Someone You Should Know Dee Palmer Has Led the Dekalb Municipal Band for the Last 61 of It’S 155 Years of Existence
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Membership Meeting: August 2009 Tuesday, August 11th, 2009 @1:00 pm Vol. 69 No. 7 Annual Meeting: Tuesday, September 8th, 2009 @1:00 pm Someone You Should Know Dee Palmer has led the DeKalb Municipal Band for the last 61 of it’s 155 years of existence. See page 14 Page 2 Local 10-208 of AFM AFL-CIO CHICAGO FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS OFFICERS – DELEGATES 2008-2011 Gary Matts President Terryl Jares Vice-President Spencer Aloisio Secretary-Treasurer BOARD OF DIRECTORS Robert Bauchens Bob Lizik Gary Matts Rich Daniels Janice MacDonald President Frank Donaldson Leo Murphy B.J. Levy CONTRACT DEPARTMENT Terryl Jares – Vice-President Nancy Van Aacken Grant Park Music Festival ASSISTANTS TO THE PRESIDENT - JURISDICTIONS Celebrates 75 Years Terryl Jares - Vice-President Supervisor - Entire jurisdiction including theaters On July 1, 1935, the Grant Park Music Festival was born. At a time when the US was (Cell Phone: 312-310-4100) still reeling from the aftermath of the great depression, James C. Petrillo had the vision of Dean Rolando providing free concerts for the people of Chicago and a new source of employment for mu- Recordings, Transcriptions, sicians who were losing jobs due to the new technology of recording and sound movies. In Documentaries, Etc. large part, his efforts brought about the birth of the Festival that continues today. (Cell Phone: 708-380-6219) While there was not yet a Grant Park Orchestra, it was formed later in 1944, this inau- DELEGATES TO CONVENTIONS OF THE gural concert was performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The program consisted ILLINOIS STATE FEDERATION OF LABOR of a curious mix of Glazunov, Liszt, Johann Strauss Jr., Ambroise Thomas, Hugo Alfven, AND CONGRESS OF INDUSTRIAL John Powell, Sir Edward German, and Frank W. Meacham (composer of American Patrol). ORGANIZATIONS Spencer Aloisio Gary Matts On July1, 2009 this concert was re-created under the baton of Carlos Kalmar, with Ron Terryl Jares Magers, of ABC-7 Chicago, speaking between musical selections painting a picture of the time, place and people who were instrumental in the founding of this first series of free DELEGATES TO CHICAGO FEDERATION OF LABOR AND concerts for the people of Chicago. While we might not consider some of the selections on INDUSTRIAL UNION COUNCIL the program to be part of the standard symphonic repertoire today, one could not help but Rich Daniels Gary Matts be impressed by the variety and difficulty of the works performed. Even in its first season Terryl Jares there was an emphasis on appealing to a broad audience with diverse musical tastes. DELEGATES TO CONVENTIONS OF THE During the concert Andrea Swan, Michael Green, Joel Cohen, Michael Geller, Brian AMERICAN FEDERATION OF MUSICIANS Ferguson and Dale Newton. were recognized for their years of performing with the orchestra Spencer Aloisio Terryl Jares and the fact that they had played at all three venues, the original band shell, the Petrillo Rich Daniels Gary Matts band shell and the Pritzker Pavillion. While I was never a regular member of the orchestra, Frank Donaldson I did have the opportunity on several occasions during the last 35 years, to play as an extra Alternates: Robert Bauchens Larry Bowen percussionist. The first time was at the original band shell while studying at Roosevelt University, and the last time was a sound check rehearsal, at the brand new Pritzker Pavilion EDITOR, THE INTERMEZZO just before running for office. Terryl Jares Through the years the conductors, managers, staff, venues and orchestra members have PRESIDENT EMERITI changed. The world has changed. But here we are in 2009, with a ten-week music festival Nicholas Bliss Ed Ward in a venue that has become an unmistakable international icon of the city of Chicago, with Harold (Hal) Dessent music available to the audience at no charge. It is an incredible gift, one that continues to VICE-PRESIDENT EMERITUS happen because of the efforts of many different organizations and individuals. Tom Beranek This summer the Union and the Chicago Park District reached a three-year agreement BOARD OF DIRECTORS EMERITUS for the orchestra, not an easy task in these challenging times. This difficult task was Ruth Marion Tobias accomplished due to the hard work and commitment of the members of the Grant Park Orchestra Committee; Chair Michael Shelton, Terri VanValkinburgh, Neil Kimmel, Open Daily, except John Floeter and Tom Yang; the CFM; and Union attorney Pat Collins that an agreement Saturday, Sunday and Holidays was reached. But that is only half of the story. Office Hours 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. The Grant Park Music Festival would not be here seventy five years after it began, if All Phones: 312-782-0063 (24 Hrs.) not for the support of Mayor, Richard M. Daley, Commissioner of Cultural Affairs, Lois AFM WEB SITE: www.afm.org Weisberg, Chicago Park District CEO, Tim Mitchell and President Gerry Chico and CFM WEB SITE: www.cfm10208.com the Board of Commissioners, the Grant Park Orchestral Association and President Fred Brandstrader, Orchestra Manager Leigh Levine and the GPMF staff. This festival that we Address all e-mail to the Secretary/Treasurer: may all take for granted continues to be a first-rate festival due to the work of an inspired [email protected] staff. Lastly, there would be no music if it were not for the incredible musicians of the Grant Park Orchestra. Your artistry is timeless. May these concerts thrill and inspire Chicago Cover illustration provided by audiences for another seventy-five years and beyond. Chris Nolan Creative. August 2009 cfm10208.com Intermezzo Page 3 By Ruth Marion Tobias SUMMER IN THE CITY players are ANDREA SWAN, the 1st Ten Years CD commemorates MICHAEL GREEN, JOEL their 10 year anniversary in This summer Chicago celebrates the COHEN, MICHAEL GELLER, spectacular style. Bravo!.....The 75th season presenting the Grant Park BRIAN FERGUSON and DALE Hyde Park Jazz Society no longer Music Festival, our city’s downtown, NEWTON. meets at the Checkerboard Lounge. free, outdoor classical music In addition, a remarkably beautiful You can find the performances at tradition— now the only one of its and compelling book, “Sounds of Room 43, 1043 E. 43rd Street….. kind in the nation. Chicago’s Lakefront”, made its The June issue of The debut at the American Rag published a While programming offers 10 weeks event. Authored biographical article a propos of of musical pleasures, the Grant Park by TONY trombonists RUSS PHILLIPS Orchestra’s magnificent July 1st MACALUSO, and RUSS, JR. The senior Phillips performance transported us back to the festival’s left his road gig with LOUIS the festival’s inception. It came alive marketing ARMSTRONG when it was time in the height of the depression to lift director; for Jr. to start school. TRUMMY the spirits of Chicago residents and JULIA S. BACHRACH, YOUNG took his place and Russ Sr. never diminished in its effort. Chicago Park district historian; came home to Chicago to freelance and NEAL SAMORS, Chicago’s in the jingle business, play Jazz Ltd. The orchestra delighted the audience resident historian and author of with ART HODES and FRANZ with the same program as presented 13 books about our city, the book JACKSON; FREDDIE WACKER in 1934 and dodging a threat of rain, is stunning with its “many, never and his Windy City Seven—a the night turned out to be glorious! before published photographs of reminiscent story of the past to the With CARLOS the Festival and the lakefront, as present with Russ Jr. joining the KALMAR well as interviews with dozens of Banjo Buddies Dixieland band at leading the musicians, architects, politicians, and Andy’s Jazz club, local jobbing orchestra, radio prominent Chicagoans.” It contains a gigs, numerous Jazz Festivals and personality, foreword by renowned pianist VAN paving the way to his “Big Foot CD RON CLIBURN and a preface by Ron Production Company”..….MARK MAGERS, Magers. MADSEN played some neat July was the M.C. weekends with his quartet at Pops whose lively WHAT’S BEEN GOIN’ ON for Champagne…..and fool that Carlos Kalmar words lauded I am, I joined Facebook---a great JAMES C. PETRILLO’s and JOHN RUSSELL, host of WDCB- surprise was to touch bases with CFM’s contributions and added FM’s Midwest Ballroom, recently PAUL SUCHERMAN, son of the gentle humor to the proceedings. He interviewed and played the music late ARNOLD SUCHERMAN, my noted that six current members of of the FRANK WINKLER Trio old friend and drummer on the LEW the orchestra have the distinction of and Frank’s Symphonic Pops DIAMOND band so long ago. Paul, performance in all three Grant Park Orchestra of Chicago in a half hour denizen of Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin, band shells: the south end original, of beautiful music and interesting is a pianist, band leader and show the Petrillo band shell and the new commentary…..The Lakeside producer. JAY PRITZKER Pavilion. Those Singers’ latest Greatest Hits from Continued on Page 5 Intermezzo cfm10208.com August 2009 Page 4 By Ruth Marion Tobias From his Alpine hat to his lederhosen, “Jimmy” Bestman major in saxophone, became a first at Northwestern. personifies German music in Chicagoland. He has an Fortuitously, Jim had an automobile and fraternity brothers outgoing way about him and an excitement about his music who liked jazz. The Sutherland Hotel lounge at 47th that captivates audiences who want to have fun. And how and Drexel became a kind of hang-out with the likes of can you have fun? Try spelling it “polka”! Jim’s groups Cannonball Adderley, Jug and Sonny, Thelonius Monk, can draw you out of your chair Maynard Ferguson and Gerry Mulligan for listening and into a rousing dance or, if pleasure.