Musicians For Musicians

MFM ZOOM ROUNDTABLE Discussing AFRO BEAT Maestro Fela Kuti's Life and Music
2024-04-19 16:00 - 17:30 (America/New_York) | ZOOM
Musicians For Musicians ZOOM ROUNDTABLE #2 Discussing AFRO BEAT Maestro and Legend Fela Kuti’s Life and Music
Host: Banning Eyre
Guests: Ricky Stein (Fela’s manager), Chris May (Fela webmaster), Stuart Leigh (Fela interviewer), Noel Smith (Fela studio engineer), a.o.

MFM BOARD MEETING
2024-06-06 17:00 - 18:00, 2024-09-05 17:00 - 18:00, 2024-12-12 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-03-12 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-06-11 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-09-10 17:00 - 18:00, 2025-12-09 17:00 - 18:00 | ZOOM

"Jazz in the Park" Got Canceled!!!!
2024-08-11 13:00 - 19:00 | Peekskill Riverfront Park, Hudson Ave, Peekskill, NY, 10566, United States
On Sunday, August 11 from 1 PM to 7 PM, jazz saxophonist and MFM member Ray Blue‘s nonprofit Cross-Cultural Connection will present its 6th Annual Jazz Festival on the beautiful Peekskill waterfront. Jazz in the Park is a free concert SUPPORTED BY VARIOUS SPONSORS. It is accessible by both Metro North train and car. It is held in Peekskill Riverfront Park, Hudson Ave., Peekskill NY, on the banks of the Hudson River.

Top-level jazz performers at this year’s event include trombonist Clifton Anderson, The Kristina Koller Band, Ray Blue Quintet, and The Carl Allen Band.

Jazz in the Park is one of many Cross Cultural Connection, Inc. projects, a nonprofit 501 c 3 organization that was founded by award-winning jazz saxophonist, composer, MFM member, and educator Ray Blue. Cross-Cultural Connection (C.C.C.) is Raphael ‘Ray’ Blue’s passion for Jazz music and culture combined with his work as an educator.

Since 2005, Cross-Cultural Connection’s programs have been promoting jazz culture, education, and performances in schools, colleges, in NY State, and communities around the world. It runs jazz education workshop series, artist-in-residence programs, school and community programming and performances, and the Scholarship Fund.

CCC believes that Jazz is synonymous with innovation. It is a great educational vehicle for people of all ages and walks of life. Her mission is to increase cultural awareness, communication, and understanding through this great American art form – Jazz.

The 2024 Jazz in the Park Festival is supported by a range of community and business partners and sponsors, including the City of Peekskill, Hudson Valley Gateway Chamber of Commerce, Arts Westchester, and many individual donors. The diversity of support enables the concert to be free and open to the public, which reflects the goal of bringing jazz to all people. ​
Enjoy a summer day along the Hudson and listen to the music that touches your soul. Bring your chair and food. FREE ENTRY.

Peter Gordon & Love of Life Orchestra
2024-08-15 08:00 - 23:00 | The Bowery Electric, 327 Bowery, New York, NY, 10003, United States
MFM member Peter Gordon with his Life Of Love Orchestra will perform at The Bowery Electric on Thursday, August 15th.
Peter was born in New York City, grew up in Virginia and Germany, and was educated in California. Initially known for his work in New York and Europe with his genre-defying Love of Life Orchestra (LOLO), the influential New York group of the 80s, Gordon is an award-winning composer of concert music, dramatic scores, and opera. Released numerous recordings with LOLO and solo and participated in others’ recordings. In 2005 he moved back to New York, performing, composing, orchestrating for films, and starting his own indie label this year. Congrats! A Musician with Attitude!

MFM HV Chapter Meeting in Kingston
2024-09-21 13:30 - 15:00 | TEMPO, Kingston, 29 Wurts St. Kingston, NY 12401

MFM Presents "Music Is Essential," a Zoom Roundtable Discussion Among MFM Members – Musicians with a Deep Connection to African Music – Speaking on the Value of Studying Music in Africa.
2024-10-07 17:00 - 18:30 | ZOOM
MFM Presents “Music Is Essential,” a Zoom Roundtable Discussion Among MFM Members – Musicians with a Deep Connection to African Music – Speaking on the Value of Studying Music in Africa.
Date: Monday, October 7th, 2024
Time: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm. ET
Venue: ZOOM
Ticket: $5 for non-members
Register and pay here: t.b.a.
Zoom Host and PR Campaign Manager: Adam Reifsteck
I don’t want to jive you here tonight. I want you to look at me at something you have never seen before. Because 99% of the information you hear about Africa is WRONG.” Fela Kuti
Event Description:
This event is produced by MFM President Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi aka SoSaLa and the round table host will be David Gilden.
This MFM event is the first time to bring together musicians who have spent a significant amount of time in Africa to further their artistry. The panel will discuss their experiences in Africa and deep immersion in a foreign culture, experiences that can be realized no other way.
The MFM members on the panel will share not only their anecdotes and achievements but talk about the value of learning and experiencing African music at its origin. This is why we should encourage young musicians and academics to travel and gain exposure to African culture, firsthand, and develop lifelong friendships and collaborative partnerships.
The Speakers are:
David Gilden (David Gilden has been playing the West African kora for four decades since he first heard it at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in 1978. With ten trips to West Africa (including Gambia, Mail and Senegal) to study the kora directly with local Mandinka musicians and a deep proficiency in electronic music Gilden is one the few artists to blend traditional world music traditions with modern electronica.
ZOOM Webinar #13: https://youtu.be/qGLCGe9rRq8
Banning Eyre (author, guitarist, composer, photographer and radio producer, and Senior Producer for the Peabody Award-winning public radio series Afropop Worldwide. Eyre has traveled to over 30 African countries to research music, and especially, study guitar styles. He performs and records both traditional and original music, both solo and in collaboration with ensembles, including Timbila and Voyagers. He has written four books on African music.)
MFM ZOOM Talk Event #7: https://youtu.be/NmboReIcpUU
MFM ZOOM Webinar #5: https://youtu.be/JjAOyIIUnII
MFM ZOOM Webinar #9: https://youtu.be/Rq_tNqf2r8o
MFM Podcast: https://mfmspeaksout.simplecast.com/episodes/banningeyre-efhQKoA_

Sylvain Leroux (a saxophonist, flutist, band leader: and player of the Fula flute (tambin) who brought traditional West African music to Zankel Hall with his Fula Flute Ensemble and curated the Griot Summit series that featured 25 New York City area griots from five countries. He has played with many Guinean stars, such as Sekouba Kandia Kouyate, Mbady Kouyate, Lama Sidibe, Missia Saran Diabate; and Abdoulaye Diabate. He invented and patented the “chromatic tambin” that brought the traditional instrument into full chromatic functionality. This led him to initiate L’Ecole Fula Flute, a music literacy project in Guinea, an effort that contributed to a revival of the instrument in Guinea. Several excellent young artists have emerged from the program. His 2002 cult record Fula Flute stimulated a worldwide interest in the instrument.
MFM ZOOM Talk Event #7: https://youtu.be/NmboReIcpUU
MFM Podcast: https://mfmspeaksout.simplecast.com/episodes/sylvian-leroux-D48wf1Gl

Royal Hartigan (percussionist, pianist, tap dancer, educator, activist, and author. His connection to Africa began in 1981 and he has been to Ghana over 20 times, often bringing students to learn firsthand the cultural visions and music/dance expressions of the people. He was a visiting faculty and J. William Fulbright scholar to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumase (Ghana) from 2013-15.
He has done 3 films related to West Africa, written 5 books on aspects of African music, numerous CDs and videos (at his royalhartigan youtube channel/africa), and performed there with jazz ensembles, including his blood drum spirit quartet, with master drummers and dancers form the Eve, Ga, Asante, Dagara, and Dagbamba peoples.
He has produced an award-winning film, We Are One, directed by Sara Pettinella, from his blood drum spirit 2015 and 2017 tours of Ghana, sponsored by the U.S. State Department. Its theme is the historical, musical, and personal connections between African music and jazz, and by extension, the world’s peoples.
MFM Zoom Webinar #8: https://youtu.be/hyMiF0GMcj0
MFM ZOOM Webinar #15: https://youtu.be/PzNUCApgmYQ
Duke Amayo (Nigerian musician, singer, and composer who grew up in Fela’s Lagos neighborhood and former frontman of the Brooklyn Afrobeat band Antibalas for 23 years. He composed and performed on the GRAMMY nominated “Antibalas Fu Chronicles” album for “Best Global Music Album of the Year” 2021.)
Noel Smith (saxophonist and audio engineer. He spent 1972-1973 working in Lagos, Nigeria, assembling and running a multitrack studio owned by Cream drummer Ginger Baker. Smith worked with top musicians, mostly Fela Kuti and his Africa 70 band; and recorded some iconic songs in that era, including “Lady” and “Shakara (Oloje).”)

MFM-RMA NY MIXER
2024-12-02 18:00 - 20:00 | Avalon Clinton (North Tower), 515 W 52nd St. (between 10th &11th Avenues), NY, NY 10019, Avalon Clinton (North Tower), 515 W 52nd St. (between 10th &11th Avenues), New York, NY, 10019, United States
Come enjoy a drink and conversation with your fellow Musicians. MFM will share event costs with another music membership organization (Recording Musicians Association, New York chapter), and some of its members will also be in attendance; RMA-NY represents the interests of New York musicians working under AFM recording agreements.
Appetizers, wine, beer and soft drinks (all supplied during the event).

2024 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
2024-12-04 19:00 - 20:00 | ZOOM

MFM Zoom Roundtable Discussion Vol.1 Among MFM Members Speaking on Composing Careers
2025-01-30 17:00 - 18:30 | ZOOM
MFM Presents “Music Is Essential,” a Zoom Roundtable Discussion Vol.1 Among MFM Members Speaking on Composing Careers: Navigating Opportunities in the Modern Music Landscape
Date: Thursday, January 30th, 2025 – Time: 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm. ET – Venue: ZOOM
Ticket: $5 (free for members) – Register and pay here: https://mfmassociation.thrivecart.com/composing-careers/
Zoom Host and PR Campaign Manager: Adam Reifsteck
Produced by Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi E
Event Description:
Join us for an insightful ZOOM Talk Event, first MFM event of this kind, moderated by Adam Reifsteck and Roger Blanc exploring the many pathways to a successful career as a composer. Our expert panelists will cover opportunities across a wide spectrum of fields, including contemporary classical music, film and TV scoring, theater, dance, songwriting, and electronic music. This conversation will delve into how composers can adapt to a rapidly changing music industry, collaborate across disciplines, and leverage technology to expand their reach. Whether you’re an aspiring composer or an established professional looking to explore new avenues, this session will provide valuable insights and inspiration to help you thrive in today’s multifaceted musical landscape.
The Panelists are:
Adam Reifsteck
Adam Reifsteck is a New York-based music producer and owner of Teknofonic Recordings. With over 350 releases on the label, many of which have charted in the Beatport Top 100, he has helped hundreds of electronic music producers launch and grow their careers. As a composer, Reifsteck has written award-winning compositions for small ensembles and produces electronic music under the studio alias Sonic Fear. The Huffington Post has described his music as “a testament to the timelessness of classical music, keeping it alive within the millennial generation.” Recipient of grants for his projects from the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, and the Kalamazoo (MI) Community Foundation, Adam holds a master’s degree in music composition and a bachelor’s in music technology. He is a member of Broadcast Music Inc., Recording Academy, Society of Composers & Lyricists, and serves on the board of Musicians for Musicians. https://adamreifsteck.com
Roger Blanc
Roger Blanc completed a master’s degree in composition with teacher David Diamond at the Juilliard School, where he was an assistant teacher in Ear Training and Theory for five years. He has had concert music performed at venues including Alice Tully Hall, CAMI Hall, The Whitney Museum Sculpture Court, The New School, Brooklyn College, Pennsylvania University, the Juilliard School, Connecticut College, and various locations overseas. He has arranged, transcribed, composed, orchestrated, produced, contracted, or otherwise prepared/organized/supervised music for media including television (the Tonight Show, Saturday Night Live, David Letterman, Conan O’Brien, Arsenio Hall), film (ca. eighty feature films including Frida, The Untouchables, Wag The Dog, Flirting With Disaster, Fargo, The Stepford Wives), the recording industry (many artists including Barbra Streisand, Yoko Ono, Michael Jackson, John Lennon, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie, Bette Midler, Luciano Pavarotti), and live performance (venues including Carnegie Hall, City Center, Radio City Music Hall, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Madison Square Garden, the United Nations; events including Comic Relief, the 2004 Democratic National Convention, and the 2006 Super Bowl). He lives with his wife and son in New York, his instrument is the guitar, and he performs frequently in clubs around the city. https://www.facebook.com/rogerblanc
Peter Wetzler
Peter Wetzler is an award-winning composer-musician-music director who has been scoring for film, theatre and television with uniquely diverse musical background. Peter has played in gamelan and avante garde ensembles while writing music for post-modern choreographers such as Bill T Jones, David Dorfman and Susan Marshall and touring Europe and North America with Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians. The strong rhythmic drive of his music blended with the raw experimental influence of the “downtown” New York City music scene has made his style much sought after for unique film and television scoring ranging from animation and films featured at MOMA and PBS Great Performance to National Geographic’s permanent multimedia installation in Washington DC. An avid electronic music pioneer, Wetzler returned to acoustic piano solo music with the 2 CD’s “Falling Awake” and Green and then “Black and White” which combines acoustic piano with cutting edge electronic enhancement. Wetzler scored his first feature film “The Warboy” in Toronto 1984 and performed at the Music Gallery, Gladstone Hotel and Arraymusic while living in Toronto. His ensemble “The Repeatos” opened the 2007 Baltimore Jazz Festival and played in Toronto’s “Ambient Ping” series while scoring all three seasons of the hit comedy series “Rentagoalie”. Returning to the US Wetzler performed and composed new music for the Catskill Gamelan Ensemble which premiered “First Love” dedicated to Pauline Oliveros Memorial Concert @ McGill University and has focused his musical attention in his home city of Kingston where he performs regularly with different ensembles, has a radio show called “Classical Music and Beyond” and curates concerts. He was the recipient of Kingston’s first “Distinguished Artist Award” and serves on the board of Musicians for Musicians (musiciansformusicians.org) and TEMPO, a Arts Center/Performance venue in Kingston. https://www.peterwetzler.com/
Chris North
Christopher North is a composer (Film, Theater and Dance), singer/songwriter (eclectic albums, songs for children’s TV and for Films), multi-instrumentalist (Carnegie Hall, Newport Folk Festival, CBGBs, Grammy award-winning recordings) and conductor (Hollywood Chamber Orchestra, Symphony Space). A Texan in NYC since 1997, he’s thriving in Brooklyn, having released 20 genre crossing albums, composed scores to over 60 films (inc. distributed, award-winning and Grammy Nominated) and a growing opus of arts songs, chamber music and symphonic works. A Sundance Institute Lab Fellow, collaborating brings out his best, for which VARIETY says he’s a “notable asset” to work “well served by a fine soundtrack.” Also a sideman, he has played bass for Quincy Jones, with The Chicks and Rosanne Cash, in orchestras and on Broadway. He’s been heard as a singer (in choirs with NY Phil and on Grammy Award Winning Recordings), whistler (for Disney) and multi-instrumentalist on countless scores, albums, video games and commercials. A 2019 Composing in the Wilderness Fellow, he kayaked in Alaska, inspiring chamber work “Nellie Juan’s Scratchiti” that premiered at Federal Hall, NYC. His favorite creation is teenager Koi and his hobbies include photography, painting, biking and walking in cemeteries. www.christophernorth.com www.imdb.me/christophernorth
Keith Levenson
Keith Levenson’s career has run the gamut from Broadway’s Annie to Meatloaf, from the London Symphony Orchestra to The Who. He is equally at home in a regional shed, Broadway theatre or a large arena. In 2018 Keith helmed a very successful tour of the rock opera “Tommy,” with band and symphony orchestras across the country. It resulted in the 2019 release of “Tommy Orchestral” album produced by Keith and Roger Daltrey. The album went straight to the top of Billboard magazine’s classical crossover chart. He is the music director and takes the podium conducting a 50 piece orchestra and an 8 piece band for icons The Who on their current 2022 tour. https://www.keithlevenson.net/
Joe Carrol (RMA)
As a producer, composer, ad executive and serial entrepreneur, Joe Carroll has spent a lifetime innovating and challenging boundaries in music, media and education. An award-winning composer, songwriter and lyricist, Joe Carroll specializes in music for kids and is Composer/Lyricist for the Emmy nominated Kermit’s Swamp Years (Columbia Tristar/Jim Henson: 2002) and Music Director for the TV series Zoom (PBS/WGBH: 1998-2003). He’s written and produced hundreds of songs for TV and film including award-winning projects for Disney, Nickelodeon, PBS, Sesame Workshop and The Jim Henson Company, as well as commercial music for Toyota, L’eggs, Wendy’s, Helene Curtis, Wrangler, General Mills, Nabisco and Proctor and Gamble. He has won numerous awards including The London International Advertising award and several Clio nominations. Born into the entertainment business and literally raised in a booking agency, Carroll grew up in the midst of the New York music scene. Surrounded by a Broadway Danny Rose cast of musicians, comedians, singers and entertainers he first performed professionally at age 12. His career highlights include performing with Zippy the Chimp, a tuxedo-clad chimpanzee whose skills included drinking bourbon and roller-skating, sometimes simultaneously. He was once offered a job to play guitar wearing a pig suit and sing songs about bacon in shopping malls. http://www.linkedin.com/in/joecarrollsinfo
About MFM (https://www.MusiciansForMusicians.org)
MFM seeks to bring together musicians from all disciplines, styles, traditions and localities in the cause of their mutual self-betterment. Whether through education, networking or political action, MFM’s ultimate goal is to elevate the work of all musicians to the level of a true profession.

MFM Hudson Valley Chapter Meeting
2025-02-15 15:00 - 16:30 | Church Des Artistes, 79 Wurts Street, Kingston, United States (US), 12401, United States
On Saturday, February 15th, 2025, in Kingston, chapter leader Stephen Johnson and MFM President Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi will run the meeting with Peter Wetzler. This is the year’s first meeting, and we invite chapter members and non-members to discuss various issues.
Agenda

Review Sohrab’s Excel HV venue list and discuss a “Chapter Venue Certification” Program
TuneForte app recommendation
Sweetwater 10% – 15% offer
Recruiting Manual
Speak about the Member Portal
Share your activities with the membership, incl. gigs, CD releases, book publishing, activism, etc.
Member account update w. 2x pictures, bio, and website/social media link
Make a link under one’s email signature
Make a link to MFM on one’s website
Mention one’s MFM membership in interviews and from the stage

MFM HV Chapter Monthly Meeting
2025-03-29 15:00 - 16:30 | Church Des Artistes, 79 Wurts Street, Kingston, United States (US), 12401, United States

MFM Presents: “How Musicians Work with Mastering Engineers” – A Zoom Webinar Featuring Industry Experts Adam Reifsteck and Fred Kevorkian
2025-05-12 17:00 - 18:30 | ZOOM
The event is designed for musicians, producers, audio engineers, and anyone interested in demystifying the mastering process and learning how to maximize their professional relationships in the studio.
Event Details:

Date: Monday, May 12, 2025 Time: 5:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. EDT Location: Zoom (registration required) Admission: $5 (free for MFM Members)
Attendees will learn:
What mastering is and why it’s essential to the final sound of a record,
How musicians can effectively prepare their mixes for mastering,
Best practices for communication and collaboration during the mastering process,
Real-world insights from both independent and major label projects.
Non-members REGISTER HERE: https://mfmassociation.thrivecart.com/zoom-webinar-on-mastering/
To obtain free access to this event, go to https://musiciansformusicians.org/join/ and become an MFM member.

MFM ZOOM Talk Event #11 with Kevin Keller (Recording Academy)
2025-08-04 17:00 - 18:30 | ZOOM
Musicians For Musicians (MFM) Presents: “Music Is Essential” ZOOM Talk Event #11 with Kevin Keller (Recording Academy) Speaking About Living Wages for Pro Musicians
Date: August 4th, 2025
Time: 5 p.m. to 6:30 pm (ET)
Venue: ZOOM
Host: Adam Reifsteck
Non-members register and pay here: https://mfmassociation.thrivecart.com/living-wages/
Webinar description
What is a Living Wage? Is it possible for a full-time musician to earn a Living Wage? How long does it take to earn a Living Wage as a professional musician? What strategies are musicians using to make a full-time living from music?
About Kevin Keller (https://www.kevinkeller.com)
Kevin Keller is a composer and recording artist based in New York City. He has released 15 full-length albums since 1994 in the ambient/neo-classical genre, and receives daily airplay on Sirius-XM, as well as regular features on Echoes (PRI) and Hearts of Space (NPR). He is a Voting Member of The Recording Academy (i.e., the GRAMMYs), and he advocates for both financial transparency and the protection of intellectual property rights for artists.
About MFM (https://www.MusiciansForMusicians.org)
Musicians For Musicians is a collective of freelance music professionals uniting to advocate for FAIR PAY, respect, and equitable treatment for all musicians through education, networking, and activism in collaboration with other musicians’ rights organizations.

MFM ZOOM Webinar #17 with Adam Robinson
2025-08-29 17:00 - 18:30 | ZOOM
Musicians For Musicians (MFM) Presents: “Music Is Essential” ZOOM Webinar #17 with Adam Robinson – Shakuhachi (Japanese Flute)
Date: Friday, August 29, 2025
Time: 5 pm to 6:30 pm (ET)
Venue: ZOOM
Host: Adam Reifsteck
Non-members register and pay here: link t.b.a.
Webinar description
Adam Robinson has studied the shakuhachi in New York for the last 13 years. In this seminar, he will discuss the instrument and provide some context about its place in the Japanese musical landscape. The shakuhachi is one of a few traditional instruments that has “breeched containment” and can be found in many genres of music, alongside its traditional repertoire, around the world. Adam will “try his best” to speak about and demonstrate the unique sound colors, musical techniques, and philosophy of the quintessential “Zen Flute” and the people who have been important to his shakuhachi life.
About Adam Robinson (www.adamrobinsonmusic.com)
Adam Robinson is a shakuhachi player based in New York City. He has studied the iconic Japanese flute with Ralph Samuelson continuously since 2012 and has taken lessons in Japan with Tokumaru Jumei and Yamato Shudo. To supplement his shakuhachi life, he studies Japanese ensemble music with acclaimed koto and shamisen players Sumie Kaneko (Yamada School) and Yoko Hiraoka (Ikuta School).
Adam attended The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, where he studied improvisation and tenor saxophone. Post-graduate experience in Conceptual Harmony was undertaken from 2013 to 2020 with La Monte Young, Marian Zazeela, and Jung Hee Choi. He was an original member of Gamin’s Unforgotten Song project in 2019. He currently teaches shakuhachi privately and at Columbia University, performs with The Hudson Valley Shakuhachi Choir, and participates in performances around the New York metropolitan area.
About MFM (https://www.MusiciansForMusicians.org)
Musicians For Musicians is a collective of freelance music professionals uniting to advocate for FAIR PAY, respect, and equitable treatment for all musicians through education, networking, and activism in collaboration with other musicians’ rights organizations.

Musicians For Musicians Celebrates 10 Years of Music Advocacy with Star-Studded Performance Event at The Cutting Room
2025-09-05 21:00 | The CUTTING ROOM, 44 E 32nd St, New York, NY 10016
New York, NY — September 5, 2025 — Musicians For Musicians (MFM), a nonprofit association advocating for the rights, recognition, and fair pay of freelance and independent musicians, proudly announces its 10-Year Anniversary Celebration on Friday, September 5, at The Cutting Room in New York City. This special event kicks off at 9:00 p.m., with musical performances starting at 9:30 p.m.; tickets are free for MFM members, and $20 for non-members.
Buy ticket here: https://mfmassociation.thrivecart.com/mfm-anniversary/
Over the past decade, MFM has united musicians across genres and geographies under a single mission: to raise music from a passion to a profession through advocacy, education, and solidarity. From educational webinars and podcasts to championing the Freelance Isn’t Free Act and amplifying national campaigns for fair streaming royalties and AI protections, MFM has been a driving force in elevating music as a profession.
The highlight of the evening will be a special performance by the MFM Unity Ensemble, featuring Grammy Award-winning saxophonist/band leader and educator Joe Lovano and 8x Grammy Award-winning pianist/composer/ band leader and Afro Latin Jazz Alliance founder Arturo O’Farrill. Their collaboration will celebrate both MFM’s mission and the power of collective musical expression.
Later in the evening, there will be another special performance by New York’s Nu NO WAVE band SoSaLa—led by saxophonist/singer SoSaLa—featuring guitarist Mark C. (Live Skull) and drummer Andy Weintraub. Together, they will create music that transcends both rock and jazz.
The event will also include remarks from MFM board members, Advisory Committee representatives, and video tributes from supporters like NEA Jazz Master David Liebman, Jazz in the Neighborhood founder Mario Guarneri, and legendary bassist Steve Swallow. Guests from the Recording Academy, Independent Musicians Alliance, Music Workers Alliance, and Local 802 will also be in attendance.
Attendees can support the organization by purchasing limited-edition MFM merchandise, including event-branded T-shirts. 100% of ticket and merch proceeds will go to benefit MFM’s ongoing programs and campaigns.
Event Details:
The Cutting Room, 44 East 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016
Doors Open: 9:00 p.m. | Performances Begin: 9:30 p.m.
Tickets: $20 (non-members). Buy ticket here: https://mfmassociation.thrivecart.com/mfm-anniversary/
Cutting Room Food & Beverage Minimum: $25
More Info: www.musiciansformusicians.org
Founded in 2015 by saxophonist and activist Sohrab Saadat Ladjevardi aka SoSaLa, MFM emerged from a deep need to organize freelance musicians into a unified voice for fair compensation, labor protection, and industry recognition.
“In this crazy time with so much social-political-cultural turmoil happening here in the US and around the world,” says Ladjevardi, “I firmly believe that musicians’ vital role is to speak out for their communities and come up with messages that will create solidarity among a particular group of people and unite them to fight for their cause. Musicians are the most powerful artists whose sounds can have an impact on people’s conscience in a second.”
Join us on September 5th as we honor a decade of progress and look ahead to the future of music advocacy. This celebration is a call to action—for every musician to join the movement and claim the respect we deserve.
Press Contact:
Sohrab Saddat Ladjevardi | sohrab@musiciansformusicians.org
Media Kit: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/nivcbhbi6x1vvwuzga7zd/AMcC9k8iRW-GgDWyXPsoN8c?rlkey=[REDACTED]&st=ywxhcumw&dl=0

2025 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
2025-12-02 19:00 - 20:00 | ZOOM

MFM MIXER
2025-12-12 18:00 - 21:00 | CATALYST RECORDS, 88 Essex Street, New York, NY, 10002, United States
MFM invites its members, supporters, donors, and the public to meet one another, engage in conversation, and enjoy the music performed by our members. A year-end party celebrating “unity in the music community” and getting the right feel for the following year.

BOARD MEETING
2026-03-11 17:00 - 18:15, 2026-06-10 17:00 - 18:15, 2026-09-09 17:00 - 18:15, 2026-12-09 17:00 - 18:15 | ZOOM

MFM HUDSON VALLEY CHAPTER MEETING
2026-04-11 14:00 - 16:00 | Camp Kingston Cafe, 36 St James St, Kingston, NY, 12401, United States
Spring Greetings,

Brother and Sister musicians of the mid-Hudson Valley. We have the opportunity for an in-person chapter gathering in Kingston on April 11th. Sohrab is driving up from NYC with new MFM member and trumpeter Volker Goetz (https://www.volkergoetz.com). Let’s dig into and share the realities, challenges, and successes that matter to you and the music community.

Date: April 11th
Time: 2 PM – 4 PM

Venuet: Camp Kingston Cafe
Address: 36 St James Street, Kingston, NY 12401

2026 ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING
2026-12-02 19:00 - 20:00 | ZOOM
