As some of you may know, I have been traveling the world as an American jazz musician for over forty years. I have performed to audiences all over, including Brazil, Argentina, Britain, all through Europe, the Czech Republic, Poland, Armenia, Turkey, China, Japan, Korea, Canada and Australia.

But only in Germany have I ever been denied the right to perform my art because of my religion.

The German government denies allegations of artistic and religious discrimination. Yet it does so with a kind of smiling arrogance that I find shocking.

For example, the official statement of the German government, for four years now, has included the following, and I quote:

“Artists are free to perform or exhibit in Germany anywhere they please. Jazz pianist Chick Corea performed in Germany on March 24, 1996, during the 27th International Jazz Week held in Burghansen, an event which received approximately $10,000 in funding from the Bavarian Ministry of Culture.”

Well, the real story about that concert, and how to this day I am still banned from performing at that festival in Burghamen is this: