Allegro
Currently Browsing: February, 2007
Armstrong’s Children: Home of Jazz Great is a Light for Community
Black History Month
In 2003, when the house on 107th Street in Corona finally opened to the public as a museum, the man whose name it bore had been dead for over three decades. The rooms themselves, and their unconventional furnishings, had actually
An Ill Wind That Blew No Good
Smoke Problem at "Wicked" Prompts Action
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
President’s Report
A Lesson Learned from a Segregated Union
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
802 TARGETS NONUNION CLUB DATE EMPLOYERS
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
What’s Happening Beyond Broadway
Union Rep Notebook
“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
MIME Moves Along
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
The Black Knight
Saint-Georges, the First Classical Composer of African Descent
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
SAINT-GEORGES ON STAGE
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
Pioneers of Jazz Strings
African-American Violinists of the 1920’s
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
The Beat on the Street
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
Remembering a Fantastic Life
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
Looking For Music Schools on the Web? Let the Buyer Beware!
Legal Corner
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
Mental Health and Racism
Musicians' Assistance Program
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
Did you Record for Knitting Factory Records?
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
The Musicians’ Voice
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
Club Date Update
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
Remembering Michael Brecker
Reminiscences
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
Executive Board Minutes
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
Breaktime Answers
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-
Bill Crow’s Band Room
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