Jazz Musicians for Justice to Hold Benefit Concert for Bassist Tarik Shah

November 1, 2005, New York, NY - Jazz Musicians for Justice, a coalition of the creative, will hold a 6-hour benefit concert to raise money for the legal defense of musician / bassist Tarik Shah, Sunday, November 13 from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Windows Over Harlem, 125th Street at Adam Clayton Powell Blvd. in the Harlem State Office Building. The event will feature internationally renowned musicians Bertha Hope, Onaje Allan Gumbs, George Braith, Kim Clarke, Donald Smith, Salim Washington and Fred Ho with a host of professional jazz performers.

The roster of jazz performers also includes Jaime Rivera, Melanie Dyer, Ras Moshe, Mark Johnson, Greg Bandy, Mujeeb Manaan, Ronald Williams, Napoleon Revels-Bey, and Mansur Scott.

Tarik Shah was arrested on May 28, 2005 and is currently being held in prison while he awaits trial on charges of “conspiracy to assist terrorists.” Prosecutors said Shah was caught expressing “eagerness to help terrorists" in secretly taped conversations with an undercover FBI agent posing as an “al-Qaida recruiter". If convicted, Mr. Shah faces up to 15 years in prison and a maximum fine of $250,000. Shah’s attorney, Anthony Ricco, suggests the arrests were an attempt by the government to bolster public perception that it is aggressively pursuing terrorists.

“He's a wonderful musician and a wonderful person," said friend and jazz saxophonist Salim Washington, 47, noting Shah has recorded albums with Abbey Lincoln and Betty Carter. “He is not in any way tied with things that have been alleged."

Jazz musicians throughout the greater New York metropolitan area and Boston will perform on at the November 13th benefit concert. Donations in any amount will be accepted.