The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), every year honors up to seven jazz musicians with Jazz Master Awards. The National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Fellowships are the highest honors that the United States bestows upon jazz musicians. The award is usually given late in a performer's career after they have long established themselves.
NEA Jazz Masters
List adapted from the National Endowment for the Arts website.
References
NEA Jazz Masters Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA