SPECIAL EDITION

I. THE COMMITTEE ENDORSES
DOWNLOAD AN ABSENTEE REQUEST FROM THE LOCAL 47 WEBSITE
II. FINAL FIRST ROUND GRAMMY INFO

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I. THE COMMITTEE ENDORSES

Two years ago, most assumed Presidential candidate David Schubach
was an easy win, so easy in fact that many didn’t bother to vote. We
all saw the result. Don’t make the same mistake this year!

None of the officers positions are opposed, but you still need to vote.

You can bring more balance to your board by voting in new people who
will challenge the “old boy” special interest network.

There is one board member who’s really taken it to the board for the
Rank and File and three new faces running who are garaunteed to
work toward the interests of ALL the members, with no group favored,
and will keep the officers in check.

After considering all the candidates listed in the Overture and their actions,
not their words,

THE COMMITTEE STRONGLY ENDORSES:

DR. BOBBY RODRIGUEZ - Current board member
CHARLES FERNANDEZ
RON HESS
IRA NEPUS

These new faces will shine more light on the board and bring a balance
we’ve not had in far too many years.

(SEE THEIR STATEMENTS BELOW)

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DOWNLOAD THE ABSENTEE BALLOT FROM THE LOCAL 47 WEBSITE AND
SEND IT RIGHT AWAY!

If you cannot come to the Local to vote on December 9th, you must:
1) Download the Ballot request.
2) Mail it to the election company.
3) Wait for the real ballot to get to you, then
4) MAIL IN THE BALLOT TO THE LOCAL!

This takes time so you need to act now.

If only half of those Local 47 members who read this mailing vote, there WILL
be change on December 9th.

The future of your Local needs you. Please vote!

Also, remember you do NOT have to vote for the officers or the full number of
candidates you are entitled to vote for. Only vote for those who’ve earned your
vote, and send a message to those who haven’t. You can vote for only those
you really support and leave the rest blank.

THE COMMITTEE

——————-

STATEMENTS FROM THE COMMITTEE’S PICKS:

DR. BOBBY RODRIGUEZ Director/Delegate Statement

I’m an incumbent Director of the Executive Board completing
my first term, a Grammy Nominated recording artist, Educator,
Author, Bandleader and Local #47 member since 1969. I’ve
gained tremendous knowledge and understanding as to why
and how decisions are made in our Boardroom.

I know that I represent thousands of Local 47 members who
want to rehearse their groups, support the Referral Service,
qualify for Medical Coverage, modernize the “Overture,”
maintain a Death Benefit, stop the fighting between the RMA and
Federation, overhaul our Web-Site, and who want to Belong.

I believe that this is a hard working Board who cares deeply
about their own fields of work, another reason why I’m a Lone
Ranger from my Jazz, LatinJazz and casual fields. I’m an inclusive
voice with opinions that are often contrary to most of the other
Board members, possibly because I come from a field of work
where I’m not obligated to any one person or group for my
employment.

We are over 8,500 members strong, we play every conceivable
type of music at every possible kind of event and I believe that
Local 47 should be a real brotherhood in the 21st century. I ask
for your vote for me, Ira Nepus, Charles Fernandez and Ron Hess,
who I endorse, so we can move together into a new inclusive era
for Local 47 with renewed hope and accomplishment.

As my dear friend Buddy Collette said to me the other day,
“You like to be in a position to help protect, guide and make
policy.” He’s absolutely right. I want to help make our Local
a better place for all of us.

Dr. Bobby Rodriguez latinjazz@earthlink.net

————–

CHARLES FERNANDEZ

VOTE FOR CHARLES FERNANDEZ FOR DIRECTOR
EQUAL REPRESENTATION FOR ALL WORKING MUSICIANS
Freelance * Symphonic * Recording * Casual * Touring

Fellow Local 47 colleagues,

I would appreciate your vote for the Executive Board of Local 47.

I’ve made my living as a composer, conductor and orchestrator
for Film, TV and Stage for the last 18 years. I was nominated,
along with a great team of composers for two Emmy and one
Annie (Animation Society) for my work on the Universal/Harvey/
Amblin animated series “The New Adventures of Casper”. You
can see a more detailed list of my credits at my website,
www.charlesfernandez.com.

I’ve taken part in literally hundreds of recording sessions as part
of the orchestra, on the podium or in the booth. I’ve also done
the touring, the casuals, played in theater pits, taught,… all the
things most players have done over time. I’ve seen the business
from all sides and one this is clear:

YOU MUST BRING BALANCE TO OUR BOARD! We all pay dues and
we all deserve equal representation, something that has been
sorely lacking at our Local for years.
Our board MUST be an entity that shows favoritism toward none,
where all points of view are not only heard but heeded. If you
vote for me, . I vow to make sure all areas of membership are
represented equally, be they casual, orchestral, recording,
touring or from any other facet of our brethren. Other on the
ballot are saying the same, but their records belie their words.

Some additional information on my experience:
-Have been an orchestral and chamber bassoonist in Los Angeles,
New Orleans, London and Germany.
-Principal Bassoonist of the Los Angeles Baroque Orchestra for
six years.
-Solo and Principal Bassoonist for the Bayerische Philhamonie,
Bad Weissee, Germany.
-Was on the board of the Pacific Composers Forum here in Los
Angeles.
-Currently Secretary/Board member of ASMAC (Amer. Society of
Music Arrangers and Composers).

For 12 years I ran Trone Music Recording Sessions to enable
young composers to get live orchestral UNION demos. Trone
Music helped dozens of composers record orchestrally and gave
many their entrance into the business.

Such a wide range of experience in the music business makes
me a great asset for our Board, and anyone who knows me
knows have no problem speaking truth to power. That is what
we need now. Join me in helping our Local become the inclusive
Local it is intended to be.

I also gladly endorse Dr. Bobby Rodriquez, Ron Hess and Ira Nepus,
the new voices our board needs.

Please vote for me as Director in the upcoming election.

Member of Local 47 since 1983.

Fraternally,

Charles Fernandez
www.charlesfernandez.com

————–

RON HESS

I’m Ron Hess, and I approved this message:

There’s no avoiding it: The economic downturn is going to make it
harder to keep working, as entertainment dollars which subsidize our
gigs and recordings go bye-bye. To help more of us “stay in the
game,” your Local, let me repeat YOUR LOCAL, has to do more and
better, and most of the incumbents have done neither. We need
change and here’s why:

1) We can elect better, a LOT better,
2) Statistically, they don’t really represent and fight for all of us,
3) We haven’t had much in a looooooong time, and
4) Now is when we need it most.

From my experience in trying to bring reforms on your behalf through
the Board from the outside, here is what I’ve seen:

1) Wasted time amounting to wasted money
2) Too much secrecy
3) Anemic technological awareness
4) Over-reliance on legal counsel instead of ethical common sense
5) An overly deferential posture toward the titled officers
6) Too much, “It can’t be done!” and not enough, “How can we…?”
7) More than once, a Director sleeping during a meeting
and…
No visible, overarching fire in the belly for excellence in doing the
most and the best for all of us with the fewest of our dollars and in
the least possible time.

How do we get change? Our Board gets selected time and again by
a powerful and focused minority whose priorities rarely match yours.
History teaches us that the customary 10-13% turnout is just too
easy to manipulate for the “power-that-be”. We need 25%, 30%,
even 40%, because that many people can’t be manipulated. You
must start talking, and talking now, to five of your friends who
have been grousing and politically “taking 10″ for years. Tell ‘em
it’s time to vote. To repeat, it’s the only complaint that counts!

And when you do vote, do it strategically. Your vote is an
endorsement. Don’t let anyone take it for granted! With multiple
winners in a category, every vote you don’t personally believe in
can negate the ones you do. If only 3 candidates have earned your
interest, then only vote for 3, and your ballot will not be disallowed.
Similarly, if an unopposed candidate has not earned your support,
don’t give it to him, and let his low(er) vote tally send a message
for next time. Votes are precious things; make us earn each and
every one.

So who is this Ron Hess, anyway, and how can I earn your vote?
I’m a hired gun, selling reassurance to my clients by wearing many
hats to help them complete their projects stress-free. You may
have been reading my sixty-five-plus “Chart Doctor” articles in
Film Music Magazine, educating 18,000 industry professionals
worldwide in the pursuit of excellence in arranging, orchestration,
conducting, composition, booth supervision, ear-development,
producing, music prep, software mastery, and industry strategy.
I’ve “gigged union” for over 33 years. To see and hear me in
action, as well as sample some of my writing, please visit my
self-built website at ronhessmusic.com.

In the Boardroom, what will I bring?

1) Burning passion to find better ways to get something done
2) Tech-, web-, and computer savvyness
3) True leadership
4) Articulate persuasiveness
5) Asking the right ethical questions, digging for the meaningful
answers
6) Appreciation of good parliamentary procedure’s time-saving
role

In the Boardroom, what will I do? Despite all the meaningless-
from-overuse-and-lack-of-specifics campaign promises to
“fight for all of us,” here’s what I’ll fight for:

1) Restore and improve our member services; we’re gonna need ‘em!
2) Actually oversee our titled officers
3) Save time and money by encouraging better Board performance
4) Limit the secrecy; our members are paying for “right-to-know”
5) Ferret out ways for more than 2% to qualify for health insurance
6) Greatly expand the role of our website as our member/Local
interface and not take 2 years to do it.

You’re paying for a Board to serve you. Make sure you get one
this time. Please vote to retain Dr. Bobby Rodriguez and add
Charles Fernandez and Ira Nepus to your board.

Let’s go forth, together, and “apathize” no more!

Ron Hess
ronhessmusic.com

For Delegate to the AFM Convention:

Trouble’s been brewing between L.A. and the Federation in recent years.
Unpaid, and on my own dime, I attended the last convention to find out
why. Attended many meetings and sessions (didn’t see our own folk at
many.) Made friends, American and Canadian. Quite an eye-opener.
Folks, serious matters get handled there, not all on the convention floor.
Local 47 needs reps who can think on their feet, and advocate with vision.
Our future with the AFM is going to be interesting. You’ve heard me
“speechify” at meetings. To learn more about me, please visit
ronhessmusic.com. Member since 1975.

Ron Hess
ronhessmusic.com

————–

IRA NEPUS

In the past, Board Meetings have meant taking my surfboard down to the
beach to meet with friends; however, lately I have felt a feeling of urgency
to get involved, participate, and to find a way to better serve our members
in any way possible. We must all work together to make our existence as
professional musicians a better place for all.

I am hoping to help the Board of Directors guide our union to improve our
situation so that more members can qualify for health insurance, and of course,
anything to stimulate more work for our members. The big bands that
rehearse every week at the union should have a place to perform throughout
the year.

Ira Nepus

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II. GRAMMY NOMINATION ROUND SUBMISSIONS TO CONSIDER-DEADLINE WEDNESDAY!
From the FREELANCE MUSICIANS ASSOCIATION

Local 47 Members,

The 51st GRAMMY Nomination Round ballot is due at the Recording Academy
offices on Wed, Nov 5! If you are a NARAS Voting Member, please be aware
of the following collegues who are submitted for 2009:

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John Beasley
Letter to Herbie
Field 10 - Jazz, Category 48 - Best Jazz Instrumental Album, Individual
018. LETTER TO HERBIE, John Beasley

Field 23 - Composing/Arranging, Category 85 - Best Instrumental Composition
095. HERE AND NOW, John Beasley, composer (John Beasley)

Field 23 - Composing/Arranging, Category 86 - Best Instrumental Arrangement
019. BEDTIME VOYAGE, John Beasley, arranger (John Beasley)

Field 10 - Jazz, Category 47 - Best Jazz Instrumental Solo
.011 3 FINGER SNAP, John Beasley, soloist

127. EYE OF THE HURRICANE, Roy Hargrove, soloist (John Beasley)

193. HERE AND NOW, Christian McBride, soloist (John Beasley)

—————-

The Bobs
#16 on the Best Vocal Pop Album.
#89 on the Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s.)
Richard Greene, arranger (The Bobs).

—————–

Veronique Chevalier
Polka Haunt Us
Field 17, Category 76, Entry 020
http://ilike.com/artist/Veronique+Chevalier
featuring Lili Haydn on violin

——————

PETER DAVISON

REJUVENATE by Peter Davison, Best New Age Album, Category #44,
51st GRAMMY AWARDS

Dear Friends and NARAS members-

I hope you will consider my new CD, Rejuvenate, in Category #44-Best New Age
Album. Please feel free to forward this to any voting members you may know.
Below is a link to review the CD:

http://www.peterdavison.com/51stgrammy.html

Thanks for your consideration, Peter Davison

—————

Michael Friedman
Seize The Day (produced by Michael Friedman and Robert Johnson).
Entered in category 10, Best Pop Instrumental Album, entry #26.
Rachael Sage
three albums: Vertigo, Mexico, Chandelier
RECORD OF THE YEAR: Vertigo And Mexico (You Can Vote For
Both; #578 And #577)
ALBUM OF THE YEAR: Chandelier (#533)
SONG OF THE YEAR: Vertigo And Mexico (You Can Vote For Both;
#665 And #403)
BEST FEMALE POP VOCAL: Angel In My View And Vertigo (You Can
Vote For Both; #147 And #148)
POP INSTRUMENTAL PERFORMANCE: Beloved (#077)
POP VOCAL ALBUM: Chandelier (#228)
BEST INSTRUMENTAL COMPOSITION: Beloved (#022)
BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARRANGEMENT: Beloved (#020)
BEST INSTRUMENTAL ARRANGEMENT ACCOMPANYING VOCALIST:
Chandelier And Moonlight & Fireflies (You Can Vote For Both;
#034 And #139)
BEST ENGINEERED ALBUM, NON-CLASSICAL: Chandelier (#044)

—————-

Buddy Guy
“Skin Deep”

Album Of The Year: Skin Deep
Best Traditional Blues Album: Skin Deep
Best Recording Package: Skin Deep
Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocal:
Everytime I Sing The Blues
Best Rock Song: Skin Deep

————–

Lisa Haley & the Zydekats
“Absolutely Live!”
Field 14 - Folk
Category 72 - Best Zydeco Or Cajun Music Album
Position #14
We hope this category will reflect the best albums of the year in our genre.
Produced by Lisa Haley - 2008 GRAMMY Nominee for “King Cake”
Mastering by Joe Gastwirt
Recorded live at Bastille Day Festival, Milwaukee, WI
Hear the new album at www.bluefiddle.com

—————

Daniel Ho
GRAMMY Category #71: Best Hawaiian Music Album:
‘Ikena - Tia Carrere & Daniel Ho
Honehone i ka Poli - Kawaikapuokalani Hewett
The Spirit of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar - Various Artists
http://www.danielho.com/grammy.html

————-

Buck Howdy With BB
Around The Campfire
Best Spoken Word Album For Children
http://www.BuckHowdy.com/grammypreview.php

————-

Earl Klugh
Venezuelan Nights
Pop Category: Best pop instrumental album
Best Instrumental Performance
Arranging and Composing category
Classical - Best Contemporay Classical Composition for his solo piece

————-

VICTOR ORLANDO & FUN-JA-LA
“N ‘Da House”
R&B Field # 6
Category # 25, Production Field # 27
Category # 92
R&B Field # 6
Category # 28, Jazz Field # 10
Category # 47
Composing & Arranging Field # 23
Category # 85, Pop Field # 1
Category # 8
Dance Field # 1
Category #9

—————-

Marina V
Album of the year - “Modern Fairytale” (#643)
Best short form music video (category 108) - Marina V “Hope” (#360)

We also submitted the album art of “Modern Fairytale” for a nomination.
They’ll let me know if it’s nominated. Wouldn’t that be truly crazy?

Ali Eskandarian, Rob Friedman & Miles Wilkinson
Field 13 - Blues - Category 66 - #023 - Best Traditional Blues Album:
The Homemade Jamz Blues Band - “Pay Me No Mind” -
produced by Miles Wilkinson on Northernblues Records

Field 14 - Folk - Category 69 - #074 - Best Contemporary Folk/Americana Album:
Ali Eskandarian - “Nothing To Say” - Produced by Rob Friedman
on Wildflower Records

Field 16 - World Music - Category 75 - #084 - Best Contemporary
World Music Album:
¡Nueva York! - Dan Zanes And Friends - Produced by Dan Zanes
& Rob Friedman on Festival Five Records

Field 18 - Children’s - Category 77 - #056 - Best Musical Album
For Children:
It’s a Bam Bam Diddly! - Father Goose - Produced by Dan Zanes,
Rob Friedman & Father Goose on Festival Five Records

————-

Otherworld Music, which features the Bel Air Jazz Ensemble
and the Bach Aria Group, is on the entry list for the 2008 Grammys:

Field 30 (Classical), Category 105 (Best Small Ensemble Performance):
#28 Otherworld Music, The Bel Air Jazz Ensemble and The Bach Aria Group

Field 10 (Jazz), Category 47 (Best Instrumental Solo): #258 Tom Ranier,
#289 David Sherr

The Bel Air Jazz Ensemble: Cynthia Fogg, Scott Higgins, Joe LaBarbera,
Harvey Newmark, Tom Ranier, David Sherr, Brian Swartz, Amy Wilkins
with guest artists Giovanni Consigli, Sangtar Heer, Tiffany Hu, Horia
Moroaica, Carsten Radtke, Anna Santos, Ursel Schlicht, Cecilia Tsan.

The Bach Aria Group: Robert Bloom, Norman Farrow, Bernard Greenhouse,
Paul Ulanovsky.

Listen to Otherworld Music HERE

———

KIM RICHMOND

Guess I might as well get into the fray here…..

Dear voting NARAS members,
Please consider nominating my CD “Live At Cafe Metropol” by the KIM
RICHMOND ENSEMBLE, issued on Origin Records a year ago, last October.
It is being considered for “Best Jazz Instrumental Album of the Year.”
If you don’t already have this CD and would like to hear some of it, please
let me know and I will send you a selection or two mp3s attached to an
e-mail. When it was released it caused quite a stir–BELOW, please see a
sample review which appeared on Amazon.com
Kim Richmond, alto and soprano saxophones
John Daversa, trumpet
Joey Sellers, trombone
Rich Eames or Brian Friedland, piano
Kristin Korb, bass
Erik Klass, drums
Playlist:
1. You Don’t Know What Love Is
2. Invitation
3. Seagate
4. The Peacocks
5. Fuzzy Wuzzy
6. Never Let Me Go
7. In Fine Line

————-

Gregg Young
All About the Children in Pop Category 7 - Best Performance by
a Duo or a Group with Vocals, #131

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UNTIL NEXT TIME,

THE COMMITTEE FOR A MORE RESPONSIBLE LOCAL 47

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