Ron Carter at Jazz Congress 2025 (Gilberto Tadday for Jazz at Lincoln Center)

Local 802 and the AFM were co-participants/sponsors of the 2025 Jazz Congress, held at Jazz at Lincoln Center on January 8 and 9th. Over 550 Jazz Congress participants included musicians, panelists, and presenters/sponsors such as the Louis Armstrong House Museum, Origin Records, Blues Alive, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Jazz Out of Norway, and others.

A variety of panels were presented on diverse topics such as Jazz and Criminal Justice, Jazz in Latin America, Navigating Male Dominated Spaces and AI in Jazz Programming. Panelists, presenters and honorees included Christian McBride, JoAnne Brackeen, Roger Dickerson, Jonathan Baptiste, Stefon Harris, John Clayton, Matt DeLeon, Melissa Aldana, Immanuel Wilkins, Bryan Stevenson, Akua Dixon, Endea Owens, Michael Leonhart, Lydia Liebman, Lakecia Benjamin, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Jon Faddis, Bria Skonberg, Theo Croker, and Carlos Henriques. This marks the first time in recent memory when the AFM and 802 have partnered on a jazz event which included a table-top display of promotional materials and AFM inserts into every participant’s goodie bag. As musicians came to the 802/AFM table, reps answered their questions about union membership, organizing efforts, and contracts. Memorably, a freelance player from the New Jersey area came up to the table and point-blank asked: “Why should I join the union?” After hearing about the AFM’s discounted insurance rates, help with international touring, the possibility of single-engagement contracts, and the broader goal of building more power in the freelance/gigging economy, the musician said he would become a member! The central location of the union table in the Ahmet Ertegun Atrium at JALC ensured high visibility and a significant upgrade in union presence from previous Jazz Congress events. The AFM and Local 802 are excited to be a presence at next year’s Jazz Congress, and continue to show our relevance to jazz players and freelancers in the NYC area.