Hello,

I am Jason Davis. I am a native of South Dallas and began playing music there in 1984. During this time I have been a part of the groundbreaking celebrations of Daniel "Chappie" James Elementary, The African American Museum and The Dallas City Performance Hall. My talent as a saxophonist has allowed me to record on over 10 Million units of music sold world-wide. With 100% of the recordings taking place in the City of Dallas. My local career is now at 36 years. With my early performances taking place at the M.L.K. Library and The Dallas Public Library in 1984-86.

The Dallas and Ft. Worth Metroplex is important to the development and creation of many American genres of music and stages of development within those specific genres. Starting with Pre- Blues, Western Swing then moving on into Big Band Jazz, BeBop, Soul Jazz, R&B, Funk, Contemporary Gospel, Indie Soul, Deep House, Free Jazz, Various Rock, Hip Hop, Tejano and Neo-Soul. This City is an Award winning area full of world-class talent. Outside of the quality of individual musicianship and group sounds we have made a great contribution to the world of music composition. 

For Many years and in each decade even non- Dallas Natives have written some of their most popular songs right here in Big D. Ray Charles lived here in 1957 and wrote his classic song  "I Got A Woman". Dizzy Gillespie is known to have written "A Night in Tunisia" here in Dallas. Some of the most classic recordings of Charlie Parker, Charlie Pride, Gerald Levert, Keith Sweat, Robert Johnson, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Willie Nelson have all taken place right here in our town. Dallas is respectably known as a place to springboard your career and learn from the local living legends.

Dallas is a great learning area for musicians. Besides that we have a current set of Musicians that deserve to be showcased with their original music in a prime-time setting. There are also excellent interpreters of the Jazz idiom that are available to highlight the music of our past, present and future Dallas Legends. If this list was to include Texas composers in general it would boast great names such as Scott Joplin, Roy Hargrove, Ornette Coleman, David "Fathead" Newman, Cedar Walton Jr., Horace Tappscott, Onzy Matthews, Kenny Dorham, Buster Smith, Oran "Hot Lips" Page, Claude Johnson, Roger Boykin, T-Bone Walker, Red Garland and so many others. 

It's time to honor the 1987 Congressional Resolution that payed respect to this art-form known as Jazz. Please see: (H.CON.RES 57: Jazz is a "National American Treasure "Passed by the 100th Congress of the United States of America
Introduced by the Honorable John Conyers Jr.)

It is only right that just as we have seasonal displays of Classical, Orchestral, Operatic and Chamber music in dedicated performance spaces; It's time to give Jazz and its vast repertoire of local compositions a true home in our large and beautiful Dallas Art's District. Jazz is very broad and has served to help create many of the new musical styles. It is America's Classical Music. When looking back on the most forward thinking movements in American music; all roads lead to Dallas.

Although it was born from the funeral marches, street performances and drum circles of New Orleans then later developed in night clubs; that is not where the greats intended for it to stop. It's definitely time to give Jazz a true home in our large and beautiful Dallas Art's District. 

Please sign this petition that is requesting proper attention toward the placement, funding and promotion of a weekly "Composers Showcase" that will be curated by a task-force of local artist. These 90 minute programs will be documented on film and streamed live to the entire world while showing the richness and overwhelming contributions of artist in and from The great City of Dallas (DFW). Overall, The local musicians will be able to share their talents and benefit from the works that are presented on a regular basis. This will include printed sheet music, songbooks, videos and other online audio selections that can be purchased whereas; the funds will go directly to the songwriters involved. Subsequently, serving as new educational tools for many years.

Here are some compiled and edited excerpts from the 1987 Congressional Resolution. (H.CON.RES 57)

This great American musical art form has not yet been properly recognized nor
accorded the institutional status commensurate with its value and importance.
It is important for the youth of America to recognize and understand jazz as a
significant part of their cultural and intellectual heritage.
There exists no effective local, regional or national infrastructure to support and
preserve jazz (composition). The proper documentation and archival support required by such a great art form has yet to be systematically applied to the jazz field; and it is now in the best interest of the national welfare and all of our citizens to
preserve and celebrate this unique art form.

Thank You!