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IAJE & JAI Join Forces To Enhance Jazz Advocacy


(CelebrityAccess MediaWire)-

The International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE), the leading nonprofit jazz organization which hosts the largest annual international jazz gathering, and the Jazz Alliance International (JAI), the first industry advocacy group to unite the jazz community, have joined forces. This newly created, mutually beneficial arrangement calls for the JAI to become a wholly owned subsidiary of IAJE.

JAI is dedicated to significantly expanding the global jazz audience through education, leadership and advocacy. The newly created industry advocacy arm of the IAJE will seek to raise the profile of America's indigenous art form and foster better working relationships within the global jazz community. "This unique and far-reaching partnership will allow our industry to expand in a multitude of ways that will impact jazz for years to come," states JAI Chairman and Blue Note Records President Bruce Lundvall.

IAJE initiates programs, which nurture the understanding and appreciation of jazz and its heritage, provides leadership to educators regarding curriculum and performance, and assists teachers, students, and artists with information and resources. Their mission is to assure the continued worldwide growth and development of jazz education and advocacy. "We¹re looking to preserve the tradition of jazz but also realize the tradition is only operative if we pass that tradition along," states IAJE President and distinguished professor of Music, Indiana University David Baker. "Our responsibility is very clear. If we don¹t give back to jazz, if we don¹t train and educate and support jazz, we lose it. This partnership will strengthen our ability to achieve that objective.?

The JAI Board will continue to represent a broad spectrum of the jazz community. The purpose of establishing JAI as a subsidiary of IAJE is to enhance each organization¹s ability to carry out its mission. JAI, under IAJE's stewardship, will develop educational and awareness programs to enhance the growth and development of jazz and ensure that jazz is adequately represented to the public and funded by various local, regional, national and international government sources.

JAI President Suzan Jenkins and IAJE Executive Director Bill McFarlin are the architects of their respective organizations, and with an affirmative blueprint in place, they will work diligently together to further the public¹s knowledge and appreciation of jazz, one of America's cultural treasures.

These activities will include: developing a consolidated annual marketing plan for the field of jazz; creating various recognition vehicles for jazz artists to include participation in award shows and media exposure; commissioning an annual research report and coordinating professional development, mentoring and training for the jazz community. The JAI will now take the lead in developing the IAJE industry track, a series of compelling topics sponsored by leading media partners, serving as an invaluable education component to the annual conference. –Bob Grossweiner and Jane Cohen

www.iaje.org