#listenLA spotlight: ‘House of Cards’

The Emmy-nominated score to the Netflix original series “House of Cards” features dramatic, atmospheric music from Los Angeles composer Jeff Beal

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“Of all of the places to record my scores, my #1 choice is always here in Los Angeles,” Beal says. “The L.A. studio players are experienced, smart and professional. They are quick, and agile at breathing life and drama into my work. Their musicianship comprises an intimate mastery of the techniques and skills required in today’s studio playing.”

The orchestra contracted for each session by David Low (who also plays cello) includes more than a dozen of Los Angeles’s premiere string performers whose rich artistry adds that extra something special to Beal’s intriguing scores.

Way to #listenLA!

Catch the new season debuting on Netflix Feb. 14.

Congratulations 2014 Grammy Winners!

The following 56th Annual GRAMMY® Award-winning recordings feature the talents of Los Angeles’s incredible AFM Local 47 musicians:

RECORD OF THE YEAR &
BEST POP DUO/GROUP PERFORMANCE
‘Get Lucky’
Daft Punk

ALBUM OF THE YEAR &
BEST DANCE/ELECTRONICA ALBUM
‘Random Access Memories’
Daft Punk

BEST POP INSTRUMENTAL ALBUM
‘Steppin’ Out’
Herb Alpert

BEST DANCE RECORDING
‘Clarity’
Zedd Featuring Foxes
Track from: “Clarity”

BEST TRADITIONAL POP VOCAL ALBUM
‘To Be Loved’
Michael Bublé

BEST ROCK PERFORMANCE
‘Radioactive’
Imagine Dragons
Track from: “Night Visions”

BEST TRADITIONAL R&B PERFORMANCE
‘Please Come Home’
Gary Clark Jr.
Track from: “Blak and Blu”

BEST R&B SONG
‘Pusher Love Girl’
Justin Timberlake
Track from: “The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience”

BEST IMPROVISED JAZZ SOLO
‘Orbits’
Wayne Shorter, soloist
Track from: “Without a Net”
(The Wayne Shorter Quartet)

BEST LATIN POP ALBUM
‘Vida’
Draco Rosa

BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARRANGEMENT
‘On Green Dolphin Street’
Gordon Goodwin, arranger
(Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band)
Track from: “NA”

ABC Drops ‘Dancing With the Stars’ Band

 

dwtsband
LOS ANGELES, CA (Feb. 6, 2014) — When “Dancing With the Stars” returns this March, the house band won’t be with it.

ABC and BBC Worldwide Productions announced this week that they will not have the 28 instrumentalists, singers, arrangers and copyists return for season 18.

The network did not announce a reason for the firings, but the American Federation of Musicians cites executive changes at ABC for the decision. The musicians union says the network put “pressure on ‘DWTS’ producer BBC Worldwide Productions to cut corners and pander to a younger viewing audience.” Continue reading →

A New AFM Local is Born!

Local 50 serves performers of regional Mexican music

by Ethan S. Harris

On Jan. 8, the newest Local in the AFM family was born in our own Local 47 Auditorium.

The acting members of the Executive Board of Regional Mexican AFM Local 50 took their oaths of office in front of approximately 20 new members. Also in attendance at the ceremony were Local 47 Vice President John Acosta, Organizer Ethan Harris, and AFM Assistant to the President for the Western United States, Ken Shirk.

AFM Assistant to the President for the Western United States Ken Shirk with the acting Executive Board members of the new non-regional AFM Local 50: Euler Torres (President), Ruben Fernandez (Vice President), John Anthony Diaz (Secretary/Treasurer), and Jesus Tucker (Executive Member-at-Large).

AFM Assistant to the President for the Western United States Ken Shirk with the acting Executive Board members of the new non-regional AFM Local 50: Euler Torres (President), Ruben Fernandez (Vice President), John Anthony Diaz (Secretary/Treasurer), and Jesus Tucker (Executive Member-at-Large).

Continue reading →

Congratulations Local 47 Grammy Nominees!

The talents of Local 47 members can be heard on an impressive number of nominated recordings of the 56th Annual Grammy Awards. We congratulate not only those musicians directly nominated, but also the many Los Angeles musicians behind the scenes who performed on these recording dates. The music owes much of its luster to your talents.

Tune in to “Music’s Biggest Night” Sunday, Jan. 26 broadcast live from the StaplesCenter in Los Angeles. The program airs on CBS starting at 8 p.m.

Grammys

Continue reading →

#listenLA spotlight: ‘Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.’

In the largest session to date for new Marvel TV series “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”, Los Angeles composer Bear McCreary led a 91-piece orchestra at a scoring session on Sony’s famed Barbara Streisand Scoring Stage in Culver City Dec. 16.

Peter Rotter compiled the massive orchestra comprising 36 violins, 15 violas, 12 celli, 7 basses, two each of flutes, clarinets and bassoons, three trumpets, six horns, three trombones, and oboe, tuba and harp.

Peter Rotter and Bear McCreary

Orchestra contractor Peter Rotter and composer Bear McCreary on the Streisand Scoring Stage

Continue reading →

Turn Up the FUNK!

Frank Macchia’s Grease Mechanix hotwire brassy funky fun on their self-titled debut

Picture a triple-size New Orleans brass band: six saxophones, three trumpets, three trombones, tuba, electric guitar, drums and percussion playing all new original music that will have you shaking, rattling and rolling with modern rhythms and funky goodness. Add a touch of humor in the form of wacky lyrics, and you have Frank Macchia’s Grease Mechanix.

Frank Macchia's Grease Mechanics Continue reading →