From all of us at Justice for Jazz Artists, our hearts go out to those struggling recover from hurricane Sandy. Our campaign is on hiatus as we all work to get our city moving again, get help to those who need it, and get lives back to normal. Those who know older, vulnerable musicians, please check in on them during this challenging time.
Jazz musicians playing in major
New York City clubs are not guaranteed fair pay, do not receive healthcare benefits and
often retire in poverty.
J4JA Endorsers:
News & Events
J4JA Campaign Actions on Hiatus for Hurricane Sandy Recovery
Week of Action: Write the Blue Note Now!
The march was tremendous! A perfect kickoff to our “Week of Action.” Now we ask you and —our nearly 50,000 FB fans—to post the “Pay, Pension, Protections” message on the Blue Note’s Facebook page (Blue Note Jazz Club, NY), and to write a direct email to owners Danny and Steve Bensusan, telling them that musicians deserve fair treatment! Here’s how:
1. Send an email to the Bensusans directly from this link: Letter to Blue Note
2. Send a personal email to club@bluenote.net
3. Write a letter to: Danny and Steve Bensusan, The Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd Street, New York, NY 10012
Suggested email/letter:
Dear Danny and Steve Bensusan, I urge you to respect the artistry of the jazz musicians who play at your club and meet with them and their union to discuss implementing a fair pay scale, making good on promised pension contributions and protecting recording rights. In these ways, the Blue Note can show its esteem for the men and women whose talent and dedication sustains your clubs as well as this great American art form.
Yours truly,
[Your Signature]
March to the Blue Note in Photos!
Join our Week Of Action! Click here to send a letter to the Blue Note demanding fairness and dignity for jazz musicians!
March a Success! “Week of Action” Begins!
The march was tremendous! A perfect kickoff to our “Week of Action.” Now we ask you and —our nearly 50,000 FB fans—to post the “Pay, Pension, Protections” message on the Blue Note’s Facebook page (Blue Note Jazz Club, NY), and to write a direct email to owners Danny and Steve Bensusan, telling them that musicians deserve fair treatment! Here’s how:
1. Send an email to the Bensusans directly from this link: Letter to Blue Note
2. Send a personal email to club@bluenote.net
3. Write a letter to: Danny and Steve Bensusan, The Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd Street, New York, NY 10012
Suggested email/letter:
Dear Danny and Steve Bensusan, I urge you to respect the artistry of the jazz musicians who play at your club and meet with them and their union to discuss implementing a fair pay scale, making good on promised pension contributions and protecting recording rights. In these ways, the Blue Note can show its esteem for the men and women whose talent and dedication sustains your clubs as well as this great American art form.
Yours truly,
[Your Signature]
TONIGHT! MARCH ON THE BLUE NOTE!
Join us at 9pm TONIGHT (10/18), as we are stand up for free speech and let the Blue Note Jazz Club owners know they need to do right by the skilled musicians who fill their venues. That means fair pay scales, promised pension contributions, and protections on recordings!
Meet at Washington Square Park (near the fountain, center of park) at 9:00 PM, and march with us to the Blue Note! (131 West. 3rd Street).
The march tonight kicks off our “Week of Action” letter writing campaign. We ask you—along with our nearly 50,000 Facebook fans—to post the campaign’s demands on the Blue Note’s Facebook page (Blue Note Jazz Club, NY), and send an email or write a letter to Danny and Steve Bensusan, owners of the Blue Note Jazz Club, telling them that artists playing their clubs deserve fair treatment.
Here’s how:
1. Send an email to the Bensusans directly from this link: Letter to Blue Note
2. Send a personal email to club@bluenote.net
3. Write a letter to: Danny and Steve Bensusan, The Blue Note, 131 W. 3rd Street, New York, NY 10012
Suggested email/letter:
Dear Danny and Steve Bensusan,
I urge you to respect the artistry of the jazz musicians who play at your club and meet with them and their union to discuss implementing a fair pay scale, making good on promised pension contributions and protecting recording rights. In these ways, the Blue Note can show its esteem for the men and women whose talent and dedication sustains your clubs as well as this great American art form.
Yours truly,
[Your Signature]
ANOTHER MARCH TO THE BLUE NOTE!
Join us Thursday night 10/18 at 9pm, as we are stand up for free speech and send a message to the Blue Note.
Club owners need to do right by the skilled musicians who fill their venues: Pension, fair Pay scales, and Protections on recordings for all musicians who play the club.
Let’s take our message to the streets with a live band to spread the word to jazz fans, musicians and, most importantly, the club owners.
Thursday, October 18th
Meet at Washington Square Park
(near the fountain, center of park)
9:00 PM
Musicians play outside Blue Note jazz club during previous protest
Director of Organizing and Field Services for Local 802 arrested
The Director of Organizing and Field Services for Local 802 was arrested Thursday evening, September 27, during a Justice For Jazz Artists demonstration in Manhattan. He was with about 50 people in front of the Blue Note, one of six jazz clubs with which the union is trying to negotiate, when he was arrested for disorderly conduct. He was held briefly and released with a desk ticket for a court appearance.
Local 802 AFM organizer on WBAI evening news with the story of Thursday’s arrest. Listen online http://www.wbai.org/server-archive.html
If you support the right to peaceful, legal protest in NYC, please Like and Share this message on Facebook and Twitter #justiceforjazzartists.
J4JA MARCH TO THE BLUE NOTE!
Attention jazz lovers! We will be returning to the Blue Note this THURSDAY night with a live New Orleans style jazz band to send a message to club owners about the importance of fair pay and pensions for the musicians who play their clubs! Bring a friend and an instrument and help us march for justice!
WHEN: Thursday, September 27th at 9:00 PM
WHERE: Meet under the arch at Washington Square Park
JOIN US, MARCH TO DIZZY’S AND THE IRIDIUM FOR JUSTICE!
Jazz lovers!
Join us TOMORROW NIGHT as we march with a LIVE BAND to Dizzy’s Club Coca-Cola and the Iridium to let clubs know that Justice for Jazz Artists is still going strong!
Help us send a message to club owners that musicians and fans alike want them to come to the table and agree to basic protections for the musicians who bring music-lovers into their clubs!
WHEN: 9:00 PM Wednesday, August 8th
WHERE: NW Corner of W. 60th St. and Broadway
Bring a friend and an instrument, and join us to march for justice!
Click here to view our march from May Day 2012 to the Village Vanguard and the Blue Note.
JOIN US, MARCH TO THE BLUE NOTE FOR JUSTICE!
Justice For Jazz Artists will be marching, with a live band, from Washington Square Park to the Blue Note this Thursday night, July 12, to underscore the need for minimum pay scale and pension contributions from major New York clubs, to fight for recording protections, and to demand a grievance process for disputes with club owners.
All are welcome to join in the march, and to bring instruments. Please meet under the arch in Washington Square at 9 PM sharp.
Click here to view our march from May Day 2012 to the Village Vanguard and the Blue Note.
For a $20 donation, get a J4JA t-shirt!
