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Local 802 and the AFM partnered to send representatives to the 2026 Jazz Congress which was hosted by Jazz at Lincoln Center on January 7 and January 8.

An estimated 550 to 600 people registered for this year’s event which included panel discussions, networking opportunities, and live musical performances.

Some of the more popular panels included: Jukebox Jury; The Artist as Builder: Designing and Modifying Instruments in Jazz (featuring Long Time 802 member Scott Robinson); a keynote address by actor Wendell Pierce; Ron Carter and Todd Barkan in Conversation; It’s Complicated: Presenting Jazz and Education in Cuba; Women in Rhythm; jazz and Spotify —  how streaming is reshaping jazz for listeners and artists alike; the future of public radio, etc., etc.

Local 802 members attending included Christian McBride, PR specialist Lydia Liebman, Akua Dixon, Kenny Washington, Marcos Varela, Uri Gurevich, Loren Schoenberg, Sammy Figueroa, Bertha Hope and Scott Robinson.

Other participants included promotions guru Jim Eigo, managers Karen Kennedy and Gail Boyd and many presenters from across the country.

According to conference organizers, event attendance has continued to grow and is up more than 20 percent from 2024.

As jazz rep, I represented Local 802 and was accompanied by AFM Organizing Director Gabriel Kristal.

Information on the event can be found at https://jazzcongress.org/

Local 802 jazz rep Todd Weeks

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