[Dixielandjazz] Federal Bailout for Musicians

[billsharp]

>
> Jazz musicians look to federal budget for bailout support
>  
> Washington, D.C. (CNN)
>  
> In light of the recent downturn in the American economy, the nation's 
> 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.
>  
> 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, you 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  flowin’ on the scene, I actually have 
> to get up before noon and find a way to make some bread!”
>  
> 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 deal with this music, and 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 downhill.” Marsalis continued, "I 
> think that a strong monetary stimulus package and mandatory listening 
> to Duke Ellington records should encourage a healthy economic recovery 
> in the face of adversity.”
>  
> President Bush responded to these comments by replying that: “Mr. 
> Margolis has a very good point here. The country will be in dire 
> straits 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.
>
Bill "well-why-not us too" Sharp
IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.