Conversely, these living jazz masters are all European, from Belgium, Switzerland and Germany, respectively.

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And this year, Horn was recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts with the Jazz Masters Award.

NPR: Savoring Shirley Horn's Timeless Sound

This is what the next generation of jazz masters sounds like today.

NPR: Stefon Harris Blackout: E Pluribus Urban

And then like in a band called the Jazz Masters, it was conducted by Slide Hampton, I met Jimmy and he told me I'm working the program, jazz program at Queens College, so if you want to finish your Master's, maybe we can work out something.

NPR: 'Viva': Diego Urcola and His Dream Band

The Philadelphia-born saxophonist has earned the requisite credentials for success: early local training, a scholarship to attend the Berklee College of Music, dual degrees in music education and performance, a specialized Masters in Jazz Performance.

NPR: Jaleel Shaw: A Cause For 'Optimism' In Jazz

Gene Rizzo's book "The Fifty Greatest Jazz Piano Players of All Time" ranks the masters and looks closely at each artist's indelible mark on the world of music.

NPR: Gene Rizzo's 'Greatest Jazz Piano Players'

He took up formal drum instruction at age 10 and began studying jazz two years later, citing the work of masters like Art Blakey, Philly Joe Jones, Max Roach, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones and Roy Haynes as early influences.

WSJ: Those Infectious Punjabi Dance Rhythms | Sunny Jain | Red Baraat | By Martin Johnson