JFA's Great Night in Harlem at the Apollo Oct. 28, 2004 7PM

Orchestra Seats on sale thru the Jazz Foundation (212) 245-3999
Balcony seats available thru TicketMaster (212) 307-7171

JAZZ FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
The need is great. Many elderly jazz musicians are living alone without the support of family. As seniors they are unable to work the same vigorous pace or are ill from untreated diseases having had no health insurance for many years. Therefore successful, professional musicians are finding themselves destitute. This includes musicians who have household names as well as the sidemen who played with Art Blakey, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton, Thelonius Monk, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra, Chet Baker and Dinah Washington among others. Many are living on miniscule Social Security payments and do not have pensions, savings or royalties to sustain them. Because of their limited income it is very difficult to pay rent. Often times, menacing landlords wait for them to fall behind to start the eviction process. Many live in isolation and without advocacy; some fall victim to poverty and become homeless.

This is where JFA comes in and provides essential support. We arrange free medical care through our partnership with Englewood Hospital and Medical Center's Dizzy Gillespie Memorial Fund and our pro bono network of physicians across America. JFA assists by staving off evictions, preventing homelessness, paying rent arrears, providing emergency living expenses, repairing instruments, offering substance abuse counseling, advocacy work and career counseling. JFA's Jazz in the Schools Program gives meaningful employment to hundreds of jazz musicians in need while allowing them to pass on their history to thousands of public school children who many times had never heard live jazz. In the past 6 months alone, we have attended to 362 cases, more than ever before.The next goal is to build a home for elderly jazz musicians, a Players' Residence.

For all these musicians gave us and sacrificed for the music, now is your chance to give back at a time in life when they have no one and need us so much.

Jazz Foundation of America
322 West 48th Street
New York, NY10036
Tel. 212-245-3999
Fax 212-245-3994
[email protected]
http://www.jazzfoundation.org/