Off Blue Hosts Banned Tri-C Jazz Fest Band Mifune

Contact Marty Gelfand at offblue@wruw.org or 216-371-8827

On Monday May 1, 2006, members of the Afro-beat band Mifune will visit WRUW's Off Blue show to discuss their recent censorship at the Tri-C Jazz Fest because of their opposition to President George W. Bush. At Mifume's performance at Tower City on Friday April 28, management at the venue shut off the sound system in an apparent attempt to stifle the band's artistic expression. According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, Tri-C Jazz Fest management approved of the decision to censor the band. (See the PD's coverage at http://www.cleveland.com/news/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/cuyahoga/1146300005124790.xml&coll=2)

Upon learning of Tower City's and Tri-C's censorship of the band, Marty Gelfand, host of WRUW's Off Blue show, contacted the band to invite them to be a guest of the show. "I offered Mifune a chance to be heard on Cleveland's public airwaves and on the World Wide Web. I am pleased that the band accepted," said Gelfand. "I think that it's completely inappropriate for an organization that ostensibly promotes the arts in Cleveland to allow itself to be used to stifle artistic expression under political pressure from the owners of its venues. Mifune is more than welcome to visit Off Blue to say whatever the Tri-C Jazz Fest kept them from saying at its venues. "

Off Blue, a radio program that focuses on blues and related musical forms, is heard only on WRUW 91.1 FM Cleveland on Mondays from 8:00 to 9:30 PM, and by webcast on WRUW's website at www.wruw.org in real time and for 1 week in the website's archive.

###