Want Clubs To Ensure Pay
Last Wednesday City Council Majority Leader Jimmy Van Bramer and Council Member I. Daneek Miller, held a joint hearing on Resolution 207A, which seeks to support an effort to right an inequality that currently exists for jazz musicians who play in New York’s major jazz clubs.
“The Justice for Jazz Campaign is about equity and addressing the inequalities that exist here in New York,” said Van Bramer, chair of the Cultural Affairs Committee. “Currently, there are hundreds of jazz artists struggling to make a living while performing one of our nation’s greatest art forms. By passing this resolution we aim to work with New York’s jazz venues to give the Justice for Jazz Campaign the momentum it needs to improve the lives of countless musicians. Together we can give the country’s jazz artists the opportunity to earn pensions and the fair pay they rightfully deserve.”
“Today’s joint hearing regarding the state of the jazz industry and its workforce represents the interests of this Council and this City,” said Miller, chair of the Committee on Civil Service and Labor. “I represent a community that holds a deep history and respect for jazz music–and I thank these musicians for their wonderful contributions to our community, city and country. It is important that we ensure these artists are able to maintain their quality of life as they age. We owe them that much, at very least in thanks for their outstanding contributions to the richness of our shared culture.”
For many years, the top jazz artists in the world have lived and worked regularly in New York City-yet many older jazz musicians are forced to retire in poverty. Even those musicians who play frequently in the most prestigious and profitable jazz clubs are denied basic benefits and pensions. While musicians who play on Broadway and in symphony orchestras are protected by union contracts, jazz musicians are not. Though the top jazz clubs in New York City profit greatly from the musicians that bring in their customers, they have refused to work with musicians to address pensions or any other work-related issues. Though the top jazz clubs in New York City profit from the musicians that bring in their customers, many have refused to work with musicians to address pensions or any other workrelated issues.
Testimony at the hearing was delivered by John O’Connor, Associated Musicians of Greater New York, Local 802 AFM Recording Vice President, and American Jazz musicians Jimmy Owens, Jimmy Cobb, Bob Cranshaw, Keisha St. Joan, Bertha Hope, Gene Perla, John Mosca. Additional testimony was provided by Alex Gleason, representative of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO.
“If the clubs had implemented this plan five years ago, there would already have been up to $3 million dollars redirected into a fund for musicians,” said trumpet player and educator Jimmy Owens. “That money would have gone a long way to helping people who have no savings to begin a retirement plan for themselves and their families. This money not only helps musicians, it helps to keep the music alive.”
“I have for years been advocating with the Musicians’ Union, particularly on the subject of pensions,” said Bob Cranshaw, bassist for Sonny Rollins. “I have seen countless musicians in crisis, people who were highly respected, incredibly talented people but who failed to prepare for their retirement due to a lack of benefits available to them. And that is still the case today.” “This plan would help a lot of people who work at the Vanguard and other jazz clubs, and that the jazz musicians sorely need it,” said Vanguard Jazz Orchestra leader John Mosca. “The clubs are our workspaces, and we should get benefits that other workers get on the job. I strongly urge you to support Resolution 207-A.”
The Justice for Jazz Artists campaign seeks to work with clubs to ensure that jazz musicians receive fair pay, modest pension contributions, protection of their recording rights and a reasonable process for addressing grievances. If passed, the resolution would add momentum to the Justice for Jazz Campaign’s efforts to improve the lives of musicians working in New York City’s jazz clubs by providing retirement security.
As the Justice for Jazz Artists campaign continues, support is continuing to grow. The Facebook page has more than 65,000 fans and more than 700 people have signed onto a petition to tell the major jazz clubs to stop the exploitation of jazz artists, and offer them a fair pay scale, pension contributions.
