Press Conference Announced on Latin Jazz Grammy Elimination
By David La Rosa |	 May 19, 2011, 10:50 PM
A collection of artists, writers and activists have organized a press conference to voice their opposition to recent changes in the Grammy award categories, which included the effective elimination of the Latin Jazz Grammy award category.
Beginning at 1pm on May 22nd 2011, the press conference is due to take place at the Nuyorican Poets' Café, in the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York and will be open to the public.
Panelists will deliver remarks in support of the reinstatement of the eliminated categories before a brief Q&A session for the press and the public. Leading the Panel will be 9-time Grammy award winner and former Recording Academy Board of Governors member Eddie Palmieri. Palmieri played a key role in the introduction of the Latin Jazz Grammy category in 1995.
Other panelists include critically acclaimed salsa pianist Larry Harlow, award winning film score composer David Amram, Pianist and bandleader Arturo O'Farrill, and bestselling author Ned Sublette. The panel will be moderated by drummer, bandleader and 4-time grammy nominee Bobby Sanabria.
Critics of the recent changes to the Grammy award categories claim that the action caters to established pop and commercial styles that have always dominated the Grammys; and leaves traditionally underrepresented genres such as Jazz by the wayside. NARAS (The Recording Academy) has also met criticism for the way the change was handled; completely 'behind closed doors' and without the input of the Board of Governors or the regional chapters for public consultation. This prompted a grassroots movement which has begun to go viral as supporters of the eliminated genres make their voices heard. It is already too late for the eliminated categories to be considered for the 2012 Grammy awards, however activists are still hopeful that they can effect change for the future .
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