Underscoring the vibrant talent within the University of New Orleans' music program, bassist and composer Ted Long has been named the recipient of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) Foundation Louis Armstrong Scholarship.
The annual award, which carries a $3,000 scholarship, is awarded to a UNO graduate student in jazz studies who demonstrates excellence in composition and is supported by the Louis Armstrong Educational Foundation.
The foundation, founded and funded by jazz musician Louis Armstrong in 1969, was reportedly his way of giving back to the world some of the goodness he received throughout his lifetime. The ASCAP Foundation Louis Armstrong Fund provides scholarships to jazz composers studying in New York, New Orleans and Los Angeles.
Long, who earned his undergraduate degree at Loyola University, dedicated nearly two decades to the New Orleans music scene as a professional bassist prior to enrolling in graduate school at UNO.
The scholarship represents not just financial support but an affirmation of his potential as a composer, Long said. The recognition has encouraged him to “consider composition as a viable endeavor,” despite previously doubting there was an audience for his work, Long said.
Long said he is grateful for the support from the ASCAP Foundation, the Louis Armstrong Education Foundation, and the University of New Orleans music faculty, particularly Coca-Cola Endowed Chair Brian Seeger, whom he credits with helping him navigate the challenges of his compositional journey.
Long's musical journey began with influences from bass greats such as Ray Brown, Meshell Ndegocello, and Jaco Pastorius, and has since become deeply rooted in New Orleans' rich aural tradition of jazz, funk and R&B.
While performing alongside local luminaries like Irma Thomas and Gerald French, his musical interests extend beyond the region's signature sound, Long said. With the scholarship, Long has plans to “begin building the capital to support a working project”— one that highlights his own compositions and arrangements, he said.
Confronted with the financial challenges that many musicians face, Long acknowledges the importance of the scholarship in providing some relief. He has felt the impact of economic uncertainty, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, but said he remains committed to his long-term goal.
“For my friends and I to play the music we want to hear in the world,” Long said.
Long also hopes to give back to the jazz community by documenting the stories of legendary New Orleans artists and contributing to the understanding of the bass's role in the city's music.
