composer, educator
Bandleader: Melissa Aldana; Creative Mentor: Marquis Hill
April May Webb (she/her): Vocalist, composer, educator
Bandleader: Danilo P rez; Creative Mentor: Ledisi
Brenda Navarrete Guzman (she/her): Afro-Cuban percussionist, singer, composer
Bandleader: Kassa Overall; Creative Mentor: Terri Lyne Carrington
Carmen Quill (she/her): Upright bass, composer, songwriter
Bandleader: Billy Hart; Creative Mentor: Becca Stevens
Chanelle Ignant (she/her): Guitarist, educator, composer
Bandleader: Meshell Ndegeocello; Creative Mentor: Matthew Stevens
DoYeon Kim (she/her): Gayageum performer
Bandleader: Kris Davis; Creative Mentor: Mark Dresser
Melissa Almaguer (she/her): Tap dance/feet percussion, multidisciplinary artist, educator
Bandleader: David Virelles; Creative Mentor: Susie Ibarra
Nora Stanley (she/her): Saxophonist, composer
Bandleader: Tyshawn Sorey; Creative Mentor: Ellen Arkbro
For full bios on each cohort member, read New Music USAs announcement.
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 Terri Lyne Carrington, NEA Jazz Master and Next Jazz Legacy's artistic director. Once the awardees were selected, Carrington and the Next Jazz Legacy team worked closely with each musician to pair them with a master bandleader for a yearlong performance apprenticeship and a creative mentor, both aligned with the artist's 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.
This new cohort of Next Jazz Legacy artists represents a dynamic fusion of backgrounds, talents, and perspectives, embodying 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. This year's cohort highlights that evolution, featuring artists who push boundaries, from the use of unconventional instruments such as the traditional Korean gayageum to Afro-Cuban percussion influences to a multidisciplinary tap artist. Beyond their musical achievements, these artists have overcome challenges including sexism, socio-economic barriers, and limited access to opportunities, further reinforcing the program's mission to foster equity and inclusion in jazz.
Cofounded by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, Next Jazz Legacy (NJL) has made a remarkable impact by providing invaluable experiences to its two cohorts of awardees and aiding in their artistic development:
100 percent of the NJL awardees state they have grown as an artist both as a side-person and as a performer.
100 percent state they have achieved their goals and have increased confidence.
86 percent are continuing their relationship with their assigned bandleader beyond the NJL program.
71 percent will continue their relationship with their NJL mentor.
100 percent of NJL awardees feel more connected to and have a stronger sense of belonging in the jazz community after participating in the program.
Awardees have performed at some of the most prestigious jazz events across the country, including Winter Jazzfest (New York City), Mary Lou Williams Festival (Washington, DC) and DC Jazz Festival, and Angel City Jazz Festival (Los Angeles). 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 BM '05, 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 Zen n BM '98. Next Jazz Legacy has gained national recognition from top media outlets like the PBS NewsHour, Billboard, Grammy.com, AllArts, and more.
Building on this success, the 2025 Next Jazz Legacy cohort will take the stage for the first time together in NYC on Wednesday, May 14, at the Jazz Gallery, with sets at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
By the end of this fourth year of the program, Next Jazz Legacy's impact will have grown to encompass the direct support of 29 emerging artists; the engagement of 87 bandleaders and mentors; 348 creative and business mentorship sessions; 1,174 apprenticeship sessions; 24 cohort learning sessions; and 14 showcase performances.
I'm very excited about Next Jazz Legacy moving into its fourth year, said Carrington. 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 onstage apprenticeship was
