Now in its 12th year, the NYC Winter Jazzfest has evolved into one of the most highly-anticipated events in the New York music calendar. Over the course of five days, the festival encompasses an astonishingly wide variety of music, with over 100 acts – both established artists and new talent – spread throughout Greenwich Village and beyond. The festival’s centerpiece – the “marathon” – features a dozen venues simulta­neously hosting performances on Friday and Saturday from the early evening until well after midnight. The festival is covered by a Local 802 collective bargaining agreement, which ensures a minimum pay scale for all festival musicians, as well as standards on working conditions and protections on any recordings made. This is the fifth year of the union agreement, which was the result of a grassroots organizing effort that brought musicians together with the festival producers to create fair standards for the burgeoning festival. Local 802 congratulates the musicians and organizers of the NYC Winter Jazzfest on their continuing success in bringing artists and fans together to celebrate the depth and diversity of New York City’s music scene!

All photos by Bart Babinski

Lakecia Benjamin swings her heart out at NYC Winter Jazzfest 2016, where musicians are covered under a Local 802 union contract.

George Cables

Chris Potter

Christian McBride

Jim Black

Clarence Penn

Joe Martin