MFM Public Musicians Forum #5: Addressing Tough Questions
Review by Dawoud Kringle On Thursday, April 19th, MFM presented its fifth Musicians Forum. The meeting was a little late in starting. As we waited, the subject of strategies for the MFM agenda, the politics of the music business, and various pension plans were casually discussed. There was also discussion about union vs. nonunion contracts.…
Read MoreAttention: MFM’s President Official Statement Reg. the Music Modernization Act (MMA)
Since February – as the President of MFM and a 24/7 professional musician – I’ve been doing my “homework” reg. the Music Modernization Act (MMA). I’ve been talking about this bill to people from the music industry, musician advocacy organizations, my union, professional musicians around me and music activists. Trying to get an understanding of…
Read MoreJazz Legend Billy Harper joined MFM's Board!!!
“Musicians – we have to stop being so proud of being “very independent” and realize that: We are not alone. We are connected as in group of jazz musicians or, just group of musicians. Like it or not …… it has been the “negative stigma” placed on us as a “group”. Therefore, it is necessary for us to “join…
Read MoreMFM Public Musicians Forum #4 Focuses Upon Women's Issues in the Music Business
Ladies Night! Review by Dawoud Kringle On Tuesday, March 27th, MFM held its fourth Public Musicians Forum at Yeoryia Studios in New York run by Billy Harper and MFM’s President Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi. Saadat opened the meeting by bringing up the recent gun control protests. Here are a group of mostly teens who, overnight, organized a nationwide protest.…
Read MoreKen Hatfield Joins the MFM Advisory Committee
Let’s welcome Ken Hatfield to the MFM Advisory Committee who brings a wealth of knowledge of “the business.” He’s been attending several MFM meetings and did a presentation on the Music Modernization Act issues last month. He shares with us the belief in a fair and sustainable musical eco-system in which all the participants share equally in the revenues generated…
Read MoreDavid Belmont Joined MFM's Board Of Directors Yesterday!
Let’s welcome David Belmont to our board of directors (BoD). He subs Paul Testagrossa who resigned yesterday due to his start up. Thanks Paul for the good work you have done. Good luck in your business! About David Belmont David Belmont (dobro, percussion) is a mixed media artist and community organizer living in New York City. An indie…
Read MoreReview: The MFM Jazz Musicians Meeting #3: Laying the Groundwork for Action
By Dawoud Kringle (with Ken Hatfield and Sohrab Saadat Ladjavardi) On Tuesday, February 27th, the MFM Jazz Musicians Meeting #3 was held at Yeoria Studio. Organized by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi and Billy Harper, the agenda of the meeting was threefold. 1. Ken Hatfield and Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi were to discuss the Music Modernization Act (MMA).…
Read MoreArturo O'Farrill Did It Again…a Grammy for The Sixth Time!
Congrats and respect to our Board member Arturo O’Farrill for his Grammy Award for “Best Instrumental Composition: “Three Revolutions” from the new album “Arturo O’Farrill & Chucho Valdes / Familia: Tribute to Bebo & Chico.” Great to have this great musician…professional musician around us. About the CD ‘Familia: Tribute to Bebo & Chico’ brings together two…
Read MoreReview: Jazz Musicians Meeting #2 with Jazzman Billy Harper & Sohrab
Text by Dawoud Kringle MFM founder Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi and jazz virtuoso Billy Harper organized a Jazz Musicians Meeting. This is the second of such meetings. Attendees such as Joe Lovano, Billy Harper, Ray Blue, Jimmy Owens, Ken Hatfield, Roger Blanc, and MFM members Reggie Sylvester, Michael Moss and others made the event a remarkable success. The first thing that was noticeable was that…
Read MoreBilly Harper
Billy Harper (legendary jazz saxophonist)
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