Support Musical Diversity: Pettion NARAS to Reinstate the 31 Categories!

Press Conference in Protest of Grammy Travesty Randy Klein’s Statement at the Press Conference in Protest of Grammy Travesty: ”Over the last few weeks, I have had this reoccurring thought that I would like to share with you. To erase, eliminate, delete and/or expunge anything makes it invisible.  If something is invisible it is not seen or heard.  If it is not seen or heard, then it becomes forgotten and once forgotten it is almost impossible to discover it unless a team of archaeologists dig for it.   It may exist as a footnote in a history book, but it is not felt or experienced.   The young generations of today are being cheated by NARAS by their decision to erase, eliminate, delete and expunge these musical categories.  This younger generation will not feel or experience this music because it will not even be mentioned as a lower third running across the screen of the Grammy...

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Dear Leslie, On the recent monthly Executive Committee call, the request to reconvene the Awards & Nominations committee prior to next week's Board of Trustees meeting was discussed. Given the many, many months of work A&N conducted before presenting its recommendations to the Board, the Executive Committee felt it would be inappropriate to call a special meeting without seeing the recent changes thru the current 54th awards cycle. Ours is a fluid process and always open to change, and there is a procedure in place to address new proposals. We welcome member participation and are happy to help them work with their local Trustees to draft proposals to be presented to the A&N Committee and ultimately to the Board for ratification. The Board entrusts its committees to present thoughtful and factual research and information so that the Board may make informed decisions. While I understand and appreciate the confusion and frustration some...

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Article from San Jose Mercury by Jim Harringtonwww.mercurynews.com/music/ci_18097458?source=email

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Dear Mr. Portnow As a paying member of both NARAS and LARAS I am greatly disappointed by your decision to cut 31 very important, essential and truly American musical categories from the 2012 GRAMMYS. I feel very underappreciated as a Latin Jazz Vocalist/Musician and am now wondering why I should renew my membership to the Recording Academy when I have been slapped in the face by an organization that I thought was based on open-mindedness, diversity and the pursuit of EVOLUTION of musical art forms. The message you are sending to all of your constituents is that you believe that big labels and MONEY are much more important than including music that may not necessarily be mainstream and/or played on commercial radio. I quit my corporate job 5 years ago to pursue a full-time career in music. As a Latin/World Jazz vocalist I need all the support I can get, anywhere I can get it. What you are now telling me is that the sacrifices I have made for my art are...

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This was forwarded by Jazz Education member and NARAS governor out of Chicago, Ruben Alvarez. Latin jazz egrupero Willard Jenkins was also key in the drafting of this letter. Thanks to both of them and to all the leadership and every member of JEN for issuing this statement. A LA BATALLA! ~ John Santos May 16, 2011 Neil Portnow President/NARAS and the NARAS Board of Trustees The Recording Academy Dear Mr. Portnow and NARAS Trustees, This letter is written on behalf of the Board of Directors of The Jazz Education Network (JEN). Our organization’s growing membership consists of an international community of more than 2,000 music educators, students, schools, composers, professional musicians, media professionals, publishers, manufactures and fans. The JEN Board of Directors serves to fulfill our mission and the needs of our membership. This includes a commitment to serve, support, and represent the diverse spectrum of individuals and Jazz styles...

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MUSICIANS OF THE SAN GABRIEL VALLEY P.O. Box 32321 – Los Angeles, CA 90032-0321 Thursday, May 5, 2011 The Recording Academy 3030 Olympic Blvd. Santa Monica, CA 90404 ATTENTION: Board Of Trustees George J. Flanigen IV, Chair of the Board, Doug Frank, Vice Chair, Glenn Lorbecki, Secretary/Treasurer, Jimmy Jam, Chair Emeritus Members: Christine Albert, Carlos Alvarez , Mark Bright , Darrell Brown, John Burk, Mike Clink, Maureen Crowe, Lamont Dozier, Pete Fisher, Fletcher Foster, Phil Galdston, Gregory J. Gordon, Stephen Hart, Leslie Ann Jones, Terry Jones, Paul Katz, Steve Mack, Harvey Mason Jr. James McKinney, Gail Mitchell, Dee Dee Murray, Phil Nicolo, Alice Peacock, John Poppo, Beth Ravin, Nancy Rumbel, Glenn Schick, Eric Schilling, Karen Sherry, Cynthia Simien, Jody Stephens, Steve Sterling, Peter J. Strand, Tom Sturges, Dan Workman, Billy Zero. And, Neil Portnow, Director of NARAS (neil@grammy.com...

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May 11, 2011To whom it may concern at NARAS,               The elimination of the GRAMMY categories of Latin Jazz, World Music, Native American, Cajun/Zydeco, Hawaiian, Contemporary Jazz, Traditional Blues, Norteño, and Instrumental Rock, was at the least shortsighted and at the most irresponsible.               We ask NARAS to reconsider its ill-conceived decision to eliminate all those categories that value these diverse expressions. If you celebrate artistic achievement and vibrancy in contemporary music, you surely must embrace these forms of popular music.               Music expresses cultural and human values.  The worldwide protests for democracy and the rights of every voice to be heard is an expression of faith that everyone deserves to be valued. ...

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5/7/2011   Dear NARAS committee and Other Concerned:   I recently received the news that the Latin Jazz category was removed from the Grammys. Speaking as a college professor, K-12 educator, jazz musician, and as a public advocate for music as an Arts Commissioner for the City and County of San Francisco, I find this elimination to be profoundly disturbing.   I have been involved with Latin jazz and other Caribbean and Latin American-based music since the very beginning of my music career some 40 years ago. I currently teach Cuban, Latin American and Latin jazz music at San Francisco State University. I am also the musical director of the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco, a grassroots organization with over 10 years of mentoring young musicians of all ethnic, racial and cultural backgrounds who perform and study Latin jazz.   As a non-Latino, I see Latin jazz as the perfect music vehicle that fosters cultural...

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5/2/11   To Whom It May Concern,   My name is Arturo Riera and I am Co-Founder and Director of the Latin Jazz Youth Ensemble of San Francisco which teaches youth age 10-17 how to play, write and record Latin Jazz.  In addition, I am Chairman Emeritus of the San Jose Jazz Board of Directors and currently serve as board chairman of the Yerba Buena Gardens Festival.  In all these capacities I have made supporting the teaching and performance of Latin Jazz a priority.  That is why I am extremely troubled that NARAS has decided to no longer have Latin Jazz as a category worthy of awards.   Years ago when the Latin Grammy’s were launched I was troubled by the notion that there were separate Grammy Awards for the Latin community.  At the time my fear was that it diminished the award to create a separate category just for the Latin Grammys and at the same time might give rise to the notion that we did not need to have a...

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"My dear colleagues and friends, How wonderful that we all feel compelled to come together as a community regardless of these unfortunate circumstances, to “defend” our inclusion by an institution that has clearly lost sight of its purpose. If I could be here with you this morning I would share your disappointment, but I would also echo your voices in a call to action. Let’s use this moment to stay united and remain focused with positivity. What we as a community do to right this and so many other wrongs will be the ultimate test of our solidarity for one another, and our respect for the creative spirit that is the Bay Area. Together we can – and should – nurture the next generation and help transform them from consumers of art to makers of art. As artists it is our mission to continue on our creative path without seeking the validation of any institution; the most precious validation for me is seeing the growth of the next generation as we pass them the...

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