Allegro
Currently Browsing: February, 2003
Scrooge Musical Under Contract
Musicians touring with the New York Stage Originals’ production of Scrooge: The Musical got more than they were expecting from their seasonal gig. The show is an original creation of composer and producer Philip Stern. For several holiday seasons, Stern
Pay-For-Play Could Mean Money For Musicians
Rent a movie without leaving your home? As of last fall, that’s now possible. Forget about trudging through the snow to your local video store to rent a tape or DVD. Now you can rent movies by downloading them and
Empyreal Strings Signs Recognition Agreement
Empyreal Strings has signed a recognition agreement with Local 802, a victory that is part of a larger campaign to organize club date strings employers. Arlene LaPadura, director and representative for Empyreal Strings, signed the agreement for the owner of
Secret Service, RIAA Raid N.Y. Pirate Ring
The U.S. Secret Service, assisted by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), conducted a raid on a music-piracy facility Dec. 9 in New York, culminating in what the trade group describes as the largest ever seizure in the U.S.
Union Helps Long Island Philharmonic Retain Musicians
Through Local 802’s efforts, the Long Island Philharmonic has been approved for a wage subsidy contract by the Consortium for Worker Education, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1985 to provide schooling, training and employment services for workers in New York.
Solidarity for Deli Workers
802 Assisting Greengrocer Campaign
Local 802’s Organizing Department is helping with a campaign to improve the working conditions of deli workers. The campaign, which is being promoted by the state AFL-CIO, the RWDSU and the UFCW, involves convincing deli owners to sign onto a
Union Opera Lost and Found
During an epoch of intense labor organizing in the late 1930’s, two giants of the Harlem Renaissance, jazz pianist and composer James P. Johnson and poet and novelist Langston Hughes, collaborated on the creation of a one-act opera, De Organizer.
Union Expands Benefits
Out-of-Town Health Coverage & Accidental Death Benefit
OUT-OF-TOWN HEALTH COVERAGE In the October 2002 Allegro, Local 802 reported a possible change in its Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), which is currently MagnaCare. Members who are on Plan A or Plan B have been able to see a MagnaCare
Presidentās Report
Archival Recording Use Should Be Local’s Call
On Jan. 13, the AFM convened a meeting in Chicago to address issues that have arisen over symphonic recordings, radio broadcasts, television broadcasts, internet activity and the appropriate payment of recorded archival material that may be released on a commercial
Unemployed? You may have more rights than you know.
Guest Commentary
Most of us assume that people who become unemployed receive unemployment insurance (UI) benefits as a matter of course. In fact, many applicants for UI – 140,000 in New York State last year alone – are denied benefits on grounds
There’s a New Social Worker in Town
Musicians' Assistance Program
Perhaps you’ve heard, or perhaps not, but there’s a new social worker coordinating the services of the Musicians’ Assistance Program on the sixth floor. That’s me! I’d like to introduce myself to you and remind you of some of the
Stretching Can Prevent Long-Term Musicians’ Pain
As musicians, we often have to play the same musical passages over and over, but many times we don’t realize how tight our muscles are until they are sore. This soreness can be easily staved off with a simple activity:
“This Thing Called Jazz”
Allegro Interviews Ahmad Jamal
Arguably one of the greatest contributors to American classical music is jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. Born in Pittsburgh, Mr. Jamal was what some might call a child prodigy. He began serious study at the age of seven under the tutelage
The Musical Life of Greek “Gypsy” Musicians
Member to Member
When would a professional musician not want to be called a professional musician? It sounds like the setup to a bad joke. But for Romani musicians – who some call Gypsies – there are profound distinctions between professional musicians and
802 Bookshelf: Myself When I Am Real
by Gene Santoro, Oxford University Press, $17.95, 452 pages, softcover
“Mingus was feeling the Zeitgeist.” This phrase – which recurs throughout Gene Santoro’s biography of the composer, bandleader and bassist Charles Mingus – perfectly captures the main theme of this thoroughly researched and lovingly written book. Not only is this
802 Movie Review: The Two Towers
What can be said about Peter Jackson’s The Two Towers from a music – or union – perspective? First, the music. That’s easy. Howard Shore’s score is awesome. It’s an old-school, lush, orchestral score with a recognizable main theme that
Bylaw Resolution
The following resolution will be submitted and voted on at the February membership meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. in the Local 802 Club Room, 322 West 48th Street, Ground Floor. (Admission by paid-up membership card only.) RESOLUTION Submitted
802 Crossword Puzzle
Win an 802 Jacket!
The answers will be posted on this page after Feb. 28. Local 802 presents a crossword puzzle in celebration of Black History Month. Each of the clues in the puzzle is related in some way to jazz. The union will
Crossword Puzzle Answers
Here are the answers to the Allegro jazz crossword puzzle, created in honor of African American History Month. The puzzle was published in the February 2003 issue, page 16. Congratulations to Richard H. Miller, a pianist and an 802 member
The Musicians’ Voice
Broadway producers’ threats to use “virtual orchestras” (see January 2003 Allegro) is a hot-button issue for musicians. Two out of three letters this month touched on taped or virtual music, while Sig Singer writes about his memories of Mel Rodnon.
Legislative Update
RADIO DEREGULATION THE GREENGROCER CODE OF CONDUCT NEW YORK CITY BUDGET OUTLOOK LIBERTY BOND HOUSING COALITION RADIO DEREGULATION The Future of Music Coalition (FMC) released a report on Nov. 18 documenting the effects of radio station consolidation on musicians and
Negotiations Roundup
CATHEDRAL OF ST. PATRICK Local 802 and the Cathedral of St. Patrick have reached agreement on a first collective bargaining agreement. The two-year deal recognizes the union as the collective bargaining representative of all musicians engaged for all work performed
Executive Board Minutes
November 19, 2002 -- December 10, 2002
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2002 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Jazz
Tips For Traveling Safely With Musical Instruments
Heightened security measures at U.S. airports have impacted the ability of musicians to carry their instruments in-cabin. Below is important information to help you and your instrument safely reach your destination. CHOOSING AN AIRLINE AND MAKING YOUR RESERVATION: Know airline
Bill Crow’s Band Room
When Bobby Day was Fred Waring’s featured banjo player, he often played golf at Waring’s country club in the Delaware Water Gap. It was a favorite hangout of many famous cartoonists and comedians, and Bobby enjoyed their company on the