Gary Giddins

In a fraught moment for two institutions behind the awards, this year's NEA Jazz Masters ceremony celebrated musicians who have upheld the genre's legacy while looking anxiously toward an uncertain future.

A celebration to honor this year's NEA Jazz Masters award recipients, including Marshall Allen, Chucho Valdés, Marilyn Crispell and Gary Giddins. Watch live on Sat., April 26 at 8:00 p.m. ET.

A saxophonist of otherworldly gusto, two pianists of impulsive eloquence and a critic with a pen nearly as sharp as his ears are the latest selections for the the nation's highest honor for jazz.