Allegro

Currently Browsing: 2007,

As Allegro goes to press, a tentative agreement has been reached with the League for a new three-year Broadway contract. In a message to Broadway musicians, President Landolfi stated in part the following: I am pleased to report that on

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Over the years, many of us at Local 802 have been the recipients of invaluable assistance from Tina Hafemeister during her tenure on the Executive Board of Local 802, as financial vice-president and as supervisor of the Music Preparation Department.

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Help make Christmas special for kids! Local 802 is once again participating in a gift drive sponsored by the Federation of Protestant Welfare Charities. Wanted are new toys, games, books, stuffed animals, hats, scarves, gloves or similar gifts, suitable for

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Mikael Elsila
Workers at the Bach trumpet plant in Elkhart, Indiana picket for a fair contract. Photo by Carl O’Haver. BOYCOTT! Local 802’s Executive Board voted to support a boycott of Bach trumpets while the workers are out on strike. (The Chicago

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Labor History Month
Kirk Kelly
Drummers performing at an anti-war rally last year show that music of any kind adds emphasis to politics. Photo by Joy Portugal. Last year saw a resurgence of May Day activism around the issue of immigration reform with actions taking

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Organizing Matters
Marisa Friedman
CONDO VS. CULTURE: Activist and performer Paul Bartlett protest the closing of Tonic, the last avant-garde music venue of its kind. Next to Tonic stands the Blue Condominium, the latest sign of gentrification to hit the neighborhood. Photo by Barbara

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Musicians Will See Major Improvements
Broadway musicians overwhelmingly ratified their new three-year contract. Pictured from top to bottom are David Riekenberg, Ray Marchica and Don Rice. Photos by Joy Portugal. Broadway musicians ratified a new three-year contract in May by an overwhelming margin. The new

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On Sept. 26, musicians of the New York Philharmonic ratified a new contract by a vote of 87 to 9. The top priority in the negotiation was retaining parity with other premier orchestras in the United States in the areas

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AFM Convention Reduces Dues on this Work
If you’re a Broadway musician who has ever recorded a cast album, you know that the music can often end up in unlikely places, such as jingles, elevators or even airlines. But there is a union contract in place that

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Below are the final results of the December 5th Local 802 Officers Election as tablulated by the American Arbitration Association.. A total of 1,961 votes were cast. There were 69 challenged ballots, 7 of those ballots were determined to have

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Photo by Walter Karling. Broadway on Broadway — the League’s annual revue of Broadway musicals in Times Square — came back this year with far less tape and far more live music. This reverses a recent trend that had caused

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During the stagehands’ strike, performed on picket lines. Photo by Claire Houston. This November, two strikes have affected musicians in profound ways. The stagehands of IATSE Local 1 and the writers of the Writers Guild of America both took a

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Larry Rawdon
Barbara Murray, director of music of the New York City Department of Education, with Local 802 member Jose Bergher, at a screening of “Tocar y Luchar.” There is no more important work being done in music than what is being

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New Plan Will Offer Hospitalization
Bill Dennison
There is good news on the horizon: Local 802 is improving its health plan and adding hospitalization. The new plan, which will add or restore many benefits to members, will begin with the Oct. 1 coverage period. The plan will

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A New Beginning
Mary Landolfi
Let me express my congratulations to all the winning candidates in our recent election, my gratitude to the membership for placing their confidence in me and my thanks to those members of the former administration who assisted in the transition

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Organizing is the heart of the labor movement, and earlier this year Local 802 hosted the AFL-CIO’s Organizing Institute. This three-day immersion takes progressive rank-and-file workers or other unionists and puts them in charge of a simulated campaign. House calls,

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Photo by Claire Houston. This November, writers and stagehands took to the streets, and musicians performed on picket lines in solidarity. This is the first time the stagehands have struck in the union’s 121-year existence. “Stagehands never get any direct appreciation

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Mary Donovan
“Edward Scissorhands” was performed under an 802 contract at BAM. Photo by Bill Cooper. Since the beginning of 2007, Local 802 has negotiated a number of new agreements in various venues, both Off Broadway and in an area that I

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Is There No Longer Any Honor Among Musicians?
Mary Landolfi
You know you’re getting old when standards once widely accepted are replaced by a new reality. “In my day…” has always been the identifying cry of those whose day is past. Time does march on and the old always makes

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Membership Alert
TO CARRY ON… OR NOT? Last winter, Allegro asked members about their experiences carrying on instruments. Responses were published in December as part of the “Beat on the Street” question of the month. Click here to read what members had

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Union Rep Notebook
Mary Donovan
Musicians before a recent performance of “LoveMusik” at the newly-restored Biltmore Theatre on West 47th Street. Local 802 and Manhattan Theatre Club concluded negotiations on a collective bargaining agreement last September. Now, less than one year later, the theatre is

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Joel LeFevre
There is growing evidence that New York recording musicians can compete in the global marketplace. In late September, a session for 28 musicians was brought back to New York from a planned date in Prague. The project producer and composer,

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Mikael Elsila
NO WAR! Local 802 members protested the Iraq War last year. This year marked the fourth anniversary of the invasion. Photo by Joy Portugal. Peace now! Local 802 recently became the 160th union to affiliate with U.S. Labor Against the

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David Lennon and Mayor Bloomberg in Times Square in 2005. Photo by Claire Houston. David Lennon leaves office on Dec. 31. On the eve of his departure, Allegro posed some questions to 802’s outgoing president. Allegro: In your opinion, what

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How the 169 Bar Rips Off Musicians
Marisa Friedman
This August, trumpet player and Local 802 member Shane Endsley played at the 169 Bar in Chinatown — a popular local bar nicknamed the “Bloody Bucket” because it was notorious for numerous brawls in the 1950’s and 60’s. After only

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Musicians who play on jingles will perform under a new two-year agreement, which became effective Oct. 17. And for the first time, jingles that are produced for podcasts, cell phones, iPods, MP3 players and other digital media will be covered

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Smoke Problem at "Wicked" Prompts Action
Bettina Covo and Mary Donovan
Smoke and fog effects at “Wicked” prompted musicians, actors and stagehands to protest. Above, Stephanie J. Block levitates as the witch Elphaba. Photo by Joan Marcus via Wikipedia. The Theatre Department of Local 802 recently received information that a meeting

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Incremental Progress
Mary Landolfi
As I sit in the office, February has just begun. The transition required by a new administration is well underway and I would like to report on the progress which has been made. After a hiatus of over a year,

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Broadway Negotiations and Our Pension Fund
Mary Landolfi
As I write this column, we have just begun negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement with the League of American Theatres and Producers, as well as Disney and other producers who have bargained with the League in recent years.

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Recording Vice President's Report
Bill Dennison
While it is too early to gauge the financial impact on the Local 802 health plan of the changes that became effective January 1, 2007, the impact on 802 members has been dramatic. The cuts in coverage have made most

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Union Wins Several New Off Broadway Deals
Mary Donovan
A scene from “Bitty Bear’s Matinee: The Family Tree” at the American Girl Theatre. Musicians performing there play under a Local 802 contract. Local 802 concluded several new contracts over the last several months, some of which have been pending

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Joel LeFevre
Above, from left: Rozanna Weinberger, Patrisa Tomassini, Akua dixon and Orlando Wells. The musicians posed in front of a historical photo of old New York City. Photos by Dave Sheldon. Local 802 musicians perfromed recently at the “Made in New

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How Special Effects Can Impact Your Health
Walter Usiatynski
Smoke and fog effects at “Wicked” prompted musicians, actors and stagehands to protest earlier this year. Smoke effects remain a concern on Broadway. Smoke? Fog? Fire? All in a night’s work on Broadway. Recently I attended a hazardous material training

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802’s Support of Festival Yields Results
Mary Donovan
Clarice Mazanec starred in “Hot and Sweet,” a musical produced last year at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Local 802 supports the festival as a way to introduce the union to new musicians and as a way to keep

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Union Rep Notebook
Bettina Covo
Photo by Aussiegall via Flickr.com I know that many people – myself included – can’t understand how a small problem with a simple solution can turn into a giant, complicated monster. I suppose Mr. Murphy can sum it up: “Whatever

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Why Politics?
Mary Landolfi
It’s sometimes an open debate in our union whether we should or should not be involved in politics. Especially when it comes to endorsing candidates, many members throw up their hands when we publicly support someone on the “wrong” side

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A Lesson Learned from a Segregated Union
Mary Landolfi
The new Executive Board pause for a photo before their first meeting. AFM President Tom Lee shakes Landolfi’s hand after swearing her in. Photos by Walter Karling. I planned to write this month’s column about the progress the administration is

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Parking Professionals Fight for a Union
Hundreds rallied in front of NBC studios last December to show their support for parking production assistants and coordinators who are fighting to form a union. Photo courtesy of UAW Region 9A. Out of the thousands of people who put

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Music and Politics
Bill Ochs
John Hall backing up Bonnie Raitt last October. Photo by Robert L. Furlong. “Organized people have always had to take on organized money. If they had not, blacks would still be three-fifths of a person, women wouldn’t have the vote,

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Bill Dennison
SUPPORT THE STAGEHANDS As Allegro goes to press, the League is in negotiations with Local 1 of the stagehands’ union (IATSE). We believe the stagehands deserve a fair contract and they have our full support in that effort. For the

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Jim Hannen
The new administration at Local 802 has hit the ground running. A priority of President Mary Landolfi and the newly reconstituted Organizing Department under the direction of Joe Eisman will be to examine the organizing needs in the club date

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Larry Spivack
David Wechsler performs bass flute at “King Lear.” Additional photos by Walter Karling below article. As Shakespeare would have asked, “How now?” In other words, what are four live musicians – including myself – doing 30 feet above the stage

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Financial Vice President's Report
Jay Blumenthal
I am pleased to report that 2006 year-end financial results for Local 802 were unusually robust. In fact, we ended the year with one of the largest gains ever: $877,624. To put things in perspective, we ended 2003 with a

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Bill Dennison
Substantial dues increases are being proposed. Local 802 opposes them. Local 802 is committed to true organizing, not just “recruitment.” Local 802 is supporting resolutions that would make the AFM pension fund more user-friendly. Local 802 is committed to unifying

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John Conte and Joel LeFevre
In early May, John Conte and LeFevre attended the 2007 policy conference of the Future of Music Coalition, a think tank dealing with music and technology. Below is their report. If you’re interested in seeing glimpses of the conference, go

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802 Reps Out in Force at New York Musical Theatre Festival
Todd Bryant Weeks
Musicians for the show “Suddenly Summer” were covered by an 802 contract. Fom left, Jan Rosenberg, Henry Aronson, Howard Joines, Alec Berlin and Steve Gelfand. The production was one of the shows at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, a

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The Best – and Worst – of the AFM Convention
Mary Landolfi
When Allegro last went to print, I was in the midst of attending the 97th AFM Convention in Las Vegas. Much of what must be reported about the convention is negative, but in spite of that fact, I think Local

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Labor Matters
Leonard Leibowitz
Cartoon by Tom Keough, courtesy www.laborarts.org The attack on working people and their unions continues unabated. New Supreme Court and NLRB decisions may have a direct impact on Local 802 members. Principal players from all symphony, opera and ballet orchestras

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Most members of Local 802 know that the negotiations at Radio City Music Hall in 2005 ended with an unsuccessful strike. This was followed by a contract that allowed management to eliminate most overtime and also impose the gradual attrition

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802 has Strong Presence at Jazz Improv Live Convention
Todd Bryant Weeks
Jamming are Local 802’s Bob Cranshaw (bass), Fred Taylor (drums) and Dr. Frank DiBussolo (guitar). Bob Cranshaw walked up to his old friend Barrie Kolstein, a man who had been supplying him with new instruments for many years. No words

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Union Rep Notebook
Mary Donovan
“Beyond Broadway.” What do I mean by using that phrase? Well, it seems to encapsulate better than anything else I’ve tried to use to describe the wide range of venues and contracts that Local 802’s Theatre Department works on besides

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Union Rep Notebook
Steve Danenberg
Steve Danenberg is the new music prep administrator at Local 802. As almost every member knows, music prep covers the areas of copying, orchestrating and transcribing, among other tasks. Until recently, it also meant the fine art of engraving, or

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Lenoard Leibowitz, Esq.
This is a longer and more detailed version of a story that appeared in the January 2007 issue of Allegro on page 7. The attack on working people and their unions continues unabated. The Supreme Court’s decision in Kentucky River

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Musicians who work for Shloime Dachs will now be covered
In late October, the Shloime Dachs Orchestra became the latest signatory to the Jewish Club Date Agreement. As reported in the April 2005 issue of Allegro, Dachs signed a recognition agreement with Local 802, agreeing to negotiate. He participated in

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(and know your rights!)
Karen Fisher
Not long ago, “Frontline” ran a program about the problem of credit card debt in this country and how many Americans have become swamped in debt over a very short period of time. One of the many issues the program

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Controller's Report
Ira Goldman
I have been at Local 802 for ten months and have now pretty much experienced all that goes on with my job. The LM-2 tax filing was a learning experience, but we got it done timely and accurately. When I

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Local 802 has officially joined the chorus of diverse voices calling for universal health care. On March 9th, President Mary Landolfi testified to the NY State Assembly Committees on Health, Labor and Insurance about the effects of the health care

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Looking Beyond Our First Challenge
Mary Landolfi
The ratification of the new Broadway agreement marks the close of the first significant chapter of this, my first term in office. I believe that the overwhelming vote in favor of the contract indicates that musicians working on Broadway agree

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Jack Gale (left) and Bill Moriarity. Photo (and additional photos below) by Walter Karling. They made the union strong. On Sept. 19, members and friends honored three leaders who are an integral part of Local 802’s history. Jack Gale, John

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President Landolfi has appointed a committee to review and make recommendations regarding the use of the AFM’s low budget sound recording agreement and Local 802’s limited pressing agreement for the recording of material from Off Broadway theatrical productions. Landolfi announced

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Member Spotlight
Local 802 member Nancy Donaruma has recently decided to retire from her position as cellist with the New York Philharmonic and become a full-time paramedic with Alamo Ambulance in Poughkeepsie. It’s such an interesting switch that Allegro decided to sit

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Labor Matters
Joel LeFevre
Click here for online only .pdf version with more accompanying color charts. The top legislative priority of the AFL-CIO is passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, also called the card check bill. The legislation would streamline the process for

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President's Report
Mary Landolfi
In ancient times, the Romans worshipped Janus, the two-faced deity who looked both toward the past and the future. From that root came our name for the month of January, but somehow we do not do as the Romans do,

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Larry Rawdon
Although the Music Industry/Music Education (MIME) Initiative of Local 802 only began last November, as director of MIME I can report that we have already forged some very meaningful relationships. There are many organizations whose members share our vision for

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Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
March is Women’s History Month, and I want to tell the story of a courageous female forklift operator who pursued justice all the way to the Supreme Court last year. What do forklifts, women and civil rights have in common?

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Recording Vice President's Report
Bill Dennison
Not long ago at a meeting of our Jazz Advisory Committee, a member described what unfortunately is a common situation. He had been working for a well-known artist and that work accounted for a large part of his yearly income.

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Supporting Musicians by Grasping the Power of the Liquor License
Rebecca Moore
THE NEW GENTRIFICATION: Images of the new Lower East Side, by Clarke Harstern. A proliferation of bars has meant that the neighborhood has turned into a miniature Times Square. But more bars has not meant more venues for live music.

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Each year, as the tax season approaches, Allegro publishes these updated tax tips provided by Local 802’s accounting firm, Gould, Kobrick & Schlapp P.C. OVERVIEW AND HIGHLIGHTS The following outline focuses on aspects of the tax law that specifically affect

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There are some new faces representing Local 802. As reported in last month’s president’s report, Daniel Engelstein and Kevin Finnegan, partners in the law firm Levy Ratner, have been retained as Local 802 counsel. Engelstein is now 802’s lead counsel

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Membership Alert
As most 802 members know, the Local 802 health plans do not include hospitalization. However, for the past few years, 802 has offered an HMO plan that does include hospitalization. In order to qualify, you must first be on one

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Whither the Recording Industry and the AFM?
Mary Landolfi
BETTER MUSIC ED ABROAD? The following letter by Mary Landolfi was published in the New York Times on April 22 in response to a Times article about the choice of the new music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. To

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Ethan Fein
Retired folks often make the best activists: they’re experienced, they’ve seen it all, and they have more time to spend on campaigns. Local 802 Executive Board member Ethan Fein was recently appointed as 802’s representative to the New York City

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Is it Time for a New Paradigm?
Mary Landolfi
There’s an old picture of my grandfather hanging on the wall of my office. He is holding his clarinet, a member of the house band in the Circle Theatre, Indianapolis, Indiana, circa 1920 — 26 pieces plus conductor. Those were

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Recording Vice-President's Report
Bill Dennison
As the largest local of the AFM, Local 802 played an important role at the AFM’s 2007 convention. On several issues, Local 802 was the most vocal advocate not only for our members, but also for musicians across the nation.

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The Business of Music
Kathy Canfield Shepard
Are we workers or artists? That was a good question posed by Allegro in the last issue, and one not easily answered. Are we workers, going to a job every day, or are we fulfilling our own artistic visions, creating

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Negotiations Roundup
Mary Donovan
The New York Theatre Workshop, a signatory to 802’s contract with Off Broadway nonprofits, recently produced “KAOS,” featuring 802 musicians John T. LaBarbera (mandolin), Irving Grossman (trumpet), Richard Sosinksy (mandocello) and Music Director Jill Jaffe (not pictured). In November, the

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Music and Politics
Julia Smith
As announced in the last issue, Local 802 participated in a march and rally against the Iraq War at the end of October. A band hired by Local 802 received great reviews from fellow unionists for their performance at the

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Saint-Georges, the First Classical Composer of African Descent
Gabriel Banat
It was around 1970, shortly before I joined the New York Philharmonic, while prowling the libraries for unfairly neglected violin music to vary my repertoire, that I first came across a score by a composer of the elegant but unfamiliar

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Every day, 200,000 domestic workers in New York – nannies, elderly companions and housekeepers – make it possible for their employers to go to work. Most are employed without a living wage, health care and basic labor protections. These workers

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Women's History Month
March is Women’s History Month. Last November, a member wrote to Allegro that the New York City music scene was biased against women (see November 2006 “Musician’s Voice”). From your perspective, is this true? If you are a woman, do

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Music and Politics
Julia Smith
Here some updates on what’s going on politically at the city, state and federal level that impacts Local 802 members, our industry and the labor movement at large. As usual, contact me at (212) 245-4802, ext. 176 with any questions.

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Harvey Fierstein Shows How to Be United
Walter Usiatynski
Photo by Martin Steisand via Flickr. How often does someone in our business stand up and publicly support Local 802 and live music? Not often, it seems. However, there is one person to whom we owe thanks and appreciation. Harvey

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Jim Hannen
Former Steven Scott leader Ike Walkover has become the newest signatory in the club date field. Since Steven Scott ceased operations early last year, Local 802 has been working to convince all the former Scott leaders to continue to provide

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In July, an agreement was negotiated for the taping and broadcast of “Legally Blonde” on MTV and MTV-related channels on basic cable. The agreement calls for payment to each musician of scale of $2,020.20 plus doubling, contractor, first trumpet, librarian,

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The Local 802 Executive Board has approved an agreement with the New York Theatre Company for performances at the Hilton Theatre. Musicians who have worked on Broadway during the term of the last agreement (2004 to 2007) will remember that

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Negotiations Roundup
Mary Donovan
Local 802 has negotiated new agreements covering the American Airlines Theatre, Studio 54 and the Biltmore. The owners of these theatres are members of the League of Resident Theatres, or LORT. There are more than 80 LORT theatres located in

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Music & Politics
Julia Smith
In this column, I will outline the election calendar for the next few years and briefly highlight important upcoming elections. NEW YORK CITY As we track city politics, our eyes are focused on 2009, a very big election year. Thirty-six

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Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
The labor movement was dealt a major blow in late September, when the Bush-appointed majority on the National Labor Relations Board decided to weaken rules surrounding union organizing. For decades, there have been two basic ways employees could form a

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Lorraine Goodman
The career of the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, the 18th- century composer, is enjoying a renaissance. On Jan. 15, the Epiphany Theatre Company’s “Words Up” series presented a reading of a new play, “God of Arms,” written by myself and James

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Money for musicians. That’s one reason Local 802 exists: to make sure that you get your fair share. In 2006, the union collected at least $2.25 million for musicians — and the figures are still coming in. Most of this

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Women's History Month
Pat Humphries and Sandy O
Pat Humphries (left) and Sandy O, who perform asd the group “Emma’s Revolution.” In our experience as traveling folk musicians, there is a lot of sexism everywhere we go. There is a prevailing belief that a lot of women get

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802 member John Faddis performs at the opening of the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine. Another option for musicians’ health care is on the scene in New York City. The Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine recently

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Music and Politics
Julia Smith
The state law that prohibits ticket scalping and regulates ticket resale expires on June 1 and the debate on the issue is heating up in Albany. The most contentious provision of the current law limits the mark-up ticket brokers can

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Music & Politics
Julia Smith
Local 802 has officially joined the chorus of diverse voices calling for universal health care. On March 9, Local 802 President Mary Landolfi testified to the State Assembly committees on health, labor and insurance about the effects of the health

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May 2, 2007
John Conte and Joel LeFevre
You can watch the FMC Policy Conference for yourself here:Future of Music Coalition Policy Conference Fundamentally there is a shift in the way music is consumed. In the US cd sales are off over 10% a year for three years,

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Financial Vice President's Report
Jay Blumenthal
The financial audits for the six months ending June 30, 2007 can be found in the printed version of Allegro, beginning on page 18. The results are good, showing a gain of $626,000. This was achieved by keeping a tight

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Views from the Board
Ethan Fein
Why can’t we all just get along? I heard this wish expressed often at my first AFM convention this June. After listening for a while, it occurred to me that it was only half a thought, although the second half

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Member to Member
Jack Gale
Last month’s “Beat on the Street” question about whether musicians are “artists” or “workers” continues to elicit responses. The question of whether musicians are artists or workers can be a sensitive one in a world in which musicians themselves are

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Labor Matters
Joel LeFevre
Reality today is that working Americans are woefully unprepared for retirement. We are well on the way to having retirees become the largest group of miserably poor people in society. Retired folks just won’t have adequate income. They also won’t

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Organizing Matters
Joel LeFevre
Turning nonunion gigs into union ones is made possible by the willingness of members – you, dear reader – to care about retirement income, medical benefits and scale payments. It’s about seeing working union as the right way to work.

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African-American Violinists of the 1920’s
Gayle Dixon
Violinist, arranger and bandleader Edgar Sampson featured on the cover of the album “Sampson Swings Again.” By the early 20th century, America had produced an extraordinary number of classically trained black violinists who studied at leading colleges and conservatories here

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Women's History Month
Joseph Rutkowski
JoAnn Falletta, conductor and music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic. Almost anyone can name a famous female athlete or a famous female pop singer, but how many Americans can name a famous female orchestra conductor? Only four readily come to

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Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
These days, workers are finding it harder and harder to form unions. But there is an ongoing effort in our newly-composed Congress to make long overdue changes in the National Labor Relations Act that every union member in the United

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Labor History Month
Esther Cohen
Bread and Roses is a center dedicated to workers’ art. The name comes from the 1912 textile strike in Lawrence, Mass. Workers came up with the slogan: “We want bread — and roses too!” In other words, it’s not enough

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On April 11, the Classical Musicians’ Forum met in the 802 club room where the results of the Freelance Concert Survey were reviewed in detail. The discussion resulted in the preliminary formulation of proposals for the freelance concert negotiations. In

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Stephan Quentzel, M.D.
Pianist Leon Fleisher once called musicians “athletes of the small muscles.” And like many athletes, stress on the body is accompanied by not only the pressure to succeed as artists, but the ever-present demand of tolerating public scrutiny. Such demands

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Controller's Report
Ira Goldman
I have now been here for over a year and have been through the cycle of handling all the financial issues of Local 802. When you first come to a new atmosphere you see what is going on and what

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Steve Danenberg
Special congratulations to Local 802 member Marc Shaiman on receiving ASCAP’s prestigious Henry Mancini Award. As a composer and arranger for recordings, TV and theatre, he has reached the heights of our industry. The Music Prep Department and Local 802

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Member to Member
David Schneck
Last month’s “Beat on the Street” question about whether musicians are “artists” or “workers” continues to elicit responses. We must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately,” wrote Benjamin Franklin in 1776. In other words

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Music & Culture
Harold Robinson, principal bassist for the Philadelphia Orchestra and a member of Local 77. The intersection of art and life is at the core of “Music From the Inside Out,” Daniel Anker’s cinematic exploration of music through the stories, the

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Black History Month
February is Black History Month. The musicians’ union used to have segregated locals and also a cabaret license system that was used to discriminate. But much progress has been made in society and also in the union. What improvements have

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Music And Politics
Julia Smith
I’d like to introduce myself as the new political action and public relations director for Local 802. Thank you to all the staff and members who have welcomed me so warmly. I am particularly grateful for all those who have

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Labor History Month
K. Kevyne Baar
How often have union members asked, “What has my union done for me?” How about this: my union helped fight the blacklist. The New York Labor History Association along with Actors’ Equity and the Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives came

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Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
I think my clients are about to break the law. And I don’t think that I will be able to stop them. Let me back up. Attorneys spend the greater portion of their time counseling clients on the legal ramifications

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Larry Rawdon
The healing power of music was a central theme of the lectures delivered at the May 14 symposium on music and medicine at the Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine that I attended. The health and medical needs specifically

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Emergency Relief Fund
If you’ve ever been in need – or known a musician who’s needed help – Local 802’s Emergency Relief Fund is there for you. For 40 years, we’ve been raising money for the fund by printing an annual publication containing

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Music & Politics
Julia Smith
As many of you are aware, musicians receive no compensation when their work is played on over-the-air radio. Over the last 10 years, Congress established a performance right for satellite, cable and Internet radio. But virulent opposition from the broadcasting

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Looking for Some Fall Reading?
“Reaching Out” by David Wallace (McGraw Hill Professional, 2007) Connect with and captivate concert audiences as never before with “Reaching Out,” by Local 802 member David Wallace, the groundbreaking new guide to audience engagement and interactive performance for musicians. Wallace

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Give the gift of love this holiday season. Local 802 is collecting toys, clothes and food for charity. Every person who donates will receive a free raffle ticket. The winner and prize will be announced at the Local 802 holiday

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Photo Section
Pedro Rodriguez lives! On January 19, the Local 802 Gospel Musicians Committee celebrated the life of this 20-year veteran of Local 802, who died last November. See the January issue of Allegro for our obituary. Photos by Gary Schoichet. Yovanne

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Wednesday, October 17, 2007 @ 5:00pm Local 802 Club Room 322 W. 48th Street Ground Floor Admission by paid-up membership card only. The agenda of the meeting is as follows: Vote on a proposed bylaw that would liberalize honor membership

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Money owed to musicians from four years ago is finally on its way. In 2003, Jose Carreras performed at Avery Fisher Hall to a packed house. The musicians who performed for that concert — which was covered by a Local

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Member to Member
Steve Jones
The Navy Commodores, a military band. Here in Washington, D.C. where I live, military bands are being used as scabs. These bands provide free music to local outdoor venues, such as open-air city parks and private summer festivals. This means

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New Working Theatre Play About Love, Loss and War
“Back From the Front” runs from May 3 to 27 at the theatre at Riverside Church, 91 Claremont Avenue at 120th Street. For tickets, call (212) 870-6784 or visit www.ticketweb.com. Mention code AFM802 and receive a $5 discount. For information

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Views from the Board
Maura Giannini
Michael McGrath (left) and Jonathan Hadary in the Broadway cast of “Spamalot.” The Las Vegas version was supposed to use only eight musicians – plus recorded tracks – but the producer decided to increase the number of musicians. Photo by

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Music and Politics
Julia Smith
NEW YORK IS OUR HOME! Musicians joined housing advocates in a rally on May 23 at Stuyvesant Town. The coalition “New York is Our Home” – of which Local 802 is a member – organized the event and called for

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Music Tech Conference Brings Issues into Focus
Joel LeFevre
Music and technology continue to electrify the industry and the public. Here’s my report on the Future of Music Coalition Summit conference that took place in Washington, D.C. this fall. Ninety presenters from the music and electronic industries, government copyright

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KAREN FISHER Karen Fisher passed her six-month probation on July 2 and has joined the permanent staff of Local 802 as concert rep and organizer. A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music with a bachelor of music in clarinet

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COMPOSERS CAFÉ AT 802 Composer Elliot Lawrence Want to hear from some prominent composers? On Oct. 25, Local 802 and the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences will present the first Composers Café, a new series of programs featuring

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802 Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
If you are a Broadway musician and your show closes, can you apply for unemployment? Yes. While you are collecting unemployment, can you sub on other Broadway shows, teach lessons, and play other freelance gigs? Yes, but your unemployment check

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Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
The advent of the Internet has opened a brave new world for graduate students Rather than having to enroll in traditional degree programs offered through in-class instruction at schools of higher education, students seeking graduate education may now enroll in

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How it Affects You as a Participant
Gary Thayer, Esq.
Many of us may be approaching the age where we’re eligible to apply for Medicare. If you fall into this category, you may be wondering how this affects your health benefits if you’re already on the Local 802 Health Plan.

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Janet Becker, LCSW, Ph.D.
In her best-selling book, “The Dance of Anger,” Dr. Harriet Lerner writes, “Anger is neither legitimate or illegitimate, meaningless or pointless. Anger simply is.” In fact, anger is a completely normal, healthy human emotion, an adaptive response to threatening stimuli,

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Labor History Month
May is Labor History Month. Union membership has been dropping in recent decades. Do you know musicians who aren’t union members? What should Local 802 – or the labor movement in general – be doing about this situation? The first

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If You Play for Peanuts, Call Us
Karen Fisher
In the mid-1980’s, I was an ambitious young clarinetist just embarking on my career. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in music performance and modest experience, I spent a small fortune traveling to auditions only to wind up in cattle calls

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Focus On Music Prep
Steve Danenberg
Many times during the course of daily business, the arranger, orchestrator or music copyist is confronted with preparing several jobs, either simultaneously or overlapping each other. Often there is not enough time to execute a music prep contract. Although different

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters published here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o

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Labor Day
Are you an “artist” or a “worker”? Why should musicians care about the labor movement? Photo by Mikael Elsila. When I work, I’m told what to play, how to play, when to show up, what to wear, when to go

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Musicians Assistance Program
Janet Becker, LCSW, Ph.D.
For most of us, the temptations to spend too much money for holiday gifts and celebrations can seem overwhelming. Despite our best intentions, we are lured by advertisements, store displays, and a heartfelt desire to give generously to the people

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SELF-MADE ORCHESTRA Allegro freelance photographer Walter Karling caught violin soloist Girt Kumi (top left photo below) as he rehearsed with the Staten Island Philharmonic this summer. The orchestra was created by musicians after the Staten Island Symphony folded. For the

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Janet Becker, LCSW, Ph.D.
February is Black History Month, a time to contemplate past and current racial conditions for African Americans in our society. Newspapers, magazines, television, radio and the Internet offer a variety of programming to document the history, oppression, struggles, victories, contributions

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AFM Pension Fund
Maureen Kilkelly
If you play union gigs, you build up union pension. Each October, you receive a statement from the AFM Pension Fund. Local 802 asked the fund’s executive director, Maureen Kilkelly, to tell members what to do if there’s a mistake

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The Beat on the Street
Workers’ Memorial Day is April 28. This day was founded by the AFL-CIO to remember workers who have been killed or injured on the job. Do you have any stories about you or your friends being hurt while playing music?

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Reminiscences
Lucy Shelton
Photo courtesy of Lucy Shelton. Jennifer Brown is most recently remembered as a polite and beautiful staff member at Local 802, where she worked from 1998 to 2003. But throughout her 75 years, Jennifer shared her ample skills and kind

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Musicians at Work Photo Section
Musicians jammed at the 23rd annual Lester Young Memorial Celebration on March 11 at Saint Peter’s Church. Photos by Enid Farber. Sarah McLawler Carol Sudhalter Jimmy Heath Earl May Harry Allen Dominick Farinacci

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Educating Our Members - and Finding Money for Them!
Joel LeFevre
As part of a continuing program of membership education and organizing, the 802 Recording Department holds seminars on how to file a recording contract. While the focus of the seminar is getting the contract filed correctly, much of the content

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Focus on Club Dates
Jim Hannen
On May 3, Local 802 won a default arbitration award in the case of unpaid health benefits for members employed by Steven Scott through the end of 2005. A default award simply means that the other side never showed up

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Grievance Corner
A grievance for wages and benefits totaling just under $44,000 against the Renaissance Hotel was settled in September. The dispute arose when the hotel failed to pay scale wages and benefits for a trio hired to perform in the hotel’s

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Janet Becker, LCSW, Ph.D.
For most of us, Labor Day weekend marks the symbolic end of summer, even though warm weather continues and the official change of season doesn’t arrive for another few weeks. In addition to parades and picnics, we usually associate Labor

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Book Notes
“A Fiddler’s Tale: How Hollywood and Vivaldi Discovered Me” by Louis Kaufman (University of Wisconsin Press, 2003). Which violinist won the Naumberg Award in 1927, the Grand Prix du Disque in 1950, and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Janet Becker, LCSW, Ph.D.
As many of you know — especially those who read this page each month — the Musicians’ Assistance Program offers free and confidential help for a wide range of personal, relationship and career problems to Local 802 members and their

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Did you record for Knitting Factory Records, Instinct or KnitMedia? Thanks to a settlement brokered by musicians and the union, Local 802 may be holding onto copies of your old CD’s. Here’s what to do: Call Recording Rep David Sheldon

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Joel LeFevre was recently promoted to the position of organizing director and assistant to the president. He succeeds Joe Eisman, who left Local 802 this fall to organize with the union that represents janitors and security guards (32BJ). In 2005,

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Membership Alert
As already reported in Allegro, effective Jan. 1, MagnaCare became the claims administrator for the Local 802 Health Benefits Plan. Union Labor Life will no longer process claims for the plan. What does this mean to you? In the past,

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Focus on Club Dates
After several delays, a hearing was held before the New York State Employment Relations Board concerning Shloime Dachs’ obligations under Local 802’s Jewish Club Date agreement. As previously reported in Allegro, Dachs had signed a recognition agreement, participated in Jewish

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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. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o Local

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters published here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o

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Member to Member
Leo Ball
Unionists protest the Iraq war earlier this year in Washington, D.C. This spring marked the fourth anniversary of the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Photo by David Elsila. Yes, George, I’d like to thank you and your deceitful manipulating cohorts for

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CONCERT L’Opera Francais de New York. L’Opera Francais de New York and Local 802 signed an agreement to extend their previous contract through Dec. 31, 2007. The employer has agreed to pay full freelance scale for a performance in May.

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As a musician, what are your pre-performance rituals? A couple hours before my performance, I’ll go for a 20 to 30 minute run. Besides the physical and mental benefits experienced — including improved breath support and decreased stress level —

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Mary Donovan
Over the past several months, Local 802 concluded several Off Broadway negotiations. One of these included finalizing agreement terms for the MANHATTAN THEATRE CLUB Stage I and Stage II theatres. Our initial meeting with the employer was in late 2005.

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Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
I recently received a phone call from a musician who was just terminated from a long-standing job he had as a church organist. He had no written contract with the church and had not been hired for any specific period

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of Local 802. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o Local 802,

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters published here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters published here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o

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Musicians performed at the annual “Great Night in Harlem” benefit for the Jazz Foundation of America, which helps jazz musicians in need. Photos by Enid Farber. Wendy Oxenhorn Jazz Foundation Executive Director Roy Haynes Candido Sweet Georgia Brown and Paul

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American Classical Orchestra. Local 802 has reached a tentative agreement with the American Classical Orchestra. The agreement is retroactive to Oct. 31, 2006 and runs through Nov. 1, 2009. This ensemble pays full freelance scale. The union successfully added a

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Janet Becker, LCSW, Ph.D. and Emma Ditrinco
American values emphasize the importance of self-reliance. We are taught to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and that we are responsible for our own destinies. Very often, however, this is simply not realistic or possible. Steeped in the ethic

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters published here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o

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Membership Alert
Did you record for Knitting Factory Records, Instinct or KnitMedia? Thanks to a settlement brokered by musicians and the union, Local 802 may be holding on to copies of your old CD’s. However, the union can not hold on to

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Member Spotlight
Mort Kuff
After a busy career in New York City, what’s the next step? Move to Florida! But what kind of musicians would give up their axes? Not the ones in Paul Cohen’s big band. Cohen, a retired Local 802 member, leads

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Local 802 Forms Peace Committee, Endorses Oct. 27 Anti-War March
Julia Smith
The Local 802 Executive Board has joined with our fellow affiliates in U.S. Labor Against the War to endorse the New York City march against the war in Iraq. Oct. 27 is national day of action against the war; marches

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters published here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o

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Tommy Alfano – Saxophone Irwin Borodkin – Cello John J. Breen – Piano Oscar Brown III – Bass/Arranger Don Butterfield – Tuba Nicholas S. Carras – Violin/Conductor/Arranger Sonny Cohn – Trumpet James Corbett – Bass Bill Fontaine – Piano Sidney

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VILLAGE LIGHT OPERA GROUP In spring, after difficult negotiations and federal mediation, the management of the Village Light Opera Group signed an extension agreement that maintained the minimum number of musicians at 19 for their production of “Oklahoma.” Management has

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Membership Alert
Change is in the air. If you’ve applied for Music Performance Fund money in the past, reduced funding is making it critical that you apply much earlier than ever before. It’s important that you’re aware of the changes so that

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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. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o Local

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Michael L. Brecker – Saxophone Alice Coltrane – Piano Eileen M. Folson – Cello Ray Gogarty – Electric Guitar Pat Harrison – Percussion Bob January – Clarinet/Conductor/Arranger Robert Kalin – Drums Martha Kovacs – Violin John F. Lad – Viola

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Reminiscences
Leo Ball
When I was a child, I used to gaze up at the twinkling stars and think that everyone in the world owned one of them. Well, one of them now is flashing brighter than ever, and it’s Burt Collins’ star.

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Janet Becker, LCSW, Ph.D.
The month of May ends with the annual observation of Memorial Day, a three-day weekend marking the beginning of the summer season. Aside from the classic fashion rule giving us permission to begin wearing white shoes and accessories, Memorial Day

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Musicians in Movies
The recent Hugh Grant movie “Music and Lyrics” featured union musicians performing on screen: sideline musicians. The gig calls for more than just chops. Ever see a scene in a movie where music is being played? Have you wondered whether

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Member to Member
Rosanne Soifer
Why does more work not necessarily add up to more money? This is not a contradiction. Many musicians look to take on loads of freelance work — often on top of steady gigs or a day job in another field

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“CATCH ME IF YOU CAN” This production was negotiated with the Charlotte Wilcox Company as a one-week pre-Broadway reading. The side musician scale is $1,515.75 for a 40-hour, six-day week and $42.60 per hour, with a minimum two-hour call. The

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“PHANTOM OF THE OPERA” Local 802 has settled a long-standing grievance concerning a premium payment for holiday matinees that fall on a Monday. The grievance relates to a matinee performance of “Phantom of the Opera” on Dec. 26, 2005. Producers

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PATRICK APPELLO Agreement was reached between Local 802 and Patrick Appello for all work performed by the longtime Local 802 member and classical guitarist, as well as other musicians employed. The contract covers all single and steady engagements and is

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Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
While independent recording artists have a great deal of freedom to market and distribute their own original works, especially with the advent of digital technology and the Internet, the terrain in which they work is still not without substantial risks

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June is Gay Pride Month. Have you seen more acceptance for musicians who are openly gay, over the course of your career? As an openly gay musician, I find that overall there is more acceptance. However, I think acceptance and

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Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
Recently, I was asked by a union member for advice concerning the enforceability of a non-compete agreement he had entered with an employer. The clause stated: “During the period of your employment and for a period of five years thereafter,

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Movie Review
David Elsila
I was 16 years old when I first heard Pete Seeger at a concert in Detroit. His message of peace, freedom, and human rights seemed to pierce the clouds that hung over our country in those dark days of McCarthyism.

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Membership Alert
The 2008-2009 Local 802 directory will be published at the end of this year. Thousands of musicians receive a copy of this book and use it as a valuable resource. Here’s how to check if we have your correct information:

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Reminiscences
Eric Shumsky
From his tremendous debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the age of seven, and continuing with performances with virtually every great orchestra in the world, musicians including Stokowski, Kreisler, Oistrakh, Milstein, and Menuhin put my father, Local 802 member Oscar

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Robert Abernathy – French Horn Jimmy Cheatham – Bass Trombone Burt Collins – Trumpet Joe Farrell – Saxophone Eileen M. Folson – Cello Maurice Gardner – Conductor Jerry Gilgor – Drums Murray Grand – Piano Patrick L. Harrison – Drums

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Movie Reviews
Mikael Elsila
CLUB DATE STORIES The man with the camera: 802 member and club date musicians Neil Capolongo produced “Club Date Stories.” How often does something funny, weird or bizarre happen on a club date gig? Answer: all the time! 802 member

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If you need a music lawyer, sometimes Local 802 can help. It depends on the problem. If your situation has to do with a union gig, then we can clearly assist you; it’s our job. But if you have a

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Janet Becker, LCSW, Ph.D.
Most of us are familiar with it: butterflies in the stomach, sweating, dry mouth, accelerated heartbeat, shakiness, shortness of breath — all the physiological manifestations of extreme anxiety. These symptoms are most troublesome when we are about to perform before

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Reminiscences
Myor Rosen
Abraham Rosen, 91, harpist supreme, legal scholar, union activist in search of justice, a fair wage scale and public respect and appreciation for his fellow musicians and colleagues, died on May 30. One of a family of three brother harpists,

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November 21, 2006
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2006 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, Shankin, Weiss and Assistant to the President Rohdin. Recording Vice President distributed

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Reminiscences
Bill Spilka
Joe Harnell, 80, a Grammy winner, jazz pianist, accompanist, educator, composer and arranger, died two years ago, on July 14, 2005, after a diverse career lasting over six decades. He had been a Local 802 member since 1953. At the

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Cabiria P. Accarino – Piano Angelo E. Brucklier – Drums Gerald R. Chamberlain – Trombone Frank Dallas – Bass Claude Garreau Jr – Piano Charles W. Geiger Jr – Drums Sanford Green – Piano Merv Griffin – Piano Bob Kross

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January 30, 2007 -- February 27, 2007
TUESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2007 Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members, Burridge, Fein, Hunt, Johansen, Rizzo, Schaffner, Schwartz, and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. Assistant to

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Call & Response
Charlie Keil
MUSICAL HISTORY: Max Ciesielski (lower right, snare drum) joined the musicians’ union in 1919. His story is told in Charlie Keil’s book, “Polka Happiness.” Last month, Allegro ran extensive features about Labor History Month. That reminds me of Max Ciesielski

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Emma Ditrinco
Do you know people who always seem to be gloomy? They may or may not be depressed, but let’s say they’re definitely pessimists. These people could be in Hawaii with a drink in their hand and could still be worrying

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Roy E. Aldwell – Piano David J. Apollonia – Piano/Arranger/Copyist Bill Barber – Tuba Richard P. Barry – Drums Maddalena Belfiore – Accordion Bernard Berger – Flute/Conductor/Arranger Yvonne Akhir Bethel-Wright – Drums Joseph Bonacorso – Violin Peter M. Cerullo –

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Reminiscences
Jan Jordan
When Local 802 member and bassist Dr. Art Davis, 72, died unexpectedly of a heart attack on July 29, the world lost a giant in the history of jazz, and I personally lost a dear friend and musical partner. Playing

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January 9, 2007 -- January 23, 2007
TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 2007 Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Hunt, Johansen, Rizzo, Roach, Schaffner and Schwartz. Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the

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SIGHT SINGING ANSWER: “We Shall Overcome” Across 1- Stick for Gemignani BATON 6- Piece of music PART 10- Indian cow ZEBU 14- Diminish ABATE 15- A southern conflagration AFAR 16- Danish coins ORE 17- Member of the Miller band RELIC

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2007 Events and Exhibitions
EXHIBITIONS New York Divided: Slavery and the Civil War New York Historical Society Central Park West at W. 79 St., NYC 10024 Through September 2, 2007 Tues. – Sun.: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Fri. until 8 p.m.) Slaves, abolitionists,

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802 Sponsors Blood Drive on June 13
Mary Donovan
The American Red Cross is scheduled to set up a mobile blood drive site at Local 802 on Wednesday, June 13 from 1:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Our Club Room will be dedicated for one whole day to the drive.

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters published here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o

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Hank Nowack
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., the only African American with his own public holiday, said: “In these times, SILENCE IS TREASON!” King agonized over his own silence during the bombing of Laos and subsequent occupation of Vietnam. He confessed

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May 29, 2007 -- July 10, 2007
TUESDAY, MAY 29, 2007 Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Executive Board members Fein, Giannini, Hunt, Johansen, Roach, Schaffner, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. Financial Vice President Blumenthal excused on union business. Recording Vice

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Sight-sing Challenge: “Auld Lang Syne” Across 1- Chicken ____ KIEV 5- Young pig SHOAT 10- Ubiquitous phone CELL 14- Church recess, spatially speaking APSE 15- Van Lingle _____ MUNGO 16- Italian for oil OLIO 17- A partner to a tonic

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Reminiscences
Spencer Bruno
Harpist Eugene Bianco passed away suddenly of cardiac arrest on the morning of May 7, prior to leaving his home for a recording session. At age 80, Gene was actively working as a contractor and coordinator for various recording projects

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STATE LABOR BOARD ISSUES COMPLAINTS The New York State Employment Relations Board has now issued complaints against all former Steven Scott leaders who continue to book and perform club dates. Meetings have already been held with Ike Walkover Music and

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September 11, 2007 -- October 23, 2007
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2007 Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Fein, Johansen, Rizzo, Giannini, Schaffner, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. President Landolfi excused on union

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Photo Op
This summer, Local 802 member Chris Byars (pictured on sax) performed the music of Gigi Gryce in an interactive workshop at C.E.S. 53, a New York City elementary school. In addition to being a musician, Gryce – who later changed

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Across 1- Subject TOPIC 6- Black, in poetry EBON 10- Cleo’s pets ASPS 14- Popular e-mail domain YAHOO 15-Partner of Strauss LEVI 16- Portico (architecture jargon) STOA 17- Mello follower PHONE 18- Paint unskillfully DAUB 19- King of Israel SAUL

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Reminiscences
Maurice Edwards
The music community was startled and horrified on Feb. 21 when news came of the tragic death of Siegfried Landau, 85, founding conductor and first music director of the Brooklyn Philharmonic. Mr. Landau’s wife, the dancer and photographer Irene Gabriel,

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Janet Becker, LCSW, Ph.D.
In June of 1969, a group of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people rioted in protest when the police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. The Stonewall riots are generally considered to be the beginning

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Reminiscences
William Harry
My wife, Nannette Levi Harry, 80, a violinist and an 802 member since 1946, died on May 25. Nannette was born in San Francisco and took up the violin at a very young age. It became evident she was a

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September 4, 2007
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2007 Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Fein, Johansen, Rizzo, Schwartz and Jazz Advisory Committee Liaison Owens. Recording Vice President Dennison distributed

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HONOR MEMBERSHIP BYLAW The following bylaw proposal is hereby submitted for the Oct. 17 membership meeting; see back cover for details. Whereas: Professional musicians are often faced with the need to re-locate in order to continue their careers, and Whereas:

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HEALTH PLAN UPDATE In the December issue of Allegro, we alerted members to major changes in the Local 802 Health Benefits Plan. There is another change. Members who live outside of New York or New Jersey can no longer use

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Reminiscences
William (Billy) Brown
Usually the beginning of the new year brings many pleasant things to think about and review the past. Unfortunately, 2007 brought news of the death of French hornist Robert Abernathy. He had been an 802 member since 1940. I was

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters published here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o

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Chris Culver – Trombone/Arranger Sunny Daniels – Trumpet Samuel Lambie – Saxophone Sam Lane – Drums Milton Portnoy – Trombone Robert M. Rosengarden – Drums  

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Crossword and Sight-Singing Answers
SIGHT-SINGING ANSWER.Mozart’s sonata in C major (K. 545) CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS Across 1- Strike breaker SCAB 5- Molten rock MAGMA 10- Droops SAGS 14- Killer whale ORCA 15- Leers at OGLES 16- Neophyte TYRO 17- Sixth wife of Henry VIII

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Jonathan Abramowitz – Cello Matthew J. Cvetic – Organ Albert J. Defemio – Drums Leroy Jenkins – Violin Toni Koves-Steiner – Cymbalum Ralph D. Lambert – Piano/Conductor Sam Lane – Drums James Phipps – Piano Gene Quara – Accordion Dewey

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Eugene B. Bianco – Harp/Arranger/Copyist C. Robert Colston – Piano/Conductor Teresa Di Blasi – Violin Morris Edwards – Bass Nannette Levi – Violin Kay Livolfi – Violin Thomas P. Newsom – Saxophone/Arranger Philip Nocera – Guitar Abraham Rosen – Harp

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Reminiscences
Vince Trombetta
Photo by Tomek Broszkiewicz (“Brocha”) via Flickr.com. I met Michael Brecker on Dec. 12, 1964 when he took his first alto saxophone and clarinet lessons with me at my mother’s home in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. Since he

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The following bylaw proposal has been submitted for the June 2007 membership meeting. Whereas: The Anne Walker Scholarship provides a needed benefit to help the children of Local 802 members in their educational pursuits, and Whereas: The current annual Local

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Crossword and Sight-Sing Challenge
SIGHT-SING CHALLENGE: Toccata and Fugue in D minor, by J.S. Bach CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS Across 1- Gator’s kin CROC 5- Pitcher’s error BALK 9- Opposite of hot, in bands SWEET 14- “____ Lee” (Civil War song) AURA 15- Mitch Miller’s

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April 17, 2007 -- May 15, 2007
TUESDAY, APRIL 17, 2007 Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Rizzo and Schwartz. Board member Schaffner excused on union business. Recording Vice President

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John Avanzino – Saxophone Michael Brecker – Saxophone Adolph Daidone (Al Duffy) – Violin Kenny Davern – Saxophone Edward G. Feldbauer – Bass Marilyn Gibson – Violin Stanley Hnetinka – Drums Bob Kalin – Drums/Arranger Mitchell Kay – Drums Marguerite

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March 6, 2007 -- March 20, 2007
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2007 Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Burridge, Fein, Giannini, Hunt, Johansen, Rizzo and Schwartz. Dennison distributed the minutes of February 27,

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March 27, 2007 -- April 10, 2007
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2007 Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Fein, Giannini, Hunt, Johansen, Rizzo, Roach, and Schwartz. Dennison distributed the minutes of March 20,

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Crossword and Sight-Sing Challenge
SIGHT-SINGING ANSWER: “You’re a Grand Old Flag” CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS Across   1- Worries and frets STEWS 6- Sarah Vaughan, to friends SASS 10- Neighbor of Isr. PAL 13- Impudence in Mayfair CHEEK 14- Bon mot QUIP 15- Gradually lower

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Crossword and Sight-Singing Answers
SIGHT-SINGING CHALLENGE ANSWER:“In the Hall of the Mountain King” from “Peer Gynt” (Edvard Grieg) CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS: Across 1- Finland to a Finn SUOMI 6- Sidewalk treats on Mulberry St ICES 10- Trumpeters supply OIL 13- Famous chorus ANVIL 14-

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Crossword and Sight-Singing Challenge
Sight-Singing Answer:“Kol Nidre” from the Yom Kippur evening service Crossword Answers: ACROSS 1- Disdainful SNIFFY 7- Jamaican musical style SKA 10- Sing like Ella SCAT 14- 10 across, maybe LALALA 15- What a big spender may pick up TAB 16-

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July 24, 2007 -- August 14, 2007
TUESDAY, JULY 24, 2007 Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Fein, Hunt, Johansen, Rizzo and Schwartz. Recording Vice President Dennison distributed the minutes of June

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December 12, 2006 -- January 2, 2007
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2006 Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Lennon, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Gagliardi, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Schwartz, Shankin, Weiss and Assistant to the President Rohdin. Recording Vice

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Bill Barber – Tuba Gerald Chamberlain – Trombone Frank Dipaolo – Bass Robert L. Kircher – Trombone Bob Kross – Trombone Bill Lavorgna – Drums Jon Lucien – Vocalist Sal Mosca – Piano Max Roach – Drums Marvin Rosenberg –

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CROSSWORD PUZZLE Across 1- Ball clubs  BATS 5- Golf clubs  IRONS 10- Shakespeare backwards?  DRAB 14- Halo  AURA 15- “I will be” in French  SERAI 16- “Fatha” Hines  EARL 17- Cut  SNIP 18- Birth pains  LABOR 19- Stead  LIEU 20-

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Crossword and Sight-Singing Challenge
SIGHT-SINGING ANSWER: Theme from “The Simpsons” CROSSWORD ANSWERS Across 1- Finland to a Finn SUOMI 6- Sidewalk treats on Mulberry St ICES 10- Trumpeters supply OIL 13- Famous chorus ANVIL 14- Closing pitcher’s achievement SAVE 15- Wiley Coyote’s mail order

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Crossword and Sight-Sing Challenge
SIGHTSINGING ANSWERExcerpt from “The Nutcracker” CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS Across 1- Bassist Ephron or actor Noveck FIMA 5- Action word VERB 9- Emulates Mirren ACTS 13- Emulate Leo ROAR 14- Ancient Troy ILIUM 16- Folk Tales LORE 17- Auricular OTIC 18-

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Essie Hayes
Peck Allmond (above), Charlie Burnham (left, below) and David Phelps show off their chops for jazz students at the 34th annual IAJE conference in January. More photos by Enid Farber found below article. The International Association of Jazz Education returned

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Bill Crow
Eddie Caine, one of the founders of the New York Saxophone Quartet, now lives in North Miami Beach. Eddie has been writing the story of his life, and he recently sent me his manuscript. One of the stories he tells

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Bill Crow
Lynn Welshman told me about a summer gig he had in the mid 1960’s, playing with the Guy Lombardo band and with the pit orchestra for the Musical Mardi Gras at the Jones Beach Theatre. In the middle of the

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Bill Crow
Doug Ramsey posted on his blog “Rifftides” this excerpt from André Previn’s biography “No Minor Chords,” which is now unfortunately out of print. Previn wrote: Cole Porter was the most elegant of creatures, his manners as courtly as his dress.

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Bill Crow
Mikael Elsila got this story from a friend of his who used to work at the Andre Stein Senior Center. The seniors from the center were from working class backgrounds, and none of them had ever been to Lincoln Center,

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Bill Crow
This column originated in the February 1983 issue of Allegro and has been going strong ever since, thanks to the contributions of so many musicians who have passed along their stories for everyone’s enjoyment. There have been some requests for

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Bill Crow
Tony Mottola Jr. posted this one on the Internet: Back in the 1980’s my father was with Sinatra at Symphony Hall in Boston. They were doing, as they did every show, a few duets, just Frank and guitar. They were

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Bill Crow
Fred Griffen sent me a couple of stories from his career as an orchestral horn player: “My first job out of college was with an orchestra in Texas. During my first season there, Andre Previn was a guest conductor. One

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Bill Crow
William Zinn sent me another story about Boris Malina: After the guests had a sumptuous chicken dinner at the Concord Hotel in the Catskills one evening, the band played a 10 p.m. show. When they were finished, Zinn and four

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Bill Crow
For a couple of years around the turn of the last century, I played with a bebop trio in the restaurant portion of a club called Scores, on East 60th Street. Their main feature was a showroom filled with dozens

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Bill Crow
George Avakian told me about a European tour made by his wife Anahid Ajemian and her sister Maro. Ernest Krenek had written a double concerto for them and they were driving from Paris to Baden Baden for the premier performance.

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Bill Crow
In late 1979, Zoot Sims had a gig with his quartet at Gulliver’s in New Jersey. Turk Mauro went out to hear him, and Zoot invited Turk to sit in on the second set. Turk chose “Body and Soul” as

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