Justice Music Project
Independent Vibes for Independent Lives
The Justice Music Project (JMP) is an Equip for Equality initiative to broaden the awareness of disability rights and to fundraise for advocacy projects through the sale of compilation CDs and benefit concerts. Submissions were reviewed and chosen by a prestigious panel of judges. View the 2006 Panel of Judges.
The CDs are available online and through local retaliers, such as Reckless Records (3161 N. Broadway or http://www.reckless.com ), Women & Children First Bookstore (5233 N. Clark), and Marrakesh Expresso (4747 N. Damen). Pending venue and performer availability, Equip for Equality and JMP volunteers organize benefits to promote the JMP project and disability rights.
Finalists Selected for Justice Music Project 2006 Benefit CD
We received over 200 amazing song submissions for our first CD. The selection process was terrifically difficult for our panelists, and we thank everyone who submitted work.
Our 2006 JMP panelists:
- Paul Farahvar, Shoeshine Boy Productions
- Bruce Finkelman, Owner of the Empty Bottle
- Sam Hunt, Co-Founder/Co-Editor of Dusted Magazine
- Jessica Linker, Owner/President of Pitch Perfect PR
- Bettina Richards, Owner/President of Thrill Jockey Records
- Billy Shand, The Windish Agency, LLC
Although the panel was not asked to make any preference for genre or geographic location, we did receive more local submissions and indie rock and folk genres, and this is reflected in the final line-up.
Our 2006 JMP CD musicians and bands:
- Allá (Chicago, IL)
- Annie Higgins (Chicago, IL)
- Ash in Pensacola (Chicago, IL)
- The Chicago Bar Association Orchestra (Chicago, IL)
- Conector (Bogota, Colombia)
- El Esqueleto (Lisle, IL)
- The Foster-Walker Complex (Evanston, IL)
- Helicopters (Chicago, IL)
- Jenny Dalton (Minneapolis, MN)
- Jenny Gillespie (Chicago, IL)
- Naomi Gongola (Santa Cruz, CA)
- Rachel Ries (Chicago, IL)
- Skybox (Chicago, IL)
- So Brown (Mobile, AL)
- Stanley Ross (Chicago, IL)
- Sub Rosa (Chicago, IL)
- The Valley Downs (Chicago, IL)
The Justice Music Project organized concerts to raise awareness and support for disability rights. Photos from concerts at Spot 6, Martyrs' and Goose Island are available on this site.
The 2006 CD was mastered at the end of May by Danny Leake with Urban Guerrilla Engineers and went to press in early June. Graphics for the CD and promotional materials were provided by Design Scout.
JMP Musicians In the News
Recent press bears out the Justice Music Project's uncanny talents for divination. Several of the 17 bands on this benefit CD, supporting disability rights programs have become top picks from local and national publications.
Skybox with a Bullet!
Skybox this week hit the mother of all national music press, Billboard Magazine, with a glowing review, saying of the band: "Skybox packs an immeasurable amount of energy and musicianship into its short, wily tracks. The Chicago-by-way-of-Phoenix quintet-fronted by 23 year old Tim Ellis-self-released it's first album "Arco Iris" last year. The fast-paced set weaves dark lyrical nuances through its mostly bouncy songs: check the weird pop of "Don't Get Spin Spin" or the tinkling piano keys of "Various Kitchen Utensils." One moment Skybox's music calls to mind neo-folkie Devendra Bahhart, while at the next it sounds like the atmospheric rock of Muse."
Learn More about Skybox through JMP's myspace site!
Rachel Ries Crowned Queen of Cafe Crooners
Also this week, Rachel Ries got top billing in a Chicago Tribune feature on coffeehouse musicians, saying, "the Chicago-by-way-of South Dakota singer-songwriter sounds perfectly content on her gorgeous sophomore LP, "For You Only" (Waterbug). The album, which was recorded in the thick of winter in a cozy house on the banks of Lake Michigan, is as comforting as a hand-stitched quilt, built around delicate strumming, finger-picked banjo and Ries' delicate, disarming coo. Ries, who moved to Chicago in 2003, is recording her third album with an eye on a spring 2007 release."
Learn more about Rachel through JMP's myspace site!
Stanley Ross Hits USA Today
USAToday's Whitney Matheson swooned over Stanley Ross in her online column Pop Candy, saying: "I popped [the Stanley Ross EP] in and was so pleasantly surprised, loved it, and have been playing it non-stop ever since. ... I think that they're great..."
Learn more about Stanley Ross through JMP's myspace site!
Selling JMP CD 'girl-scout-cookie style'
JMP is spreading justice everywhere! Some great kids in Normal, Illinois, will be raising funds for Students for an Accessible Community by selling the CDs 'girl-scout-cookie style' to help support their grassroots cause. Connie Kelly, the organizer writes about her group: "Future 'field trips' we are planning include pairing up and doing accessibility surveys of downtown businesses, taking my husband's scooter to the mall so the kids can try to navigate the aisles, bathrooms and food court to get a taste of why accessibility is important. We have plans to go Christmas Caroling next month. None of this requires much if any money. If we could raise a couple hundred dollars to pay for next years fall fling, some t-shirt transfers and perhaps have enough for a summer cook out I would be happy."
If you would like to know more about raising support for your disability group with the JMP CD, email us at jmp@equipforequality.org.
How to Contribute
If you would like to make a financial contribution through this project to Equip for Equality's disability rights work, visit the JMP Contributions page.
For further information, contact:
Equip for Equality Development Associate, Lisa Di Lorenzo, via telephone at (312) 895-7306 or e-mail at karen@equipforequality.org.
Justice Music Project Organizer, Jason Steele, via telephone at (773) 206-8064 or e-mail at chicagoguitarlessons@yahoo.com.
