Jazz Musicians Unite in Support of Asylum Seekers

Jazz musicians will unite in a musical call for Australia to rethink its abusive asylum seekers policies, on September 22ndat the Jazzlab 7.30pm.

[From the media release]

The line-up brings together established and emerging jazz talents committed to addressing Australia’s inhumane treatment of asylum seekers and refugees.

“Jazz artists have used their music to spotlight injustices since the Civil Rights era,”said Jackie Bornstein, Event Coordinator. “Through our music we are calling on Australia to abolish it’s abusive practices and provide safety and support to asylum seekers and refugees.”

This year marks six years since Australia announced no asylum seeker who arrived by boat would be resettled in Australia. There have been 12 asylum seeker deaths in Australia’s offshore detention system on Manus Island and Nauru. Asylum seekers have self-harmed and attempted suicide throughout the offshore detention period with a peak of over 30 incidents since the Coalition government’s re-election in May this year. Hundreds remain in limbo on Manus Island and Nauru.

“Australia has been imprisoning vulnerable people for over six years. These are people fleeing torture, persecution and all sorts of horrors,” said Bornstein. “They have asked us for our protection, we have given them six years of hell. This cruelty has to end.”

The event program features three ensembles performing in solidarity with asylum seekers imprisoned under Australia’s watch; Jackie Bornstein’s Jazz and Social Justice, Oscar Neyland’s Wirecutters, and Julien Wilson’s Autonomous Resilience Collective.

The date for the event was chosen to join International Peace Day celebrations. This year’s Peace Day theme is: ‘Climate Action for Peace’. It recognizes that climate change threatens peace and security and that natural disasters displace three times as many people as wars, forcing millions to leave their homes and seek safety elsewhere.

Musicians performing for this event will donate all profitsto the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre (ASRC), Australia’s largest provider of aid, advocacy and health services to people seeking asylum.

Musicians include Julien Wilson (saxophone), Jackie Bornstein (voice), Oscar Neyland (bass), Flora Carbo (saxophone), James Sherlock (guitar), Ellie Lamb (trombone), Carl Mackey (saxophone), Hugh Harvey (drums), Eamon McNelis (trumpet), Ben Hanlon (bass), Jack Beeche (saxophone), Hannes Lackmann (drums), Adam Halliwell (guitar), Harry Sutherland (piano) and more.

Event details: Sunday, September 22nd 7:30pm, ASRC Benefit: International Peace Day, The Jazzlab, 27 Leslie St, Brunswick, $25/$20