Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

“MFM Speaks Out” EP 23: Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi on the Founding of Musicians For Musicians (MFM)

Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi

(Photo by Dawoud Kringle)

“Musicians With Attitude…in order to be active collectively you have to change as a person. So in order to become not only a better musician but also a better human being, you must change yourself.”

In this episode of MFM Speaks Out, Dawoud Kringle interviews Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi (a.k.a. SoSaLa). Ladjevardi is a saxophonist, composer, improviser, producer, entrepreneur, activist, and the founder and president of Musicians For Musicians (MFM). He has lived in and performed in Germany, Switzerland, Japan, and the United States as well as releasing several independently produced albums. The topics discussed focused on MFM, the ideas and philosophies behind it, its founding and history, Ladjevardi’s music and how it interrelates to the message of MFM, and the future of MFM and its place in the music community.

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Jazz Ladies – Part 1: Emily Remler

 “In her brief ten year span as a recording artist (ending with her death at the age of 32 in 1990), Emily Remler not only proved that a female jazz guitarist could be the technical equal of any male counterpart, but also that she possessed the intensity and conviction of a true leading musical voice. Her early departure from the scene is tragic, and her legacy as both an artist and a person should be forever maintained in our collective memory.” –  Roger Blanc (MFM Board member, guitarist and composer)

Text by Dawoud Kringle

Most of you who read this are musicians. You can probably name a good number of female musicians. Maybe you are a female musician.

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A Commentary: A Zeitgeist of Insignificance – The Problem with Our Musical Values

We are the ones who hold the means to reverse this destructive and dehumanizing trend – and all humanity will suffer if we fail.

By Dawoud Kringle

The economics of the digital age have had an unfortunate effect upon the music business. Digital piracy and the futility of competing with free downloads, and the payments offered by streaming services such as Spotify or Apple Music have contributed to a constant economic devaluation of music. Progress is being made toward new models for rights and royalties in the new music economy that favor the professional musician as equally as the non-musician in the music business.

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“MFM Speaks Out” EP 22: Chris Reza on Activism in the Broadway Music Scene

“Employers benefit from the disorganization of freelance musicians.  But when we come together and have conversations about our working conditions, there is a power that arises which brings about change.” – Chris Reza

In this episode of MFM Speaks Out, Adam Reifsteck interviews multi-instrumentalist Chris Reza about his work in the Broadway music scene and activism while serving as vice-chair of the Broadway Theatre Committee, the liaison between the Broadway Musicians Community and the American Federation of Musicians Local 802.

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