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New Video on YouTube

Monday, October 26th, 2009

J4JA! and AFM Local 802’s Jazz Advisory Committee have struck again! In collaboration with the gifted filmmaker Ron Grunhut, J4JA! has produced another short and powerful video now available for viewing on YouTube. The two minute piece features highlights of the Justice for Jazz Artists! Rally & Parade that took place in Washington Square Park at Judson Memorial Church on September 29th, and includes excerpts of speeches by the talented and unsung jazz pianist Bertha Hope-Booker, and by Local 802’s Recording VP, Bill Dennison.
Interspersed with the J4JA! campaign message, which underscores the critical need for the clubs and the musicians to come together on the benefits issue, there is inspiring footage of J4JA! musicians and their supporters taking to the streets of NYC’s Greenwich Village to give collective musical voice to their true feelings—Justice for Jazz Artists! Now’s the Time! Check it out HERE.

J4JA! and AFM Local 802’s Jazz Advisory Committee have struck again! In collaboration with the gifted filmmaker Ron Grunhut, we’ve produced another short and powerful video.

The two minute piece features highlights of the Justice for Jazz Artists! rally & parade that took place in Washington Square Park at Judson Memorial Church on September 29th, and includes excerpts of speeches by the talented and unsung jazz pianist Bertha Hope-Booker, and by Local 802’s Recording VP, Bill Dennison.

The new video underscores the critical need for the clubs and the musicians to come together on the benefits issue; there is inspiring footage of J4JA! musicians and their supporters taking to the streets of NYC’s Greenwich Village to give collective musical voice to their true feelings — Justice for Jazz Artists! Now’s the time! Check it out.

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WNYC Article

Sunday, October 11th, 2009

WYNC:

Ask trumpeter Joey Morant who he’s worked with, and he’ll reel off a list of jazz legends including Lionel Hampton, George Benson and Dizzy Gillespie. Those musicians were big draws for New York’s jazz clubs at one time, attracting tourists and paying customers in droves, but some of them retired with paltry pensions — or with no pensions at all.

Morant doesn’t want history to repeat itself. He said that as long as clubs in the city continue to draw customers with live music, they should share the wealth, and start contributing to a pension fund for performers.

“They make money off of it, they got to give back,” Morant said plainly. “You take out, give back.”

…

Some performers in the city have had access to pensions and other benefits for a long time. The city issued an exception in the 1960s that allowed Broadway theaters to sell tickets tax-free, with the understanding that owners would direct the savings into pension funds for performers. Two years ago, musicians and club owners successfully lobbied the state to forgive sales tax on tickets for jazz clubs, too. But according to the union, not a single jazz club so far has used the savings to contribute to artist benefits.

RTWT

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J4JA! Myths

Thursday, October 1st, 2009

Since it’s launch, the J4JA! campaign has had an enormous outpouring of support — over 2,500 signatures on our petition. And check out our list of endorsers! Unsurprisingly, we’ve had some criticism as well. Some of the comments are well-intentioned; some are blatantly dishonest. We’ll take a moment to address a few here.

Myth #1: J4JA! is giving the clubs a bad name.
We recognize that NYC’s jazz clubs play an important role in our city’s cultural and economic life. These clubs are among the few places presenting the music that is one of our nation’s greatest treasures.

That’s why Local 802 took pains to make sure that our initiative won’t cost the clubs a dime. We lobbied in 2007 for the NY State Legislature to repeal the sales tax on admissions, on that basis, and we succeeded. That means that the repealed sales tax of 8.375% can be redirected into pension payments at no cost to the clubs.

The music needs to be treasured, but we also need to treasure the musicians. When we are able redirect these former tax revenues to musicians benefits, we will be the first to applaud and congratulate the clubs.

Myth #2: The union never contacted the jazz clubs about this issue.
First of all, many of the jazz clubs actively supported our plan when we lobbied the NY State Legislature for the tax credit. After it passed, we were unable to engage them in a discussion about how best to move the tax relief to musicians’ benefit funds. Over the last year, we’ve made a series of phone calls to every club and sent letters, most recently a certified letter sent on September 1. Until two weeks ago, not a single club responded to our efforts to communicate. We believe that a reasoned discussion with club representatives can find a solution that works for the clubs, the musicians and the music.

Myth #3: Most jazz musicians don’t qualify for the pension plan.
Many jazz musicians can’t qualify because their employers don’t make contributions on their behalf. Because jazz and other freelance musicians make a living from many different sources, it is important that every employer make their fair contribution, including the clubs. That’s what we’re fighting for.

The jazz clubs are only one part of the equation. We applaud Jazz at Lincoln Center, the New School Jazz and Contemporary Music program, and a number of small ensembles and bandleaders for making pension contributions on behalf of their musicians. These musicians are now eligible for a pension. The clubs, festivals and other employers need to do likewise. The bottom line: pension payments from the jazz clubs are only one piece, but an important piece in a multi-source pension plan.

Myth #4: Most jazz musicians aren’t in the union.
 This assertion misses the point — the Justice for Jazz Artists! campaign is not restricted to union members. If you’re a jazz musician and you have something to say, get in touch! We welcome all participation and feedback. Also, any pension contributions are credited to the musician whether they are a member of the union or not.

Do you have questions or feedback, positive or negative about the campaign? Post it in the comments, or send us a message.

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Publicity on Yesterday’s Rally

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Yesterday’s rally was a huge success. We’ll post a more thorough recap, but for now, everybody — thanks!

NPR’s A Blog Supreme posted a well-considered article yesterday about the rally and J4JA! campaign. Some of the questions raised in the article are addressed by a comment on the post by Bill Dennison (NOT the anti-J4JA comment falsely attributed to him).

We also garnered an article in the NY Times, with fantastic photos from the rally and jazz parade to the Blue Note. UPDATE: Mentioned in the excellent NY Performing Arts blog.

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Rally Today (Tuesday Sept. 29) at Judson Memorial Church, NYC

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

We’re having a rally today, Tuesday, at 2pm at Judson Memorial Church in NYC. If you live in the New York area, it’s very important that you be there to support Justice for the Jazz Artists! campaign. If you can’t be there, spread the word to those that can.

We have over 2,500 signatures on our petition — now we’re translating that support into action. Be there and bring a couple friends.

Judson Memorial Church
55 Washington Square South (West 4th Street)
Greenwich Village, New York City
2PM today (Tuesday)

We’ll hear performances by Jimmy Owens, Benny Powell, Keisha St. Joan, Bob Cranshaw, Sean Lyons, Bernard Purdie, Rudy Lawless and others. Amiri Baraka will speak. MUSICIANS: Bring your instruments! After the rally we will march on the clubs.

Endorsers

Our 2500+ signers include Mayor Dinkins, William Thompson, Christine Quinn, Amiri Baraka, Judi Silvano, Chris Lightcap, Maria Schneider, Dr. Billy Taylor, Marc Ribot, Regina Carter, Jame Carter, Jason Moran, Wycliffe Gordon, George Cables, Andrew Cyrille, Stanton Davis, Andrew Farber, Paul Motian, Arturo O’Farrill, Reggie Workman.

Summary

Two years ago in New York, Justice for Jazz Artists! (a project of AFM Local 802) succeeded in getting a tax break passed, benefiting NYC jazz clubs like Birdland, the Blue Note, the Village Vanguard and the Jazz Standard. The savings were supposed be directed into pension payments for the musicians that perform at these clubs.

In other words, at NO COST to the clubs, musicians can receive pension contributions for retirement.

Unfortunately, despite early support for the tax break, most clubs have since refused to even discuss the issue with the J4JA! campaign. That’s why we are holding the rally today. We need you to be there and make it real.

Now’s the time!

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