January 15: Note from Brad
Hello everyone. In a difficult time like this when divisive hate is in the forefront, there are still abundant examples of love and generosity, even if they are obscured. Some of you may have purchased the limited vinyl edition of April 2020 several months ago, whose proceeds went directly to Jazz Foundation of America. For those of you not familiar with this organization, you can find out more about the great work they do that follows this note. I wanted to let you know how your gift helped out musicians in need. If you’d care to, you can find out more how JFA helps musicians, by hearing from the musicians themselves. You gave, so that those musicians can give back to you. We don’t need politicians to tell us it’s a “time for healing.” We already know how to help each other heal.
Examples of Services:
Some of the situations we have encountered working with musicians during the pandemic
Musician’s two-year-old daughter has a rare benign tumor disorder and needs three surgeries over the next six months. We are contributing to the mortgage.
Musician was already in arrears on his internet prior to Covid-19, preventing him from applying online for assistance to any helping organizations. We paid up the internet arrears and helped with a grant and other household bills.
Musician’s home in Nashville was destroyed by a tornado while he and his wife and daughter were in New York for a gig. Within two weeks, Covid-19 hit. We are helping with immediate bills, diapers, and food.
Midwestern drummer who has overcome, in recent years, double hip replacement, shoulder replacement, stomach cancer, and a car crash, was hospitalized with Covid-19 in April. He overcame that, too. JFA and partner organizations prevented his eviction in July, but gigs remain far off.
Established southern musician who made most of his income running a booking and talent agency reached out in March for Covid-19 relief. In April, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. In May, he had an operation and was later deemed cancer-free. Relieved to be healthy, he is nevertheless increasingly anxious about the future.
Florida vocalist and bandleader—a single mother with two daughters in high school— lost all of her work, then lost her father to Covid-19. Denied unemployment, a JFA grant was nearly the only relief funding she had been able to obtain as of late May.
Alto saxophonist and educator had made the tough decision, a few years ago, to move from the northwest to Kansas City for a teaching job. The transition was financially difficult, but it would all be made worthwhile in summer 2020. As an alto star in the town of Charlie Parker's birth, in the year of Bird’s centennial, the saxophonist was about to have the biggest performance year of his career, with many high-profile bookings. Of course, it was all cancelled. We provided a grant through our Covid-19 Musicians’ Emergency Fund.
Major jazz artist with diabetes and hypertension responded to a mid-March JFA check-in call that he was fine. A few days later, he texted that he and his wife were sick in bed. His symptoms—many seemingly Covid-19 related—worsened, but since he was uninsured there was no primary care doctor to consult with, as directed by the state; urgent care said not to bring him there; and the artist was fearful of any hospital. He declined, and when he became unintelligible, JFA called 911. In intensive care he tested positive for Covid- 19, and his kidneys failed, among other complications. He died a few days later. JFA arranged and paid for his cremation and inurnment, and is helping his widow, who has made a full recovery from the virus, to relocate.
The wife of a jazz legend used to visit his nursing home every day, until one day staff said no more visitors were allowed, due to Covid-19 restrictions. A few weeks later, the musician's roommate called her to let her know that the musician was coughing a lot but not being treated. He died a few days later. Although he was never tested, he is presumed to have died from Covid-19. JFA arranged and paid for his cremation and inurnment at Woodlawn Cemetery, near the graves of other jazz legends.
A major jazz artist, and longtime Jazz in the Schools bandleader, had been living in a nursing home, in a shared room with his wife. He died on April 6, and then his wife died a few days later. Neither was ever tested, but they are presumed to have had Covid-19, since there was an outbreak at the facility. JFA paid for cremation and helped fund his memorial.
An Email of Gratitude:
Those of us at the Jazz Foundation who are on the front lines when a musician is in need, feel a deep sense of accomplishment from the simple act of giving. We don’t have any expectations of being thanked but when we are, it is deeply touching and appreciated:
Hello JFA,
Man, you really outdid yourselves this time. My wife called from the post office and told me I got a box from some medical company. When she got home later that night, I told her I didn’t order anything. When I opened the box I was floored at what it was and still confused. I read the receipt, and that is when I really lost it, when I saw who it was from. I told my wife, “look how much everyone at JFA loves me,” and then I remembered that you asked me for my address. This morning I had a dental appointment and I took my gift with me to show my dentist. I told her, “look what I got from the people at an organization in New York who really love me,” and she was very happy for me. She told me how to use it exactly, and I practiced in her office. My wife and I thank you from the bottom of our hearts, and we are sending a big hug to you all.
This musician was terrified of losing his teeth as a result of serious gum disease. He was facing
$10,000 worth of dental work to prevent bone and tooth loss, and he had no idea how he was going to pay for such expensive treatment. In order to help get his mouth in better shape, we sent him a Waterpik, in addition to offering financial help for his dental work and getting other organizations to make financial contributions as well.
Each day is an opportunity for us to help musicians in ways that are unique to their needs. It is because of the small, extra, and unasked-for things we do that we are able to develop close and long-lasting relationships with musicians who feel and believe they can turn to us in times of crisis.
Thank You Notes:
Thank You! All I can say is thank you and god bless you! Honestly, I was looking to see what I could pawn, then the postman arrives with an unexpected check from the Jazz Foundation.
Thank you all so much for this blessing! I love all of you, I really do. You are my family for life
Yours Truly.
I came home yesterday after a week of medical appointments, tired, feeling unwell and with a lot of questions running through my mind. "How’m I gonna do this or that?" You know. Then I opened my mailbox and found a check from The Jazz Foundation. Not only did it immediately answer one of my “how" questions, it reminded me that there are such lovely people in the world - in spite of all the ugly that’s out there. It reminded me that there are folks committed to acting on their kind impulses to do the work of helping others.
I’m so grateful to be a recipient of your kindness. And I hope I can one day be a partner in your excellent work.
Thank you so much.
Bless you.
I’ve received with gratitude the Emergency Fund check from the Jazz Foundation. It meets a critical need right now.
Given my rare medical conditions, I'm unable to travel to my specialists in NYC. It’s a blessing that appointments are conducted by video, but my laptop is too old to accommodate the technology. These funds enable me to buy a refurbished laptop.
Once again, JFA has made it possible for me to get the medical care I need! I can’t thank you enough for always being in my corner.
You supported me when I couldn't even pay for my own husband's funeral. Thank you Jazz Foundation.
Thank you so much for bringing a glimmer of hope to a very dark time.
Pray all is well with you. We received the debit card yesterday and in “perfect timing.” My wife got really sick yesterday (she is at higher risk of getting Covid-19 because she suffers from sinusitis, which if not treated can turn in to a respiratory infection) and had to do a telemedicine appointment, here in Pasadena, CA, and then had to get two prescription medications for her sinusitis diagnosis at the pharmacy.
The remainder of the funds left on our card will go towards our car insurance payment so we can make sure we are covered. I’ll be making the partial payment right now. Please know that your funds came through at the perfect time. We cannot thank you enough.
Bless you and the staff at JFA.
Please forgive my late reply but am working on online projects as well...to keep afloat.
Thank you so much for the check . It takes a lot of worry away about meeting obligations... just in time as that store ceased giving me credit as of this week
We are stocked enough to hold out until then thanks to other angels who have been sending food to the house. We are very appreciative as well of the monthly donation for food costs.
Your angelic work does much to alleviate the stress and despondency that jazz people are currently experiencing. Your tender considerations and hard work place you amongst the wonderworking angels.
God Bless you and the Jazz Foundation family. Thanks again.
I just wanted to let you know that I received the unexpected love offering from the foundation yesterday and how much it means to me to KNOW... that your life & your life's work matters and despite all the negatives in the world someone cares and it ain't over yet and I fully expect to contribute more happiness & joy to the world before the sun sets! Thank you. Love.
Thank you so much again for helping us. We can't tell you how much it means - especially to have the personal call and the chance to talk to someone who really cared about us and the money is a real help. My poor mum has literally given me all she can afford and I feel so mortified at my age to have to ask family for money - especially when they never really understood my path as an artist. It's hard with everything going on to remember that there are people that value musicians and don't just expect to stream our music for free. It's utterly depressing when years of work result in a publishing check for $36 dollars despite having 1.5 million streams. I wish we could do something about that.
I'm so sorry for the delay in replying but I wanted to say a massive thank you so much again. We had a very tense week with the election as you can imagine! But I wanted to say that we were both so touched that we burst into tears and hugged when we got this email at the same time saying that we had been approved! My partner was so lifted I haven't seen him smile in a while - so thank you! Sincerely...
If there is genuinely anything I can do to help the org I really would love to so please let me know of any volunteering opportunities that come up.
Best wishes
