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'Jazz warriors' plan protest at Mobos
By Alexa Baracaia, Evening Standard 20.09.06
Trumpeting the cause: Abram Wilson is the protest leader
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Jazz musicians are planning to protest at the Albert Hall tonight over what they describe as the "risible" removal of the category from this year's Mobo awards, which celebrate music of black origin.
Courtney Pine has spoken out about the ditching of the jazz category, insisting: "The Mobos was the only thing that recognised jazz in that way.
"Jazz was the stepping stone for rock'n'roll, rhythm and blues - all popular music. Folks have got to know that we've been excluded."
Leading trumpet player and composer Abram Wilson is to lead the demonstration - a brass band which will march from South Kensington Tube station to the Royal Albert Hall at 6pm.
A spokesman for the protest, organised by Jazz Services, said: "The removal of the jazz category undermines the original spirit of the Mobo awards and ignores the place of jazz in the heritage of black music and its influence on all other forms of popular music.
"It also ignores the incredible wealth and diversity of the jazz talent in the UK, and the vitality of the jazz scene. Despite several complaints from the jazz community, Mobo has failed to reinstate the award."
A Mobos spokeswoman today insisted the decision was purely logistical, because the BBC is set to televise the awards this year. She said: "Due to the wide range of musical categories and the time constraints of a televised awards show, it is not always possible to carry all the categories that we would wish to. Categories are constantly under review and sometimes rested for them to return in future shows."
But she said jazz artists would be eligible to win in a string of other categories, such as best male, best song or best newcomer. In 2004, the awards were overshadowed by controversy after the decision to ban Elephant Man and Vybz Kartel because of their homophobic lyrics.
Mobos founder Kanya King was booed whe n she appeared onstage and there were noisy protests outside from campaigners angry at the "besmirching of the name" of reggae music.
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