As previously reported, there was been outrage after The Recording Academy announced that they will be restructuring their award categories to effectively eliminate 31 awards from the Grammys, including the award for Best Latin Jazz Album.

As more information becomes available about the factors and people behind the decision to remove the Best Latin Jazz Album Grammy award category, a collective of Latin Jazz musicians and individuals who disagree with the recent change have re-opened their petition against the changes. In a statement to the press, Vocalist and Strokeland recording artist Tony Adamo said “We have now reopened the Petition demanding the NARAS [The Recording Academy] leadership to rescind this action, and restore the Grammy Awards for all these categories, and not just for Latin Jazz.”

In an open letter to The Recording Academy, Grammy award winning Pianist, Composer, and Bandleader Eddie Palmieri also had this to say:

“In 1993 I was appointed Governor of the New York Chapter of NARAS where I worked diligently to have the Latin Jazz category become recognized, and it was with great happiness that I saw it come to fruition in 1994. And now it is with a heavy heart that I have seen its elimination, and truly fear its slow and permanent extinction. I call upon everyone now, as a whole, to come together, in UNITY, by starting with your own communities and supporting your local artists and telling your friends and loved ones about a great band you just heard that has that swing, because without the support of the fans, we are not able to record as often as required by NARAS and to the entrepreneurial indie labels, make sure that you file all of the necessary criteria online to NARAS’ website as per submissions, and to all of my fellow musicians out there, (young and old), please become a member of NARAS and get involved with your local Chapter. I am fighting for you, but please join me so now we can fight together. Right now, NARAS is holding everything I just mentioned against us; thus marginalizing our music, culture and people even further.”

For those interested, A link to the petition, which has already been signed by over 3,000 individuals hoping to see The Recording Academy reverse their decision, can be found below.

Petition Link: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/latinjazzatthegrammys/