Category Archives: Musician Issues

POST-SANDY MARCH TO THE VILLAGE VANGUARD AND BLUE NOTE!

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Last  Wednesday, November 14th, 8:30pm, I attended the Justice For Jazz Artists rally for the second time. A chilly night. I and my union brothers met at Two Boots Pizza at the corner of 11th street and 7th Avenue in New York for a march to the Village Vanguard and the Blue Note. When I arrived the band was already getting ready to march. Again the goal of this rally was to keep the pressure high on club owners and let these clubs and their owners know that they need to do the right thing and provide pension contributions, fair pay scales and protections of recording rights for musicians who play in their clubs!

Continue reading →

Rally Report: Jazz Musicians’ Rights – Occupy Justice For Jazz Artist (JFJA)…now or never!!!

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi
Yesterday I joined the Justice For Jazz Artist (JFJA)/LOCAL 802 rally as a union member and as a music activist for the first time. Our goal was to stand up for free speech and send a message to the Blue Note club owners  to sign on to the demands of our campaign: pension, pay scales, and protections on recordings for all musicians who play the club. The rally started at the Washington Square Park at 9pm and moved from there towards the Blue Note. The message was taken out with a live band, who were all union members, consisting of union members to spread the word out to jazz fans, musicians, and most importantly, the club owners. About 100 people joined the rally. 

Continue reading →

DooBeeDoo supports Justice for Jazz Artists!

Text by Justice for Jazz Artists (Local 802)
Dear J4JA Supporter, 

Join us Thursday night, as we are stand up for free speech and send a message to the Blue Note: the club owners need to do the right thing and sign on to the demands of our campaign: Pension, Pay scales, and Protections on recordings for all musicians who play the club.

We will take our message to the streets with a live band to spread the word to jazz fans, musicians, and most importantly, the club owners. Continue reading →

Musicians to Protest Lincoln Center Allowing Canned Music at Koch Theater Dance Performances

Visiting Ballets Perform to Recordings Instead of Live Music, Contrary to the Mission of the Venerated Live Performance Arts Complex

NEW YORK, NY — In blatant disregard of its most sacred mission, the leadership of Lincoln Center is turning its back on live performance by allowing dance groups to perform to prerecorded music in the complex’s Dave H. Koch theater.

On Thursday, October 18, from 6:30-8pm, Members of the New York City Ballet Orchestra and Local 802 will pass out leaflets outside Lincoln Center’s Koch Theater to  inform the audience attending the traveling ballet revue “Stars of the 21st Century” that they are paying top dollar to see these international performers dance to a recording, not a live orchestra. Although the world-class New York City Ballet Orchestra could have  accompanied the dancers, ticket-buyers, who have paid up to $125 per ticket, will instead be  deprived of the joy of listening to live music.

Continue reading →

To all musicians: your instruments are allowed as airplane carry-ons!!!

Text by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

Yesterday I went to the New York city musicians’ union (AFM Local 802) to find out, whether I’m legally allowed to take my horn as a carry-on on the plane. They told me yes! In  Feb 14, 2012 President Obama signed the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (H.R. 658). They even gave me a paper which I can show the airline officials in case they make problems.
It took Congress (House and Senate) 5 years and 23 short-term extensions to pass the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (H.R. 658)! The airline or the airport security can’t stop me from taking my horn into the cabin anymore. It’s now law that any instrument that can be safely stored in the overhead compartment or underneath the seat may be brought on board as carry-on luggage. So no reason to be afraid of any kind of hassle at the check-in or when going through security.

Continue reading →