Established in 2001 by Fairfax, VA attorney Edward L. Weiner, Esq. and Founder of Mason Jazz Studies, Prof. Jim Carroll, Jazz4Justice™ is an award-winning annual concert presented by Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) and Mason Jazz Studies.
Jazz4Justice™ is a truly unique event where attorneys, judges, students, and members of the Northern Virginia community gather to celebrate their love of jazz. Proceeds from the evening benefit Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) to continue its mission of service to the Northern Virginia community as well as providing financial support for the Mason Jazz Studies department for scholarships, trips, recordings and student projects.
Jazz4Justice™ raises funds for legal aid, the Justice Gap and music education. We do this by forming collaborative partnerships with the legal community, the business community, the music community, and universities.
Why is Legal Aid Important?
Legal aid providers protect the rights of millions of Americans with low-income each year in areas such as housing, consumer, family, education and employment, and defend access to services for people of all backgrounds, including children, veterans, victims of domestic violence, the elderly, and those living with disabilities. legal community, the business community, the music community, and universities.
What is the Justice Gap?
Eighty Six percent (86%) of low income Americans who have civil legal problems receive inadequate or no legal help. Seventy One percent (71%) of low-income households experienced at least one civil or legal problem in the last year. (Source: 2017 Justice Gap Report from the Legal Services Corporation). The chasm between legal representation for civil cases and the need for legal services for low-income individuals is known as the “Justice Gap.”
Learn about the value of Jazz4Justice™ in students' and alumni own words:
Domenic Lewis, BM, Jazz Studies, steel pan
My experience at Jazz4Justice™ has been one that has yielded immeasurable memories. It is always an honor and a pleasure to be able to express my love for this music on stage alongside some of the most dedicated musicians, all in larger service to the community. I especially appreciate the steps taken to involve the participating students in almost every facet. It really helps me feel like I am “right in the middle of things.” helping out and giving back, which is especially relevant in our social and political climate.
Tomas Jackson, Master of Music, Class of 2020
I performed at Jazz4Justice™ six times and attended twice prior to that. Each concert was wonderful, but the underlying reasons for the performance were so much more rewarding. Giving back to the community through musical performance is a great opportunity to share the joy and history of Jazz. Because of Jazz4Justice™, we performed on the national stage at events such as Jazz Education Network (JEN) in Dallas, New Orleans, and Kansas City. Due to those trips, I was able to exponentially further my education through the experiences I gained, and the relationships I made. Those strong relationships have lasted past my graduation and have inspired my peers and I to continue our support of our community and pursuit of Jazz through writing, arranging, recording and performing. We will always be grateful for the opportunities and inspiration the Jazz4Justice™ provided us.
The Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble performed at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference, in Dallas, TX, January 2018. Without the generous sponsorships and donations from our Jazz4Justice™ collaboration, these students would not have been able to afford to go on this trip. Many stated this trip was an "experience of a lifetime" to see other schools and professional Jazz musicians perform outside of an academic setting!