COALITION FORMED TO FUND JAZZ MUSICIANS

A new coalition of jazz industry professionals, artists and supporters has been formed to raise money and commission artists to create new work in response to the challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Led by NYC Winter Jazzfest founder/concert promoter Brice Rosenbloom, entertainment lawyer/artist manager Gail Boyd , and concert/festival promoter Danny Melnick of Absolutely Live Entertainment, the Jazz Coalition has been launched to keep artists in the global jazz community actively creating and compensated for their work.

With an initial funding goal of $50,000, the coalition will give out $1,000 micro-grants through a nomination and jury selection process among coalition members.

The funding pool will have a secondary stage with a public fundraising campaign and additional outreach to grow the fund and increase the number of grantees. Recipients will share their works-in-progress via livestream events. Artists will eventually premiere their commissioned works at partner venues when public assembly is safe again.

"With daunting uncertainty now within the live music industry and specifically in jazz," says Rosenbloom. "We realize the need to selflessly pivot and unite the jazz community in an immediate effort to commission musicians and nurture their creativity. These commissions will create a new canon of work reflecting our collective resilience.”

Many jazz musicians are also joining Jazz Coalition to support colleagues in need, among them Branford Marsalis, Esperanza Spalding, Joe Lovano and Terri Lyne Carrington. Industry members include Tom Windish, Verve/Impulse’s James Krents, ECM’s Sarah Humphries, City Winery’s Michael Dorf and Nonesuch’s David Bither.

To become a member, click here.