Longtime jazz impresario and philanthropist George Wein has had quite a busy autumn giving awards and receiving them, continuing his lifelong dedication to the music he helped disseminate for years. The 81-year-old has already appeared at the Studio Museum in Harlem and the Romare Bearden Foundation in downtown Manhattan, and will soon grace the Alliance of New York State Arts Organization and WGBO-FM in New Jersey with his presence.
On Oct. 30, Wein presented-in memory of his deceased wife-the Joyce Alexander Wein Artist Prize to Lorna Simpson at the Studio Museum. The Prize recognizes the artistic achievements of African-American artists who demonstrate innovation, promise and creativity. Wein will then, on Nov. 15, participate in the Celebration of the Arts in New York State Awards Gala as honorary chair, awarding Rush Philanthropic Arts Foundation, Jon Faddis, and Jeffrey Hoone and Lightwork.
Wein-along with jazz chanteuse Abbey Lincoln-will be honored at WGBO’s third annual Champions of Jazz Gala on Nov. 2; he had already been merited by the Romare Bearden Foundation on Sept. 18 for his outstanding philanthropy and “embodying through his life’s work the qualities that inspired Bearden as an artist, arts patron, humanist and institution builder.”
Best known for creating and organizing the Newport Jazz Festival in 1954 and the Newport Folk Festival in 1963, Wein has been tirelessly involved in the arts for his whole life and continues to perform as pianist with his group, the Newport All-Stars.