Each year, as part of its mission, the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival (DEJF) honors jazz greats for their lifetime contributions to jazz and humanity. The DEJF Lifetime Achievement Award is bestowed, at a concert during the annual festival, to an individual who serves as a model representative for jazz and has dedicated his/her life to jazz as an art form, an education tool, and a unifying force. This year’s award recipient will honor pianist, composer and educator Ellis Marsalis. The concert will feature Branford, Wynton, Delfeayo, and Jason Marsalis, Harry Connick, Jr. and Dr. Billy Taylor. The concert will be held on Monday, June 15 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Please check back soon for ticket information.