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.

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

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.

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.

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!

As we inch closer to our rally in NYC on Tuesday, Sept. 29 2PM @ Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South (between Thompson and Sullivan Streets), we strongly encourage you to do 3 things:

1. Convince 10 of your friends (real or Facebook), through direct contact, to go to justiceforjazzartists.organd sign the petition.
2. Get all of your Facebook friends to join our Facebook Cause — our goal is 500 people by Tuesday, September 29.
3. If you are in the greater NY area – Get off your butt on 9/29 (by all means vote in the runoff election) and bring a friend or two to the Justice for Jazz Artists Rally, at Judson Memorial Church, 55 Washington Square South, Greenwich Village, NYC.

Rally Starts at 2PM
March to Jazz Clubs 4PM

Musicians — bring your instruments!

Support your local jazz artists! Let them know they are not alone in their struggle for dignity and respect.

“It is time for those of us who love the music to honor those who make by pushing to get them the benefits they so richly deserve. Jazz fans get behind this drive. Let the club owners know that we support this action. ”

“How very shortsighted of these clubs! Jazz is a major part of the New York heartbeat at night. Most of these clubs will make some effort to claim they ’support’ musicians and jazz, then pull a stunt like this. Perhaps some shame will move them to reconsider their selfishness.”

“Jazz musicians are an endangered species. Please give them an opportunity to live with dignity.”

“It’s 2009… many things within our society needs to reform — especially the live music scene in NYC… this city sets the tone for the world and its about time we start taking better care of the people. Musicians are the gatekeepers to humanity, yet so many of us struggle to make it through the week financially… club reform would help us out immensely. It’s time for change.”

“All workers need benefits and pensions so they can live healthy lives with dignity. The work of people who enrich and add so much pleasure to our lives is just as valuable as all others. Music isn’t a luxury — it’s a necessary component of a full life! Thank you for your talent and commitment.”

“Is it really any surprise that the club owners are keeping the benefits of the tax relief to themselves? They have continuously made profits on the back of musicians, of all stripes, for centuries. What J4JA is doing is getting the word out and raising public awareness, just like the Broadway musicians do when they have their issues with the producers. Keep the faith!”

“I would like to urge all NYC jazz clubs to reap the positive publicity benefits of doing the right thing by the jazz artists that they employ for their livelihood!!!”

“I wish all the jazz musicians the best of luck in receiving the tax relief money for the benefit of all performing jazz artists. And, I agree that the jazz musicians need the security of a pension just like any other working individual residing here in the United States; and as well as those abroad. It is time for a change. Therefore, let us make it happen.”

“I support any constructive effort that will help jazz musicians. I am not one of the ’stars’ or part of the clique, however, I support constructive and improving the employment situation. What we need also is jobs for American musicians.”

“If you love the music, you have to support the musicians!”

“It seems to me that its about time for club owners to help musicians for all the hard work, low pay, suffering, paying for drinks, paying for food, short breaks, long sets, no parking, hard load in, ‘where are all the people’, crap that has been going on for years.”

“I joined the union in 1951. It was then only an organization that you had to join in order to get a job. No real benefits. I’m overjoyed that musicians have come this far — if only to have their voices heard. Now it’s time to go further and get real tangible benefits for a secure older age. Jazz musicians have always been the overlooked lot. Yes indeed, justice for jazz artists!”

“I have studied jazz and let me tell you, it’s a real art form that is impossible to master without total commitment. These players spend a lifetime honing their craft that audiences get to enjoy and it’s a crime to have no benefits at the end of their performing days. I fully support this tax money going to their pensions!”

“I am a NJ club owner (ROBIN’S NEST RHYTHM & BLUES, Linden, NJ) and I stand 100% behind this cause. When are we going to learn that we need to be able to preserve what we deserve!!!!”

“Club owners who make their living featuring jazz should be ashamed. They receive the tax relief we fought to get for them. Now we have to fight to get the benefit we deserve. Some things never change, i.e. GREED!!! Sorry I can’t be there for the rally. My prayers are with you.”

“All working people are entitled to a living wage and decent benefits, including pension! Jazz musicians devote their lives to making our lives more tolerable. They deserve to know that their futures are secure.”

“Musicians in general are so important to our culture (globally), and often so unappreciated. Jazz musicians are even more so, most of the time! They deserve the same opportunities for a livable income and benefits as any other profession in this country!!”

“The club owners and agents and non-profit arts presenters all have health insurance, retirement plans etc., but a lot of the artists that they live on don’t.”

“Thank you for your work on what many would view as a marginal issue. Hopefully it will bring about more awareness and real, positive change for the musicians.”

Please send it to your friends! YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BeVKJJzHrgs