by Mary Barrow
Jazz lovers came together to celebrate some of the music’s great talents at the 30th Anniversary Los Angeles Jazz Tribute Awards Dinner and Concert on Oct. 27.
Photos by Scherr Lillico/The Proper Image
All in the family — Accepting their awards at the L.A. Jazz Society 30th Annual Awards were legendary Latin jazz percussionist Pete Escovedo and his talented progeny, Sheila E., Peter Michael and Juan.
Surrounded by about 100 police officers in riot gear and a helicopter circling above, more than 50 Walmart workers and supporters were arrested in downtown Los Angeles the night of Nov. 7 as they sat in the street protesting the corporation’s low-wage poverty policies.
Photo by Linda A. Rapka
More than a dozen Local 47 members joined about 500 activists Nov. 7 in a protest outside the Chinatown Walmart. Among the AFM contingent were Lynn and Maurice Grants, Alan Busteed, Vice President John Acosta, Joseph Hancock, Robin Lasley, Secretary/Treasurer Gary Lasley, Neil Samples, organizer Ethan Harris, Naomi Sato, and EMD Administrator Gordon Grayson.
Brandishing bright-blue Local 47 activist T-shirts, more than a dozen members joined a crowd of about 500 including labor supporters, Walmart workers, and clergy and participated in the demonstration. Those who refused police orders to clear the street after their permit expired were arrested without incident.
by Linda A. Rapka
“‘Twas a long time ago,
Longer now than it seems
in a place that perhaps
you’ve seen in your dreams…”
“Blackfish,” a chilling documentary about whales kept in captivity at SeaWorld, was scored by Los Angeles composer Jeff Beal with an 18-piece orchestra under the AFM Festival Film Agreement.
Blackfish
Acclaimed Local 47 Latin jazz musician Arturo Sandoval will be honored this year with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States.
Arturo Sandoval
“Receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom is an immense honor for me,” Sandoval said. “Without freedom, there is no life. I had the distinct honor of having experienced not only liberty, but also a rebirth, the day I landed on U.S. soil, knowing that I was finally free from suffering in a regime which has no respect for human rights. Since coming to this country I have humbly received countless demonstrations of admiration and respect for my work, to which I am forever grateful.”
Marco Marinangeli led a 15-piece Local 47 orchestra at Capitol Records Sept. 13 in the final scoring session of the season for the hit NBC talent show “America’s Got Talent.”
Photos by Linda A. Rapka
Conductor/Arranger Marco Marinangeli leads a Local 47 string orchestra in the final recording session of the season for hit NBC reality series “America’s Got Talent” at Capitol Records Sept. 12.
The show, created by famously crass English reality judge Simon Cowell, from seasons one through six were broadcast live from CBS Television City in Los Angeles. In season seven the live shows were held at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, New Jersey, and for the current eighth season, live performances moved to Radio City Music Hall in New York City. During the Capitol Records scoring session, music director Graham Stack listened in from New York via Skype.
by Linda A. Rapka
Local 47 composer Bear McCreary took home his first Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music at the 2013 Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards for his work on “Da Vinci’s Demons,” scored here in Los Angeles.
File photo by Linda A. Rapka
A friend to our local scoring community, composer Bear McCreary was honored by the Recording Musicians Association of Los Angeles in February 2011 for his efforts in keeping orchestral music alive in film and TV. The composer earned his first Emmy for Outstanding Original Main Title Theme Music for “Da Vinci’s Demons” at last month’s awards ceremony
The sounds created within the walls of Los Angeles recording studios are known around the world for the magic they bring to television and motion pictures.
#ListenLA, an education and outreach project launched by Local 47 last month, is dedicated to reminding the public of the integral role L.A. musicians play in the world of film and TV and to encourage productions to score music with AFM Local 47 musicians.
#listenLA
The Best Music is Made Here in Los Angeles
CLEVELAND, OH (May 22, 2013) — Tomorrow at noon, members of the American Federation of Musicians will form an informational picket line outside a location shoot for “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” to protest Marvel Entertainment’s outsourcing of musical score work to Europe.
Musicians are outraged that rather than employ local musicians, Marvel pockets millions of taxpayer dollars from U.S. tax credits meant to keep work in the United States and instead hires foreign musicians on the cheap.
Continue reading
HOLLYWOOD, CA (April 23, 2013) — Today at 10:30 a.m. members of American Federation of Musicians Local 47 will form an informational picket line outside the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood to speak out against Marvel Entertainment’s outsourcing of musical score work to Europe.
Recording musicians are upset that rather than employ local musicians, Marvel pockets millions of taxpayer dollars from U.S. tax credits meant to keep work in the United States and instead hires foreign musicians on the cheap. Continue reading