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NEA Jazz Master, a prestigious honor bestowed upon Toots Thielemans in 2009, recognizes his exceptional contributions to jazz music. This award is presented by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to individuals who have made significant and enduring impacts on the art form. Thielemans, known for his virtuosic harmonica playing and whistling, is widely regarded as one of the most influential jazz musicians of his time.