Allegro

Currently Browsing: 2004,

Local 802 Election Results
Office (names listed in order of votes won) Number of votes     PRESIDENT   David Lennon (elected) 544     RECORDING VICE PRESIDENT   Bill Dennison (elected) 505     FINANCIAL VICE PRESIDENT   Jay Blumenthal (elected) 359 Tina

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Paul Molloy
Broadway Subbing 101 Imagine coming to New York City and looking for your first job as a professional musician. Ah, playing in a Broadway pit! That would be a great gig. But soon reality sets in: first, you’ve got to

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Unplugging the Virtual Orchestra Machine
David Lennon
On Feb. 6, Local 802 achieved an unprecedented agreement with the Opera Company of Brooklyn (OCB) that bans the use of the virtual orchestra machine and commits the company to use only live musicians in all future productions. In the

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Virtual Orchestra Machine Files Unfair Labor Charge
David Lennon
Did you ever think you’d see the day when a machine designed to eliminate live music, and ultimately jobs, would try to pass itself off as the injured party? Well, my friends, that day has arrived. On March 4, approximately

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Local 802 Scores Another Win for Live Music
David Lennon
On April 13, Local 802 achieved another precedent-setting agreement against the use of the virtual orchestra machine. This time the battleground was at the Variety Arts Theatre, one of Off Broadway’s largest houses. An eleventh-hour agreement was reached shortly before

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Jim Hannen
Click here to view new scales and effective dates. Local 802 and the Club Date Musicians’ Committee reached an agreement with club date employers on April 19 for a new Single Engagement Club Date contract. After difficult negotiations with employers,

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Virtual orchestra ban legal and binding
On May 19, the federal office of the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C. denied the appeal of the virtual orchestra machine company, Realtime Music Solutions Inc., upholding the decision of the regional director of NLRB Region 29. Realtime

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The Top Five Reasons Why John Kerry is the Best Choice for Working Musicians
David Lennon
It should come as no surprise that Local 802 has endorsed Senator John Kerry for president. In this column, I explain exactly why we believe he is the best choice and what we in Local 802 can do to help

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802 and New York Philharmonic Achieve New Contract
On Oct. 8, a new three-year agreement was reached between the New York Philharmonic and Local 802. The musicians overwhelmingly ratified the contract. The agreement covers the period from Sept. 21, 2004 through Sept. 20, 2007. The musicians had voted

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Solidarity, Forever!
Karen Bogardus with Karen Beluso
The Children’s Orchestra Society is now the eighth group of teaching artists to win a contract with Local 802. Here is the story of the formation of a union, told from a teacher’s point of view. Last fall during a

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802 Announces New Area Standards
Mary Donovan
For the first time ever, musicians who work Off Broadway will have consistent standards. Local 802 has produced a booklet of wages, benefits and work rules for commercial productions in Off Broadway theatres. Musicians who already work on Broadway know

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New scales and effective dates are shown below.   10/15/04 1/1/05 7/1/05 4/15/06 4/15/07 Saturday, 4 hours $275 $275 $280 $290 $300 Sunday, 4 hours $200 $205 $210 $216 $220 Weekday, 4 hours $187 $190 $192 $196 $205 Sunday, 3

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Facing Our Future Together
David Lennon
It is with great anticipation and a profound sense of responsibility that I assume the duties of the office of president. I congratulate my fellow officers, Jay Blumenthal and Bill Dennison, and commit to working together with them to build

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Jan Clausen
On Nov. 13, faculty fighting to unionize in seven divisions at the New School sponsored a panel on their organizing efforts. 802’s Jimmy Owens was one of the speakers. As reported in November’s Allegro, part-time faculty at the New School

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Big Apple Circus Wins 802 Contract
Summer Smith
Send in the clowns! And send in the union musicians! The Big Apple Circus musicians ratified their first Local 802 contract on Feb. 4, the culmination of an organizing effort that began last November. The circus hires eight musicians, including

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802 is Labor Liason for Kerry's Campaign in NY
Heather Beaudoin
For the first time in decades, New York became a focal point of Super Tuesday. More often than not, the Democratic candidates are narrowed down to one frontrunner by the time March 2 rolls around. However, with John Edwards still

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Why May Day Matters for Musicians
Kirk Kelly
Click here for calendar of Labor History Month events and exhibitions. May is Labor History Month. And all over the world, workers celebrate May 1 as May Day — international labor day. The U.S. is one of the only industrialized

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Virtual Orchestra Machine Not Welcome Off-Broadway
Mary Donovan
Three more theatres have prohibited the use of the virtual orchestra machine. The National Black Theatre , the Classic Stage Company and the Vineyard Theatre and Workshop Company have all agreed not to use the machine — and have put

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During its June 2004 quarterly meeting, by unanimous vote, the International Executive Board of the AFM endorsed John Kerry for president of the United States of America. The board endorsed Kerry for his stance on labor issues and economic issues

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Virtual Orchestra Machine Continues to Lose Ground
Mary Donovan
Local 802 and Dodger Stage Holding Theatricals have reached a two-year agreement for the Off Broadway production “Bare: A Pop Opera” that includes a ban on the virtual orchestra machine. Dodger Theatricals is mainly known in New York City for

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A Fight for a Contract Through the Eyes of a Teacher
Judith Lane
We, the teaching artists of the Metropolitan Opera Guild (MOG), ratified our first contract on July 5. The ratification came after a year and a half that included many months of organizing, a petition, a strike, a labor board hearing,

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How Far We’ve Come and the Road AheadPresident's Report
David Lennon
As 2004 comes to a close, it is important to look back on the initiatives we set out to accomplish and prepare for the road ahead. At the beginning of the year we pledged: TO INCREASE OUR COMMITMENT TO ORGANIZING,

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Recording Vice President's Report
Bill Dennison
First of all, thank you for electing me to the position of Recording Vice President. I look forward to serving the members of Local 802 and working with the other elected officers, President David Lennon and Financial Vice President Jay

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Going Forward on New Initiatives
David Lennon
In the last issue, I promised to focus this report on some of the changes and external priorities of the new administration. The following remarks, which I delivered at the Jan. 6 Installation Ceremony, outline the beginning of a new

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When Broadway Ups the Minimums, Critics Take Notice
Joe Delia
Since the conclusion of the Broadway strike last spring, there have been two developments that point to the centrality of the live musical experience in the theatre. One is the fact that five shows have come in well above the

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Controller's Report
Jon Bogert
For the year ended Dec. 31, 2003, Local 802 enjoyed a gain of $142,109, compared with a loss of $348,570 in the prior year. The audited financial statements for the year appear on page 18 of the April 2004 issue

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Iraqi Symphony Joins Forces With New York Philharmonic
Jenny Falcon
A group of musicians from Iraq’s National Symphony Orchestra traveled to New York in early April and worked with members of the New York Philharmonic as part of a cultural exchange program. Annie Melconian, 23, is the youngest member of

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State of the Union: A Mid-Year Report
David Lennon
Six months have passed since the new Local 802 administration was elected. The following is an overview of what we’ve accomplished so far — and the road ahead. Last October, members of Local 802 voted to raise their own dues.

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802 Joins Hudson Yards Coalition
David Lennon
802 to Chair Affordable Housing Committee, Partner With Jets on Arts Education Initiative.Click here for update On June 1, Local 802 formally accepted an invitation to join the Hudson Yards Coalition. The Hudson Yards’ plans for Manhattan’s Far West Side

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Financial Vice President's Report
Jay Blumenthal
Delegates to the 2004 International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) gathered in Salt Lake City for four days of seminars, educational workshops, reports and sharing of information. The keynote speaker was Henry Fogel, president and CEO of the

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Change to Organize, Organize to Change
David Lennon
WHY ORGANIZE? For several decades, as union membership declined as a share of the American workforce, union leaders refused to acknowledge the problem. Union density, the percentage of the workforce that is unionized, was at its highest in the post

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Jay Blumenthal
Negotiations for the freelance orchestras are well underway. The preparation process began with the various orchestra committees formulating questions for a survey. All tenured musicians on rosters for these orchestras had an opportunity to respond by answering the questions and

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Jim Hannen
Negotiations for the new Hotel Users of Music Agreement concluded on Oct. 29. Local 802’s Executive Board approved the new Agreement and the rank and file ratified it on Nov. 20. Because of the economic downturn, which began prior to

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Financial Vice President's Report
Jay Blumenthal
I have always believed that our strength as a union emanates directly from you – the rank and file musicians. Your collective action has the power to change the internal and external dynamics of our union. I thank you for

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Jazz Education Conference Meets the Big Apple
Natasha Jackson
The 31st annual International Association for Jazz Education Conference was held in New York on Jan. 21-24, with events centered in Midtown at both the Hilton and Sheraton Hotels — and, for the first time, a jam session at Local

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AFM Seeks to Add Internet Music to SRLA
Mikael Elsila
Digital downloads are no longer dirty words around the AFM. Up until recently, digital downloads were considered the realm of Internet pirates — or music fans too cheap to buy their own records. Local 802 and the AFM had only

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A Look at 802's Referral Service
Some musicians know that many years ago, Local 802 used to have a “hiring hall” where members could show up, meet contractors and try to get gigs. Eventually, this practice was discontinued because we learned that it’s not something we

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Actors' Equity President Patrick Quinn
Last March, as I stood outside on that blustery Saturday morning and spoke with musicians, stagehands and actors on the picket line, I had the full sense of what it means to be part of the labor community. And what

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Mikael Elsila
See below article for breaking news, and chart that shows a sampling of area colleges and their union status. As part-time teachers at the New School continue their push to win a union, teaching assistants at Columbia University temporarily suspended

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Controller's Report
Jon Bogert
For the six months ended June 30, 2004, Local 802 realized a gain of $176,735, compared with a gain of $52,209 during the first six months of 2003. The audited financial statements for the six month period appear elsewhere in

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Early Ear Musicians Reject Decertification Attempt
Robert Jost
My name is Robert Jost and I am a music teacher at a school called the Early Ear. We give music classes for infants, toddlers, and their accompanying parents and babysitters. I’ve been working this job for almost four years

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Union Ready for Showdown at Labor Board
Mikael Elsila
A conference that could have settled the differences between Local 802 and the Opera Company of Brooklyn ended in a stalemate on Sept. 28 when representatives from the employer showed up and claimed they were not empowered to negotiate. The

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The following letter was sent to the Coalition of Broadway Unions and Guilds (COBUG) by Patrick Quinn, president of Actors’ Equity Association. My good friends of COBUG, Your support and encouragement over the last year has been nothing short of

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When a Label Screwed Up, Artists Fought Back
Rebecca Moore
In October 2002, I called my record label – Knitting Factory Records – to buy some more copies of my disc, “Home Wreckordings.” I found out, to my great surprise, that the label had changed hands months earlier and none

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Leo Ball
Trumpeter Joe Wilder walked into my office for his Allegro interview immaculately dressed, as always; suit neatly pressed, matching tie, shoes shined, truly a picture of sartorial splendor. I mentioned to him that I couldn’t ever remember his being dressed

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David Demsey
Ninety-year-old woodwind virtuoso Al Gallodoro has had a storied career that virtually spans the history of modern American music. Best known for his work as alto saxophone, clarinet and bass clarinet soloist with Paul Whiteman, on recordings and as a

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New Program Trains Entertainment Unions How to Mobilize
Mikael Elsila
To fight back against the consolidation of power by media corporations, various entertainment unions in New York recently hired Cornell University to formulate a new training program. One purpose of the program is to give research and strategy tools to

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Member to Member
James Noyes
“Being a musician is not a profession and it’s not just a job, and it’s not something occasional — it’s the totality of your life and your devotion to something in which you believe profoundly. And, you have to believe

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Frank Rizzo
Now more than ever, theatre fans attending Broadway touring shows are wise to remember the shopping adage: Buyer, beware. Like quick-weight-loss programs, amazing real-estate deals and solutions for improved sexual performance, advertising come-ons for touring shows sometimes promise far more

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Jay Blumenthal
Preparations for the freelance orchestra negotiations are in full swing and orchestras are formulating proposals. The New York Pops committee already submitted its proposals to management at a meeting that took place on June 23. Since many musicians leave the

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The following resolution was passed unanimously by acclamation at the 2004 ICSOM conference: Whereas, the use of the virtual orchestra machine to replace live musicians is an abomination to the art form and a threat to the livelihood of working

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Jay Blumenthal
Rapid changes in technology have presented an interesting dilemma with which the AFM, locals and various orchestra managements are currently wrestling. Prior to the advent of the Internet, radio stations broadcast their signals over the airwaves. Today, in addition to

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Joining 802 and Playing at Radio City All in a Day's Work
Amy Cocuzza
Elton John made headlines this July by donating the proceeds of one of his Radio City Music Hall concerts to Manhattan’s Juilliard School and the London Royal Academy of Music. Backed by a 99-piece orchestra, Sir Elton belted out symphonic

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Member Spotlight
Standing up for your principles takes a special quality. Kiku Enomoto and her six colleagues at the Opera Company of Brooklyn have the right stuff that makes the union movement strong. Enomoto and her colleagues refused to play with the

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Card Check Bill is in the Works
Workers and their allies joined lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Nov. 13 to announce the Employee Free Choice Act, legislation that would enable U.S. workers to join unions and negotiate first contracts without employer harassment. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) and

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African American Jazz Caucus Keeps the Flame Alive
Larry Ridley
The African American Jazz Caucus (AAJC) is reaching out to the greater community under the motto “Working Together Works.” We are currently engaged in increasing public visibility and membership in our organization. Our mission statement reads as follows: “The art

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(The following is the text of a radio ad that ran on 1010 WINS during the month of February, as part of 802’s expanding live music public awareness campaign.) “Hello, I’m David Lennon, president of Local 802, the New York

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Company is "Poster Child" for What's Wrong With Media Deregulation
The AFL-CIO released a Cornell University study on Jan. 28 about Clear Channel, one of the country’s top largest media conglomerates and a lightning rod in the debate around media consolidation. The report — “The Clear Picture on Clear Channel”

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Marc Ribot
Musicians Against Sweatshops (www.NoSweatshop.org) is a new organization whose goal is to end the sale of sweatshop-produced merchandise on the music scene. Performing musicians and recording artists should join this campaign, and musicians who are on tour should use whatever

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The Anne Walker Scholarship Fund has awarded six scholarships for the coming academic year, to help 802 members or their children pursue studies in music. Fifteen musicians applied this year. PROFILES OF THE WINNERS Ariel Applebaum-Bauch is the daughter of

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Music is Free Speech Protected by the Constitution
Harvey S. Mars, Esq.
Local 802 Counsel
Leibowitz & Mars
Since every summer we celebrate the birth of our nation, I believe it is appropriate to review constitutional issues relevant to professional musicians. While many musicians do not realize it, musical entertainment is actually considered a form of expression protected

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Lenny Leibowitz
In perhaps the only hotel in Las Vegas without a casino, the 2004 ROPA conference began on Aug. 10. There are currently about 68 member orchestras and a substantial number of them were represented in the large conference room at

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For the first time ever, Allegro has won awards at the national level. This year Local 802 entered the journalistic excellence contest sponsored by the International Labor Communications Association. Allegro has won many awards in the past from the local

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The following commentary was written by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and posted on the Web site of the AFL-CIO. Near the end of July, in a 3-2 party decision, the Republican majority of the Bush administration’s National Labor Relations Board

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Heather Beaudoin
On Oct. 22, Local 802 convened the first meeting of the Hudson Yards Affordable Housing Committee. This committee will provide an official — and formal — capacity for the city’s labor movement to advocate for increased and real affordable housing

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Labor Solidarity
Local 802 members and other union workers rallied on Sept. 29 in support of the expansion and rehabilitation of the far West Side. The rally was sponsored by Local 802, Teamsters Joint Council 16, the Building and Construction Trades Council

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A Report on the Media Reform Conference
Jimmy Owens
When we think about the variety of newspapers, magazines, radio, television, cable and digital stations that exist, we discover the power that media ownership plays in developing our opinions and shaping our personal environment. Media, at times, presents positive educative

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Two staff members at Local 802 have been promoted. Joe Delia has been promoted to assistant to the president. Frances McDonald will be the new assistant to the financial vice president. JOE DELIA Joe Delia was hired by 802 in

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Each year, as the tax season approaches, Allegro publishes these tax tips provided by Local 802’s accounting firm, Gould,Kobrick & Schlapp P.C. OVERVIEW AND HIGHLIGHTS The Jobs and Growth Act of 2003 contains a number of important tax breaks for

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Guest Commentary
Joe Shufro
Every year, when the labor movement marks Workers’ Memorial Day on April 28, we mourn those who have been felled by occupational injury and disease and we renew our efforts to make workplaces the safe and healthful environments that they

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Successes and Rewards of Organizing Music Teachers
Joe Eisman
According to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics Union Members Summary Report (Jan. 21, 2004), the percentage of unionized workers in the private sector plunged again in 2003 to just 8 percent — half of what it was only

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Guest Commentary
Denis M. Hughes, President
New York State AFL-CIO
The term “affordable housing” has been misused and misunderstood for many years. Although most associate the desire for affordable housing with poverty, the need for quality, lower-cost housing affects an increasing percentage of working people of a wide range of

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The all-too-short annual conference of the Theatre Musicians Association was held at the Holiday Inn in St. Louis on Aug. 16-17. Most of the work of the conference took place on Monday, starting with introductory remarks by TMA President Vicky

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Organizing Matters
Amy Cocuzza
History and tradition tell us that the education of youth is one of the critical means of preserving any movement or culture. This is intuitive; the students of today are the leaders of tomorrow. Any group with a collective interest

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Guest Commentary
David Bonior
Machinist Verna Baden, a 72-year-old grandmother from my hometown of Detroit, was fired in 1992 with five others after they voted to form a union at Taylor Machine Products. It took the National Labor Relations Board 11 years to order

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Auditions and Rehearsals Should Pay
Joy Portugal
Twice every year, a number of 802 members who feel sure they have earned enough credits over a six-month period to qualify for the Health Benefits Plan receive a troubling letter informing them that they have fallen off the plan.

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The following resolution has been submitted for consideration at the membership meeting to be held on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 3 p.m. in the Local 802 Club Room. Whereas: The cost of legal counsel has increased since the adoption of

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Michael McKee
New Yorkers have benefited from the protections of rent and eviction protection laws, in various forms, for 61 years. But because of legislative changes during the past decade, rent control and rent stabilization will soon be a distant memory. That

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A Blueprint for a Radical Street Marching Band
Charlie Keil
“Fewer and fewer people in this country entertain each other with verbal games, recitations, charades, singing, playing on instruments, doing anything as amateurs — people who are good at something because they enjoy it.” — Adrienne Rich. About a hundred

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Corporate vs. Indie...Is That a Choice?
Marc Ribot
The argument that “indie” equals “progressive” originally came from post-punk circles. Joel Schalit, editor of Punk Planet magazine and a self-described “anti-rock” artist, wrote about this in an article called “No Alternative to Transcendence.” (It’s available at http://eserver.org/bs/46/schalit.html.) In the

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Recording Vice-President's Report
Bill Dennison
Two recent experiences over the last few months have brought renewed attention to the health care crisis that is closing in around all of us. Last year a young family’s infant was born with tragic health problems that will likely

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The Beat on the Street
Musicians often tell us that they’ve found their gigs either through networking or through a contractor. In your opinion: 1) What’s the best way to network? 2) And, what are some “do’s” and “don’ts” about dealing with contractors? Whenever I

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Organizing Matters
This is the debut of the Organizing Department’s column, “Organizing Matters.” To reach the department, call Organizing Director Joe Eisman at (212) 245-4802, ext. 191. Politics matter. Every American of voting age should be keenly aware of the direct role

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New Contract Allows Pension Flexibility
Sue Terry
Have you ever filed a union contract on a job you booked yourself? If not, you missed out on getting pension and health contributions for yourself and your band members. But there’s no time like right now to learn how

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Bill Dennison
The Recording Department has begun a scanning project that will preserve in digital form all of the sound recording contracts filed at Local 802 dating back to1986. These paper documents, filed and stored in the basement at the union headquarters,

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Bill Dennison
Part-time faculty members at the New School University’s Jazz and Contemporary Music Program have ratified a new four-year agreement that will raise wages 16 percent over the life of the contract. The agreement, which covers approximately 75 faculty members, also

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The Presidential Election as if Conducted by the NLRB
Invariably, a conversation about the merits of obtaining recognition through a card check (as opposed to NLRB elections) leads to the question, “Well, aren’t secret ballot elections a good thing?” Well, imagine what this November’s election would look like were

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An interview with Eddie Layton
There’s an 802 musician who has had a box seat at every Yankees home game since 1967. But his box had to be large enough for him and his instrument: a giant Hammond organ. He’s Eddie Layton, and he was

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802 Member Finds Her Calling, Playing Music in Hospitals
Pamela West
When I first left classical music to pursue my calling as a songwriter and healer, I found myself in the typical position of a 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. musician, performing in whatever club would have me – basement music

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An Interview with Toshiko Akiyoshi
“Toshiko Akiyoshi is the first woman in jazz history ever to compose and arrange an entire library of music and organize her own orchestra to interpret it.” — Los Angeles Times Toshiko Akiyoshi, born in Manchuria, began her piano training

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Musicians Lend a Hand to an 802 Child
Mike Christianson
Last fall, I was offered the chance to lead a brass ensemble in Duffy Square to let people see live musicians playing live music and enjoying themselves. Gotham Wind Ensemble was born. On Oct. 20, 2003 we rehearsed each piece

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Musicians’ Assistance Program
Mitch Weiss
Most music managers I’ve met have little or no training. There are no standards for managers in the music industry and they often make it up as they go along. While much of management is really crisis control — preventing

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The United States National Health Insurance Act (H.R. 676) establishes a new American national health insurance program by creating a single payer health care system. The bill would create a publicly-financed, privately-delivered health care program that uses the already existing

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Member to Member
Tom Hutchinson
Networking started for me, as it does for a lot of people, in school. Going to school in New York gave me a lot of exposure to players who freelanced in town, and gave me the opportunity to get to

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Local 802 is taking to the streets in what is an initial step toward renewed organizing in the club date field. Beginning in late October and through November, about a dozen organizers, business reps and Club Date Organizing Committee members

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Mike Ishii
“Stop Bush! Take Back America!” is the message that thousands of workers and unionists will spread at a protest and rally on Sept. 1. The rally, which starts at 4 p.m., also coincides with the tail end of the Republican

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Tip: don’t wait for the "Union Fairy"!Organizing Matters
Summer Smith
Once upon a dark and stormy time, not so long ago, New York City musicians didn’t receive health insurance from their employers. Not one musician could expect to retire with an employer-paid pension. And all were expected to accept their

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Musicians At Work
Summer Smith
Dozens of musicians and their supporters, a marching band, and the inflatable rat were present at an Aug. 14 protest in front of the Knitting Factory. The club’s recording division — Knitting Factory/Instinct Records — has been violating its artists’

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Guest Commentary
John Logan
The current supermarket dispute involving almost 90,000 employees of Kroger, Vons and Albertsons in West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and California is obviously of considerable importance. First, it is one of the few large labor disputes of recent years. If employees

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Sue Terry
I had heard a lot about legendary clarinetist and teacher David Weber. I arrived at his apartment on the Upper West Side, and was welcomed by Weber and his gracious wife Dorothy. Weber’s music room is filled with photographs and

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Guest Commentary
City Councilmember David Yassky
Will a middle class survive in New York City? The answer depends on many factors, but the availability of quality housing is perhaps the most important. At this moment, the city government has a unique opportunity to dramatically expand the

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Michael McKee
Tenants from across the downstate region rallied on May 2 outside the lower Manhattan office of State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. The theme of the rally was “Shelly, can we come live with you?” and rally participants — some of

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As far as the do’s and don’ts with contractors go: DO let them know you’re out there, even if you don’t know anyone who works for them who can recommend you. (But if you can get a recommendation from someone

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Peter Hogness
This fall, there are many different choices for union members who want to help beat Bush. Voter registration, house parties, phone banks and public protests are all part of the mix. Many New York groups are emphasizing outreach to “swing

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…and Other Pitfalls of the Single Engagement FieldMember to Member
Diane Michaels
So you’ve got a gig on Broadway, or you play with a symphony, but you get a call to play a wedding on a Saturday night. The pay sounds great — $300 (cash!) for a one-hour ceremony, so you book

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David Swanson
Union members should turn out by the thousands for three events in New York at the time of the Republican National Convention. Bring your family. Bring your friends. Bring your friends’ families! MADISON SQUARE GARDEN The first event is being

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To my Local 802 family: After 20 years of service to Local 802, the time has come for me to say “Adios.” I am retiring. After all this time, some of us know each other, some of us have become

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The Beat on the Street
Musicians call the union every day, asking how they can find work in this town. How did you find your gig? I asked for it. –John Serry I joined the union and went to the hall, introduced myself, and got

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Facts About Grievance and Arbitration
Harvey S. Mars, Esq.
Local 802 Counsel
Leibowitz & Mars LLP
Offhand I can think of several very good reasons why a musician would want to be covered by a union contract. A union agreement provides both management and employees with a standardized set of rules, obligations and entitlements concerning terms

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Leslie Cardell, CSW
We’ve all had bad nights, when we toss and turn, unable to fall asleep. Persistent sleep problems can lead to a loss of productivity, irritability, diminished pleasure in daily life, and increased health problems. Sleep is not simply a “time

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Your Right to Practice in Your Apartment
Harvey S. Mars, Esq.
Local 802 Counsel
Leibowitz & Mars LLP
Recently I was requested by a union official to research the issue of whether a musician who regularly practices and rehearses in his Manhattan co-op may be evicted because he is allegedly disturbing his neighbors and creating a nuisance. I

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State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer announced a deal on May 4 with the nation’s top recording companies that returns nearly $50 million in unclaimed royalties to thousands of performers. The agreement comes after a two-year investigation by Spitzer’s office found

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Photo Section
The best music is live music! That’s the message that Local 802 is spreading with the continuation of its Live Music Campaign. Over the course of this summer, the union sponsored three major live music projects, free and open to

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Guest Commentary
Denis Hughes
President of the New York State AFL-CIO
President Hughes delivered the following speech to the 700 delegates and guests attending the 30th Constitutional Convention of the New York State AFL-CIO following his reelection on Aug. 9, 2004. Who could have imagined, when we last met four years

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Kim Scharnberg Orchestrates an All-Acoustic Show
Lynne Bond
You’re sitting in a Broadway theatre thumbing through your Playbill. The house lights fade out and you turn your eyes toward the stage anticipating the performance which will now begin. Then the music starts, sounding larger than life. There was

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Mary Donovan
Local 802 has reached a two-year collective bargaining agreement with the Bay Street Theatre that includes a ban on the virtual orchestra machine. Bay Street is a nonprofit 299-seat theatre on Long Wharf in Sag Harbor (Long Island). Founded in

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Contest for Single Engagement Musicians
The president’s office, the Single Engagement and Organizing departments, and a new rank-and-file Club Date Organizing Committee launched a four-week “blitz” of club date rounds during October and November. The goal of these rounds is to increase 802’s presence in

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Musicians At Work
Broadway on Broadway is the theatre community’s annual season kick-off event, co-produced by the League and the Times Square Alliance. This free outdoor concert on Sept. 12 gave audiences a sneak preview of this fall’s new musicals, plus performances from

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Musicians At Work
Local 802 helped sponsor the 100th anniversary of Count Basie’s birth with a concert by the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra in Bryant Park in August. Featured were Sam Burtis (trombone), Billy Drewes (sax, flute and clarinet), Earl Gardner (trumpet), Dennis Irwin

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Guest Commentary
Kate Rubin
New York City’s workers have been hard hit during the past three years. Unemployment has reached deep into every community, with more than 240,000 jobs lost since the start of the recession. But the unemployment insurance (UI) system has failed

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Musician's Assistance Program
Leslie Cardell, CSW
Just when you thought the holidays, with all their pressures and expectations, were finally behind you, another one pops up – Valentine’s Day. As is true with so many holidays, we can easily get caught up in comparing our reality

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Guest Commentary
City Councilmember Christine Quinn
I was extremely flattered to be invited by Local 802 to write a piece for the Women’s History Month issue of Allegro. In preparation for this piece, I began to reflect on both the significant gains in equal rights made

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Book Notes
THE FIVE BIGGEST LIES BUSH TOLD US ABOUT IRAQ, by Christopher Scheer, Robert Scheer and Lakshmi Chaudhry, Akashic Books, Brooklyn & Seven Stories Press, New York City, 2004, 190 pp., paper, $9.95. It’s now widely accepted (by all except dyed-in-the-wool

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AFL-CIO Organizing Chief Tells His Secrets
Maura Giannini
On Halloween 2002, John Sweeney appointed Stewart Acuff as director of organizing for the AFL-CIO. Before coming to Washington, Acuff had been the AFL-CIO’s deputy regional director in the Midwest and the president of the Atlanta Central Labor Council. Executive

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Jay Schaffner
If you’re a typical Local 802 member who does recording dates, you are not a “royalty musician.” Instead, you get paid up front to do a record date, regardless of how well the record sells. (“Royalty musicians” are supposed to

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Matt Kudish
Let’s face it: most of us are in debt. In fact, in any given month, Americans owe $594 billion to bank credit card issuers. Despite the negative connotations of the word “debt” — and the horrifying images stirred up by

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WHAT: A drawing to win the chance to buy a 1,000-square-foot two-bedroom co-op in Yonkers. The price may be around $155,000. There are 18 co-ops available. WHO: This project is being sponsored by the Actors Federal Credit Union, the credit

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Musicians’ Assistance Program
Leslie Cardell, CSW
You’re sitting in the green room, and in a few minutes you’ll have to get up, go onstage, and begin the performance. You’re wondering, “Should I go to the bathroom one more time?” You can feel your heart rate picking

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Studios Use Loophole to Avoid Film Fund
Jay Schaffner with Mikael Elsila
Major film studios have found a new way to cut their costs — and take away money from musicians at the same time. The new practice involves bypassing the AFM’s motion picture agreement in at least two different ways. The

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Are you a photographer? Local 802 announces a photo contest with a top prize of $50 and publication in Allegro. The winning photograph will be the one that best promotes live music. The best photo will be chosen at the

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Linda Ronstadt was asked not to return to a gig at the Aladdin casino in Las Vegas after she made positive remarks about Michael Moore during a performance on July 17. Before singing “Desperado” for an encore, the 58-year-old rocker

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Local 802 Legal Corner: Workers' Compensation and Musicians
Harvey S. Mars, Esq.
Local 802 Counsel
Leibowitz & Mars LLP
Like any job, working as a musician can have its hazards. Lighting fixtures may fall on you, you might injure yourself by tripping on wiring, or a piece of scenery may malfunction, causing injury. Some Broadway musicians have had a

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Lifestyle Notes
Dr. Diane Gioia-Bargonetti
(This article, submitted by a Local 802 member, contains advice and suggestions intended to improve one’s health and well-being. Local 802 and Allegro offer no endorsement or recommendation regarding the efficacy or safety of any of the remedies suggested, and

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Local 802 Legal Corner
Harvey S. Mars, Esq.
Local 802 Counsel
Leibowitz & Mars LLP
In three of my columns last year (July/August, October and November) I wrote about employment discrimination. But there is one form of employment discrimination which I had not fully explored in those articles which is of particular relevance to women:

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The views expressed here do not express the views of Local 802. Please keep all letters to 300 words and send them to Allegro, c/o

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A Lifetime of Music, Sleeper Buses and Clowning Around
Leo Ball
Lew Anderson was born in Kirkman, Iowa, the son of a railroad telegrapher and a stay-at-home mom. His Iowa upbringing probably accounts for his Midwestern style of dry humor. He doesn’t tell jokes — he just says things that make

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A series of training sessions for Local 802 staff, supervisors, and rank-and-file committee members began in April. The first session was limited to 802’s Organizing Department, plus some additional staff. On April 26, an all-day program was held for committee

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If you are an active 802 member who has earned an award, please notify the editor of Allegro, Mikael Elsila, at melsila@local802afm.org. We will recognize you as space allows. Veronica Parrales Veronica Parrales, a cellist and graduate student in performance

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Local 802 Legal Corner
Harvey S. Mars, Esq.
Local 802 Counsel
Law Office of Harvey S. Mars LLC
With all the fanfare and controversy surrounding the Democratic and Republican conventions, and the upcoming presidential election, I thought that it would be a good idea to devote this month’s article to union representational elections. Just how is it that

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THEATRE REP GETS RAVE REVIEWS Mary Donovan was recently promoted to the position of principal theatre rep, where her duties will be expanded to include Broadway and Off Broadway. Donovan first became interested in unions by working on a successful

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Local 802 Legal Corner
Harvey S. Mars, Esq.
A Local 802 member has submitted an interesting question involving an all-too-frequent scenario encountered by musicians. This member wrote: Recently, I went out on the road with a company. Payment for the tour was based on a “performance/rehearsal” basis. The

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The Recording Department collected more than $1 million on behalf of musicians in 2003 in the form of grievances and collections. The most money was won in the TV field, with grievances on 50 contracts bringing in $605,209.22 to 818

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Elizabeth Avedon
The statistic is front page news. Women make up more than 50 percent of AIDS cases worldwide. The Women’s H.I.V. Outreach and Education Program at the Actors’ Fund exists to support all women in the music and entertainment industry who

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The views expressed here do not express the views of Local 802. Please keep all letters to 300 words and send them to Allegro, c/o

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Matt Kudish
“Making it” in New York City as a musician can be very challenging. Between practicing, auditioning, working, and trying to earn enough money to pay your bills, it is often near impossible. For many, a large portion of income must

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NEW SCHOOL TEACHERS Part-time teachers at the New School are close to finally winning union representation with the United Auto Workers. In late February, the National Labor Relations Board certified that 530 teachers had voted for a union, compared to

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Milton Charles, a member of Local 802’s Organizing Department for the past three years, has been assigned to serve as the union’s jazz rep for the next three months. Current jazz rep Natasha Jackson has been granted a three-month leave

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Interview with Fred Hersch
Pianist and composer Fred Hersch has earned a place among the foremost jazz artists in the world today. He is widely recognized for his ability to reinvent the standard jazz repertoire — investing time-tested classics with keen insight, fresh ideas

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The views expressed here do not express the views of Local 802. Please keep all letters to 300 words and send them to Allegro, c/o

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Matt Kudish
In an ideal world, each of us will be fortunate to find a meaningful career that also generates an income adequate to meet our expenses. In most cases, individuals make a conscious decision to pursue a specific career within a

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New Bill Gives Relief to Musicians
Mikael Elsila
If you’ve fallen off your health insurance and need help paying your COBRA continuation premiums, you may be in luck. After years of lobbying, a coalition of entertainment unions — including Local 802 — has succeeded in getting a new

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Heather Beaudoin
MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE VETOED FCC OPPOSE MEDIA CONCENTRATION TAX RELIEF FOR LOW-WAGE WORKERS MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE VETOED Gov. George E. Pataki vetoed a bill on July 29 that would have given a pay raise to thousands of New York’s lowest-paid

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A Letter from AFM President Tom Lee
802 SHINED A LIGHT Zomba is now a union label. This is one victory in 802’s “Shine a Light on Dark Dates” campaign, which we initiated to support the AFM’s efforts to unionize Zomba. We asked members to report Zomba

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Lifestyle Notes
Dr. Diane Gioia-Bargonetti
(This article, submitted by a Local 802 member, contains advice and suggestions intended to improve one’s health and well-being. Local 802 and Allegro offer no endorsement or recommendation regarding the efficacy or safety of any of the remedies suggested, and

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Heather Beaudoin
MALE-FEMALE PAY GAP PERSISTS LIVING WAGE AT LITTLE COST MALE-FEMALE PAY GAP PERSISTS New York Rep. Carolyn Maloney and Michigan Rep. John Dingell released the results of the new General Accounting Office (GAO) study showing that the gap between men’s

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In January, Remo Inc. donated a drum set to Local 802 and made a second set available at a greatly reduced price. The sets are two models from Remo’s new Gold Crown series. One set is the Be Bop model.

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Heather Beaudoin
Local 802 has reprinted the New York State AFL-CIO’s progress report on the current status of bills in the New York State Legislature affecting working families. On Feb. 24, several bills important to the New York labor movement were moved

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Books for Your Spring Break
SELF-MADE MUSICIANS “Up the Ladder and Over the Top” by Bob Alberti, 2003, 178 pages, $15, paperback, and “In One Ear and In the Other,” by Irv Greenbaum, 2000, 269 pages, $12.95, paperback Two self-published musical autobiographies arrived on my

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Guest Commentary
Cheryl Wertz
New York City is now home to over one million immigrants of voting age who are not yet citizens. That means that one out of every five New Yorkers of voting age can’t vote! As residents of this city they

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Heather Beaudoin
STATE ASSEMBLY RELEASES JOB PLAN SMOKING LAW REMAINS FIRM COPYRIGHT ENFORCEMENT COULD INCREASE STATE ASSEMBLY RELEASES JOB PLAN The New York State Assembly has released a comprehensive plan called “NY@Work” that would create tens of thousands of jobs, according to

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Book Notes
“Regime Change Begins at Home,” by Charles Derber (Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2004). In “Regime Change Begins at Home,” Boston College sociology professor Charles Derber analyzes the changes in America’s political climate since Civil War days with emphasis on the present era’s

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Guest Commentary
Assemblyman Richard L. Brodksy
The explosive rise in the cost of health insurance has had a devastating effect on the entertainment industry, especially for those working on Broadway and around New York state. It was our responsibility to change this. The coalition we formed

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CLUB DATES Chancellor Music. A successor agreement has been reached with Jay Leonhart covering all engagements performed by employees of Chancellor Music. The contract ties all performances and engagements to already established Local 802 agreements and provides for health and

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“Save Live Music” is not just Local 802’s mission — it’s also the name of a new Web site sponsored by the union. Go to www.SaveLiveMusic.com to keep track of the union’s fight for live music and battle against the

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LABOR GOES TO THE MOVIES For an alternative to the usual winter movie fluff, check out “Finally Got the News,” a documentary about radical black activists who pull off a wildcat strike in 1968 to protest racist conditions in the

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OFF BROADWAY “Naked Boys Singing!” After six months of lengthy and tough negotiations, which included an unfair labor charge against the employer, a new contract was finally reached with Boyzco, L.L.P. (Jaime Cesa, general manager). The musical takes place at

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The Local 802 Health Benefits Plan is pleased to announce that effective May 1, 2004 we will be changing HMO providers from MagnaHealth to Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield Direct HMO. Here are some of the benefits of Direct HMO:

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Local 802 Legal Corner
Harvey S. Mars, Esq.
Local 802 Counsel
Leibowitz & Mars
This will be the first of several articles in which I discuss and — hopefully — answer questions posed by our readers. Remember, you can e-mail your questions to Allegro editor Mikael Elsila at melsila@local802afm.org and he will pass them

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MERRICK SYMPHONY Negotiations with the Merrick Symphony have concluded, resulting in across-the-board increases in wages and benefits. While this is an orchestra with a very limited budget that only performs occasionally, it is the goal of the Concert Department to

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Heather Beaudoin
TAX CREDITS FOR NYC FILMS CITY WORKFORCE SAFETY ACT PASSED SIGN OVERTIME PROTECTION PETITION! TAX CREDITS FOR NYC FILMS Governor Pataki has signed into law a bill creating tax incentives for film and television production to assist in the fight

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Impressions of Joe Temperley
Leo Ball
When I first met Joe, he was a burly two-fisted Scotsman, with very little patience for nonsense. He also had one of the gentlest approaches to the baritone sax that I had ever heard. As with many a musician, his

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“DREAM A LITTLE DREAM” Local 802 attorney Harvey Mars took on a grievance against Eric Nederlander, producer of “Dream A Little Dream.” While performing at the Village Theatre, a band member from “Dream…” found that a housing fee was being

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Guest Commentary
Mary Landolfi
During the last four days before the election, a number of Local 802 Executive Board and rank-and-file members joined together with other volunteers from the AFL-CIO to phone voters in swing states on behalf of John Kerry. It was a

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MARTHA GRAHAM DANCE COMPANY Local 802 and the Martha Graham Dance Company have entered into a three-year agreement for the period Dec. 1, 2003 through April 30, 2006. The agreement specifies that for the first year of the agreement, the

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Cornelius Bumpus – Tenor Saxophone Don Cornell – Guitar Alfred Correale – Piano Morris Gaer – Drums Bernard Halpin – Electric Guitar William M. Keller – Bass Don Lamond – Drums Nicholas Marano – Piano Wes Mcafee – Piano/Conductor Nicola

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The views expressed here do not express the views of Local 802. Please keep all letters to 300 words and send them to Allegro, c/o

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Leslie Cardell
Just reading the headlines in the newspaper can be enough to raise my blood pressure these days. The world we live in is so complex, and stress can seem such a part of our daily lives, that we’re often unaware

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Elden “Buster” Bailey –Percussion Irving Barnett – Clarinet Ray Charles – Piano Harrison Cooper – Piano Anthony Del Casino – Trombone John A. Di Janni – Viola/Conductor Bill Doar – Piano/Arranger/Copyist Joseph Hugh Dumas – Bass Lise Elson – Violin

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THEATRICAL AGREEMENTS Except where noted, the following agreements include health benefits of $7.25 per call (capped at $58 per week), doubling premiums of 12.5 percent for the first and 6.25 percent for each additional, a synthesizer premium of 25 percent,

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802 Legal Corner
Harvey S. Mars, Esq.
Musicians often wonder how they should do business. There are primarily five ways to organize a business. From most complicated to least complicated, they are: corporation, limited liability corporation (LLC), limited liability partnership (LLP), general partnership, and sole proprietor. CORPORATION

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June 1, 2004 -- July 6, 2004
TUESDAY, JUNE 1, 2004 Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Gagliardi, Gale, Landolfi, Schaffner, Shankin, Whitaker, Assistant to the President Delia and Jazz Advisory Committee

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Wednesday, December 15th @ 12:00 PMMark Your Calendars!
Knitting Factory/Instinct Records is cheating its recording artists out of royalties and denying them the rights to their work guaranteed by their contracts. For over a year, these artists have been fighting to have their contracts honored. It’s time for

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Bylaw Resolution, Lost Instrument, Women's Support Group
BYLAW RESOLUTION PASSED The bylaw resolution printed in the February and June issues of Allegro was unanimously passed by the Executive Board. Since a quorum of members did not attend the June 29 membership meeting, the Executive Board had the

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802 Legal Corner
Len Leibowitz
A new virus referred to as the “structural deficit” is rampant in symphony orchestras throughout the nation. This insidious infection poses a severe threat to musicians everywhere in their never-ending quest for the growth of their institution and the improvement

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The views expressed here do not express the views of Local 802. Please keep all letters to 300 words and send them to Allegro, c/o

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JOSE CARRERAS On Aug. 3, 2003, a labor arbitrator ruled in Local 802’s favor over payments owed to musicians who performed in a Jose Carreras performance at Avery Fisher Hall on Feb. 8, 2003. The judgment for the union included

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The views expressed here do not express the views of Local 802. Please keep all letters to 300 words and send them to Allegro, c/o

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January 30, 2004 -- February 10, 2004
FRIDAY, JANUARY 30, 2004 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice-President Dennison, Financial Vice-President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Babich, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Controller Bogert, and Assistant to the President Delia.

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Heather Beaudoin
SHORT-TERM JOB RATE IS UP SHAVING TIME OFF WORKERS’ PAY CALL TO INCREASE WORKERS COMP RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE SHORT-TERM JOB RATE IS UP In March, payrolls grew vigorously after nearly three years of net job losses and seven months

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The following resolution has been submitted for consideration at the membership meeting to be held on Tuesday, June 29 at 3 p.m. in the Local 802 Club Room. This resolution was also printed in the February Allegro. Whereas: The cost

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March 26, 2004 -- May 25, 2004
FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 2004 Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Babich, Gale, Gagliardi, Giannini, Landolfi, Shankin, Controller Bogert, Jazz Liaison Owens. Lennon reported to the

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“CAROLINE, OR CHANGE” A grievance was settled in behalf of a Local 802 member who was denied his identity of product rights when “Caroline, or Change” moved from the Off Broadway production at the Public Theatre to the Broadway production

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Leslie Cardell
How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice. Perfecting your skills as a musician takes enormous determination and focus, and a drive to excel can be very helpful in maintaining the discipline required to succeed. Sometimes, however, our focus on

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Leslie Cardell, LCSW
Yes, the holiday season is upon us once again. All those good times, the family togetherness and happy celebrations we’ve come to expect…Right? No matter how you observe the holidays, you probably have a lot of ideas in your head

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Heather Beaudoin
NEED A LICENSE TO DANCE? NOT ANYMORE… New nightlife license eliminates cabaret law The city’s Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) has announced a proposal that would abolish the cabaret law and institute a new nightlife license. New York has a

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Julius Baker – Flute Mel Broiles – Trumpet Dolores Brown – Maracas Peter N. Brush – Piano Luca A. Del Negro – French Horn Judith M. Gaffney – Flute John Gordon – Trombone Fred K. Grossman – Saxophone Eugene Istomin

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Heather Beaudoin
REGISTERING TO VOTE HAS CHANGED FROM MORE PAY TO NO PAY STOP OVERTIME PAYCUTS ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR A TAX CREDIT? REGISTERING TO VOTE HAS CHANGED Voter registration forms have added new identification requirements. Currently, if you need to register

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THEATRICAL AGREEMENT “Chef Theatre.” A one-year agreement was negotiated with Chef’s Theatre Holdings, LLC, (Marty Bell, producer) for its production of “Chef Theatre” at the Edison Supper Club. The side musician minimum scale is $1,000 for an eight-performance week which

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Heather Beaudoin
OVERTIME PROTECTION GETS SUPPORT On May 4, the U.S. Senate approved an overtime pay guarantee for workers who stand to lose their overtime pay under new rules issued last month by the Bush administration. The 52-47 vote on an amendment

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April 24, 2004
Meeting called to order 1:15 PM. Present: Chairman Hood, Secretary Greene, Spencer, Bogin, Mullen, Axelrod, McIntyre, Lindquist, Harris. Swearing in of committee by President David Lennon. Vote is unanimous for Al Hood to remain as chairman and Katherine Greene to

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Gloria Agostini – Harp Doug R. Allen – Percussion Ida Appelman – Guitar Theodore P. Arentz – Piano Charles Barney – Trumpet Arthur Bogin – Violin Robert De Ceunynck – Piano Eugene Cines – Piano/Arranger/Copyist Al De Crescent – Piano

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Except where noted, the following agreements include health benefits of $7.25 per call (capped at $58 per week), doubling premiums of 12.5 percent for the first and 6.25 percent for each additional, a synthesizer premium of 25 percent, and a

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Heather Beaudoin
HOW DID UNION MEMBERS VOTE? Local 802 members came out in record numbers for this year’s presidential race. Over 100 musicians contributed to 802’s get-out-the-vote operation by reaching out to union members during our many phone banks and assisting in

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MET OPERA FOREIGN TOURS After many months of negotiation, including several court hearings, the Metropolitan Opera Association and Local 802, representing the regular orchestra, have reached agreement on terms and conditions for foreign tours. Provisions of this agreement are similar

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November 18, 2003 - December 23, 2003
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2003 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Rohdin, Shankin, Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon,

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OFF BROADWAY All musicians in the following theatrical agreements have identity with the product for at least three years following the termination of the show. Health benefits are capped at $7.25 per call and $58 per week per musician. Pension

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Salvatore V Agosta – Tenor Saxophone Arthur (Artie) Baker – Saxophone Longin A Buinis – Violin Robert E Curtis – Piano/Arranger/Copyist Joseph F Eterno – Saxophone Paul Litrenta – Trumpet Vincent Zummo – Guitar Abner Zwickel – Tenor Saxophone Arthur

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THEATRICAL AGREEMENTS Except where noted, the following agreements include health benefits of $7.25 per call (capped at $58 per week); doubling premiums of 12.5 percent for the first and 6.25 percent for each additional; a synthesizer premium of 25 percent;

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July 20, 2004 -- August 17, 2004
TUESDAY, JULY 20, 2004 Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice President Dennison, Executive Board members Gagliardi, Gale, Landolfi, Shankin, Weiss and Controller Bogert. Recording Vice President Dennison distributed minutes of July 13, 2004. Local

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August 31, 2004 -- September 7, 2004
TUESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2004 Meeting called to order at 11:20 a.m. Present: Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss and Assistant to the President Delia. President Lennon excused while

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Musica Viva. Musica Viva Musicians unanimously ratified a new contract as they prepared for the 2004-2005 New York season at All Souls Church. The term of the agreement is Feb. 11, 2004 through Feb. 10, 2007. The new contract includes

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AFM ADDRESSES DIGITAL DOWNLOADS As reported in the November issue of International Musician, the AFM has already met with the record industry over the issue of digital downloads. The AFM will be meeting with representatives of record companies again in

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NEW YORK POPS Local 802 and the New York Pops management have settled a recent grievance with regard to personal days. Three Pops members were denied their request to take a personal day for a rehearsal even though their requests

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February 17, 2004 -- March 2, 2004
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2004 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: Recording Vice-President Dennison, Financial Vice-President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Babich, Gagliardi, Gale, Landolfi, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Delia, and Jazz Advisory Committee

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Buddy Arnold – Piano Elden C. Bailey – Drums Joseph Blozis – Saxophone Francesca Corsi – Harp Dorothy Denny – Piano Rod Derefinko – Piano Joseph H. Dumas – Bass Arnold Germansky – Trumpet Roy D. Glasser – Saxophone Edward

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May 18, 2004
Meeting called to order at 1:15PM. Present: Chairman Hood, Greene, McIntyre, Luthra, Bogin, Harris, Jenkins, Kruvand-Moye and Lindquist. Minutes read and approved. Hood calculated the CAC fund is presently at $33,500 less approximately $5,000 in funds already allocated but so

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“Dream A Little Dream.” Local 802 reached closure on a grievance with the Nederlander Organization for music prep work in its production of “Dream A Little Dream.” The last performance of “Dream…” at the Village Theatre was held over a

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Clarification: John Serry was listed as deceased in last month’s Allegro. Mr. Serry’s son has the same name, and Allegro wishes to clarify that John Serry Jr. is alive and well. John Serry Jr. is a jazz musician, Broadway player,

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Dennis W. Brooks – Saxophone Virgil Caruso – Oboe Leo De Betta – Saxophone V. Richard De Cicco – Trumpet Albert Gabay – Accordion Joseph Giorgio – Saxophone Manny O. Grodman – Piano Joseph B. Habig – Trombone/Producer David Kates

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February 20, 2004 -- March 16,2004
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2004 Meeting called to order at 12:35 p.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Schaffner, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Delia, and

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This article from the December 2004 issue of Allegro magazine...

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October 21 -- October 31, 2003
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2003 Meeting called to order at 10:45 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin and Shankin, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon.

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December 30, 2003 -- January 27, 2004
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2003 Meeting called to order at 11:25 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Rohdin, Shankin, Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon. Local 802

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MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2004 The Trial Board of Local 802, AFM, convened on April 26, 2004. Meeting called to order at 11 a.m. Local 802 President David Lennon officiated at the swearing in of newly elected Trial Board members Anixter,

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September 14, 2004 -- September 21, 2004
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2004 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Babich, Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Shankin, Weiss, Whitaker, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Delia and Jazz

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Forum Presented by Health Care for All/NJ
PANELISTS:Sen. Jon S. Corzine*, Rep. Donald M. Payne*, Charles Granatir, MD (Physicians for a National Health Program), Assemblywoman Loretta Weinberg (Chair, NJ Assembly Health Committee)*, Bill Kane (President, NJ State Industrial Union Council), Anjali Taneja (Jack Rutledge Fellow, American Medical

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Bill Crow
Jack Block told me about his early days in New York, hanging around the Village jazz clubs to listen to Al Cohn and Zoot Sims. He said, “Zoot’s playing gave me more joy and pleasure than anyone I’d ever heard,

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Bill Crow
George Argila sent me a note remembering the late Doug Allan, with whom he studied drums and mallet instruments at the Henry Adler studios during the mid-1950’s. Doug wrote a letter of recommendation that helped George get out of the

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Bill Crow
I got a call last summer from a leader who said, “I have a gig for a Dixie trio that I can’t do. Do you want to do it?” He told me the date and hours and the money, and

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Bill Crow
The new Henry Mancini postage stamp triggered a memory for trombonist Sam Levine. Over 20 years ago, when Sam was still a member of the Washington D.C. local, he played lead trombone for a band that Mancini fronted at the

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Bill Crow
I was chatting on the phone with Vinnie Zummo last year, and we discovered a mutual interest…the legendary trumpet player Don Joseph. I knew and played with Don during the 1950’s, and Vinnie knew him during the last years of

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Bill Crow
Andrew Beals told me about a job Ravi Coltrane was playing at a jazz club out on the coast. Ravi, son of the famous John Coltrane, is a fan of Jim Carrey’s movies, and was excited to see that Carrey

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Bill Crow
During the 1947-48 season with the Pittsburgh Symphony, William Zinn shared a room with the orchestra’s piccolo player. They hung out together, and wherever they went, his friend carried his piccolo in his jacket pocket. Whenever the spirit moved him,

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Bill Crow
Mike Zwerin, who I knew around New York in the 1950’s as a jazz trombonist, now writes on jazz for the International Herald Tribune in Paris. In an e-mail message to my friend Frad Garner, Mike mentioned the jazz tenorman

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Bill Crow
Bill Elton saw a story in one of my recent columns about his old trombone section mate Tommy Mitchell, which reminded him of this one: Bill and Tommy were playing a six-week gig at the Statler Hotel with Tex Beneke’s

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Bill Crow
This story was told to Jamie Aebersold by trombonist John Welsh, and was sent to Pete Hyde by Pat Dorian, an educator out in East Stroudsburg, Penn. Pete passed it along to me. John, 18 years old and naïve, was

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Bill Crow
Back in the 1950’s, when Dave Lambert and I were living on West 10th Street in the Village, Dave was scuffling to survive a rough spot in his career. (This was before he met Jon Hendricks and formed Lambert, Hendricks

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