California Jazz Foundation honors Patrice Rushen

Patrice Rushen, chair of USC Thornton’s Popular Music Program, was awarded the prestigious Nica award by the California Jazz Foundation (CJF) earlier this month. The CJF bestows the honor to musicians who exemplify the legacy of Baroness Ponnica de Koenigswarter, a British-born jazz patron and writer who was a leader of bebop music. Robert Cutietta, Dean of USC Thornton, presented Rushen with the award at the CJF 2019 Gala.