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Jazz musicians look to federal budget for bailout support
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Posted by: editoron Monday, December 29, 2008 - 09:30 AM |
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Washington, D.C. (CNN)
In light of the recent downturn in the American economy, the nations jazz musicians have joined the long line of lobby groups looking to Washington for support as the economy slides into a deepening recession.
The jazz industry is asking Washington for a bailout package and major subsidies on par with that of the auto sector.
As such, jazz musicians also want access to credit and tax breaks to stimulate investment and help the development of new recording and performance opportunities.
“This recession has really got me dragged, ya dig?” says Luther “Hip Bones” Jones III, a New York City saxophonist and a cornerstone of the little known Wall Street Avant-Garde jazz scene.
“I mean, now that gigs aren’t a flowin’ like they used, I actually have to get up before noon and find a way to make some coin!”
Similarly, Jones’ associate Willie “Fat Cheeks” Hughes comments that with the economy in near chaos, the demand for his jazz bagpipe skills has waned considerably.
Hughes also comments that with a sluggish economic situation, he will soon have to find another girlfriend or else face certain “homelessness.”
While this crisis has been brewing for some time, a recent spike in the number of trombonists delivering pizzas in New York’s Greenwich Village has recently brought this dire situation to the public’s attention.
Last week, however, jazz advocate Wynton Marsalis met with President George W. Bush and the White House economic team to discuss the worsening situation for America’s jazz artists and a possible stimulus package.
Marsalis was quoted as saying: “I think it’s important for the government to understand that our musical recession has actually been worsening since the demise of New York’s 52nd Street scene in the early 50’s and thanks to the racket these kids call “Hip Hop”. They really should have seen this coming. Once Miles went electric, it’s all been down hill.” As Marsalis continued,”I think that a strong monetary stimulus package and a mandatory listening of Duke Ellington records should encourage a healthy economic recovery.”
President Bush responded to these comments by replying that: “Mr. Margolis has a very good point here. The country will be in dire straights if we lose our “jazzy” beats. I mean, personally, I always enjoy a little Kenny G in the evening while I try to woo the First Lady.”
Bush also commented that a global consensus on the state of the jazz economy will have to be reached. “The way things stand, America’s jazz artists just can’t compete with the lower paid jazz artists currently flooding the market from China.”
In related news: America’s Blues musicians report an increase in depressing lyrics. “Indicates a reflection of the times” claims one downtrodden guitarist whose wife recently left him and whose dog has died.
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