Justice for Jazz Artists! (J4JA!)

Sign the Petition: http://www.justiceforjazzartists.org/...
Justice for Jazz Artists! (J4JA!) is a campaign started by jazz musicians at AFM, Local 802 to bring benefits to musicians who work in jazz clubs in NY State. In 2006, the NY State Legislature repealed the sales tax on admission to small venues. At the time of the laws passing, many of the major NYC jazz clubs supported it. But when those same club owners were asked to divert forgiven tax dollars towards musicians benefits programs, they balked. Join the effort to convince NY State club owners to do the right thing.

This video documents a live concert of J4JA! Artists at AFM, Local 802 in NYC on August 17, 2009 and interviews with some of the musicians. Musicians who performed in support of J4JA! included-Jimmy Owens, Bob Cranshaw, Bernard Purdie, Reggie Workman, Randy Weston, Benny Powell, Junior Mance, Bertha Hope, Keisha St. Joan, Rudy Lawless, Marion Cowings, Vinnie Knight, Andy Schwartz, and Pedro G. Libert.

Please help us make "Justice for Jazz Artists!" a reality by going to www.justiceforjazzartists.org and signing the online petition.

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[Instrumentals4Sale]

Wow I had my comment removed because I didnt believe these players would get the justice theyre looking for...

What is that all about?

You delete comments that dont agree with you? Or dont believe you will be successful?

Wow, I supposes there is no point even writting this as ths will no doubt be deleted too.

...Respect to the artists.

[Ron Grunhut]

YouTube automatically ranks text-comments based on the average number of thumbs-up vs. thumbs-down they receive and shows or hides the comment based on this number.

YouTube's default setting allows each comment to receive an average of 5 thumb-down responses before it is automatically hidden by the site. Responses to your comment exceeded the thumbs-down threshold.

[williethelion6]

Estabishment? What are you talking about? No, I'm a professional jazz musician worried about the fact that jazz clubs are rapidly closing. This is not the time for the 802, which has been traditionally racist and anti-jazz, to mount an attack on jazz clubs. It's only going to embarass the union with its greedy and misguided effort. You want to help jazz? Let's get subsidies for concerts and education. The Jazz Foundation is an example of an excellent way to support jazz artists.

[Francis C]

I don't think it gets any truer or plainer than what the man said: "Musicians should not have to take an oath of poverty in order to make jazz." Jazz is America's musical heritage and is a cultural treasure. Support pensions and health care for the men and women who play it and create it. If jazz were to disappear tomorrow, rock, soul, funk, rap and hip hop would vanish right behind it. A world without jazz is not one I want to live in.

[Jonathan Exley]

That's the music industry for you, I'm a DJ/Producer in the uk, get a fucking agent like any good musician should, sort a contract out with a percentage and there you go, that's why I get a minimum of £500 per hour, it's not down to clubs or anyone but the musicians. DO IT RIGHT!!

[ConcernedMusicians]

The union isn't robbing anyone. The club owners are robbing the musicians.

[Instrumentals4Sale]

ah'

well In that case I guess what I said didnt go down to well with the viewers.

Its kinda sad to see how undervalued the artist is in America. Who knows maybe youll kick up enugh noise that someone will take notice.

sorry about my fisrt reaction RonGrunhut, I just wasnt to happy at the idea of being censored... But now Im more aware of how it works, thanks.

Peace.

[MegaSheilaE]

How many jazz musicians, even FAMOUS jazz musicians, have died penniless? Something's gotta change, and this sounds like a reasonable first step.

[TheHungryjeff]

I think this is a great cause -- it's high time that jazz musicians are respected as the masters that they are -- and guess what -- respect means more than just a word to throw around.

[williethelion6]

Village Gate : RIP

Bradleys: RIP

Visiones: RIP

Angry Squire: RIP

Jays: RIP

Village Corner: RIP

Fat Tuesdays: RIP

Sweet Basil/Rhythm: RIP

Jazz scene in New York City? Barely holding on. The union is dishonest and robbing the poorest sector of the musical community - the jazz clubs. This pension is for pension members, not all musicians. Think, folks! No environment, no music. Instead of protesting, go to a show or a jam session. Why don't you folks actually go out and pay a cover charge?