DISSIDENT ARTS: Radical Links

THE CULTURAL WORKER by John Pietaro: John's blog includes his articles, reviews, essays and fiction as well as an extensive Photo Gallery of historic cultural workers in action and a vast set of Radical Arts Links.

Cultural Workers

Woody Guthrie: The name says it all. This master of the topical song deserves an archive the size of the Smithsonian, but until that happens, this space in mid-town Manhattan will do nicely. Led by Woody's tireless daughter, Nora, the Archive houses ALL of Woody's writings, songbooks, drawings, musings, diaries, memorobilia and more. If you make an appointment, you can meet with an archivist and see these documents. Its a trip through history and into the mind of the prototypical protest musician. The office is located within the office of folk music promoter Harold Leventhal, who passed away in Fall of 2005. A great loss---I was honored to have a lengthy discussion with him during a visit there. He was Woody's manager throughout his lifetime, and worked with most everyone in the genre.
Paul Robeson: Here's an amazing collection of data on Paul Robeson, one of the great American heroes who's been maligned by reactionaries for decades. Ignore the bullshit, admire the man. Robeson posed a threat to the frightened, racist status quo as he challenged it as no one else had. Born the son of a slave, Robeson graduated with top honors from law school and also stood as a nationally recognized athlete. He instead followed the path of the arts and became an acclaimed actor and vocalist but braved it all to take a stand on issues such as the need to pass anti-lynching legislation; he was also a great advocate for the early movements for civil rights and peace. An outspoken champion, Robeson boldly looked HUAC in the face and told the witch-hunting right-wing politicians, "You are the UnAmericans and you should be ashamed of yourselves". 25 years after his sad death, and through the efforts of tireless lobbying efforts, Paul Robeson was put on a US postage stamp, but our government can never apologize enough to the memory of this great artist/activist. It was the government, led by the likes of J Parnell Thomas, Joe McCarthy, J Edgar Hoover and Richard Nixon, that was responsible for the systematic dismantling of Robeson's career and then his very life. This brilliant site is care of the Bay Area Paul Robeson organization.
Bertolt Brecht: Here's a link to the International Brecht Society, an organization which commemorates the great poet/playwright, as well as promotes performances of his works. Brecht was a powerhouse among cultural workers, writing such important plays as The Threepenny Opera, Happy End, The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahogonny, The 7 Deadly Sins (with composer Kurt Weill) and the Mother (with Hanns Eisler) as well as a wide assortment of poems and articles. He also created the concept of Epic Theatre, which stripped away all emotion of the actor in order to promote the core of the writer's work as well as allow the audience to reflect their own feelings upn the character. Brecht ultimately left Germany to escape the nazis (who'd had him on a hit-list and marked him as a danger to their regime), moving to Hollywood where he worked in the film industry. Brecht was of course cited as a Communist by HUAC--becoming targeted in the origianl group of writers and directors who were blacklisted. Ironically, his HUAC testimony, though unfriendly, was bought hook, line and sinker by the UnAmericans and they dropped their case against him. Still, Brecht left the US for East Germany by the late 40s and founded the Berliner Group there.His works remain among the most important of all dramas with social significance.
John Reed: John Reed was a firebrand radical journalist who founded the Communist Party USA after documenting not only the Russian Revolution, but also American labor rebellions and he chronicled some,of the early years of the IWW. A top writer of "The Masses", Reed covered various workers' battles with the powers that be, as well as events to celebrate workers' culture such as the Patterson Pageant of 1912. After his historic reportage of the Bolshevik revolution (Ten Day That Shook The World), Reed founded the Communist Labor Party, one of the two US-based communist organizations that sprang from the Socialist Party's left-wing, after the Sp was torn apart by various factions' response to the first World War. The left-wing were vehemently anti-war and Reed, along with Louis Frena, forged the organization that would soon grow into the CPUSA. In his last days, Reed had achieved highstatus in Lenin's Communist International, but unfortunately lost his life to typhoid while still young. However, he laid the foundation for a crusading radical journalist/activist and holds a place in history for his many achievements. His life was dramatized in the excellent film "Reds". This website offers a glimpse into some of Reed's best writings and if you follow the link, you'll also find an excellent biographical statement.
Hanns Eisler: Composer/activist Eisler became partners with Bertolt Brecht after the playwright sought out a composer who was more pronounced in Left philosphy than Weill. Together Eisler and Brecht would create some of the most radical scores of all time, radical enough to have them put on Nazi hit-lists in the 1930s. Eisler was a Modernist, schooled by Schoenberg, who set out to create a sound that was as daring in intent as harmony. A true giant of protest music, Eisler was a friend to Labor choruses, anti-fascists all over the world and even Woody Guthrie.
Langston Hughes: Brilliant poet and outspoken activist of the Harlem Renaissance and beyond. Hughes offered a vision of Black life during the Great Depression as well the periods prior to it and immediately following it as well. His "A Dream Deferred" spoke volumes to a nation indifferent to its own class system.
Earl Robinson: This page offers a good, solid biographical sketch of composer Earl Robinson, who's best known for his song, "Joe Hill" (lyric by Alfred Hayes). But Robinson, who was a strong voice in the Composers Collective of NY, also composed "The House I Live In" (yup--the Sinatra song!), "Ballad for the Americans" and the 1970s pop song "Black and White", a huge hit for 3 Dog Night. Like nearly all American Communists of the period, he was as patriotic as he was radical, calling for an end to class distinction, racism and war--seemingly the goals of our nation's founding fathers. Robinson also led several choirs which offered workers' songs and folk music to receptive audiences and in later years was involved in the environmental and alternative medicine movements.
Elie Siegmeister: Elie Seigmeister was one of the great, Leftist composers who looked to the music of Hanns Eisler as a model for inspiration. He, along with the rest of the Composers Collective of New York (including Aaron Copland, Charles Louis Seeger, Ruth Crawford, Earl Robinson, Marc Blitzstein and others), attempted to create an American proletariat music which embraced both the international workers movement and the progressive genres in concert music, even as they commented on urgent issues of the day. Siegmeiste soon became enamored with folk music of the US, as well as of othe cultures, and led a series of orchestras and choruses to expand on this music, often in conjunction with Collective friends. This website for the Siegmeister Society is rather flat and offers sparing information, though it does offer that a January, 2009 centenary event will be occuring. Most of the internet bios on Siegmeister either ignore his strong place in the history of Communist music circles or expand upon this in order to demonize him or the movement. Make no mistake about it, Elie was a giant among cultural workers.
Pete Seeger: Though Pete has no official website of his own, this one has been deemed the "official appreciation page", which is a great source for iinfo on Pete's music, history, and activism. The grandaddy of the folk revival is still going strong into his mid-80s, so here's a chance to look over all that he's done for society over the decades.
Phil Ochs: The greatest protest singer of the latter period of US radicalism, Ochs never achieved the commercial success of some of his contemporaries, but he's recalled as an activist among them. His mission remained true throughout his tragically short life. This website is an all-around resource with pages of lyrics, history, photos, links, etc.
Victor Jara: Chilean folksinger and freedom fighter who stood with Salvador Allende, befriended Phil Ochs and was horribly killed by the neo-fascist regime of Pinochet. A balladeer of the people, Jara, offered a voice to the populace in a time of vast social change. Jara held high esteem in the public as well as the Allende government before being tortured and murdered by the forces of the right-wing dictator that the US not only supported but had brought in to oust the elected socialist government. The nightmarish actions of Pinochet are evidence of the fear that a musician can create for a right-wing dictator.
Odetta: One of the greatest of all folksingers, Odetta broke through the largely white-male structure of the 60s folk industry to offer music of depthh and singular urgency. Her almost primal scream version of "John Henry" spoke volumes as churches were burning in Mississippi and civil rights protests in the south were enflaming dissent all over the nation. Odetta remains a vital, powerful performer with a unique blues-based approach to folksongs. While Odetta has no site of her own, this link will bring you to a Pacifica Radio transcript of an informative and moving interview.
Leadbelly: This site is dedicated to the great blues/folk singer-songwriter Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter. He crossed the divide from rural blues to urban protest song and never looked back. One of the legends.
Dorothy Parker: Though this site is a lot more fan-based than most of the links you'll find in this section, Dorothy Parker was a vitally important progressive artist. Her work for "New Masses", reporting on the Spanish Civil War, already puts her into the cultural worker spotlight. But while she may be more known as a member of the Algonquin Roundtable's inner circle, 'Mrs Parker' was also a life-long activist, a feminist who spoke out strongly for the Civil Rights movement. When she died in 1967, , her estate was left to Dr. King. Parker was a legend and this website offers info on her and her world in a fun but informative manner. The links section is also a strong one.
Marc Blitzstein: The composer of "The Cradle Will Rock" and "Regina" was also a member of the very radical Composers Collective of NY in the 1930s. By the early 50s, he'd translated the Brecht-Weill "Three-Penny Opera" and organized the very first production of it in the US (Theatre De Lys, Greenwich Village, NYC). And here's a wonderful link to offer insight into Blitzstein's song "The Nickel Under the Foot", featured in the Tim Robbins film 'Cradle Will Rock', the story of both composer and his opera of the same name: http://labornotes.org/node/889
Sonny Ochs/Remembering Phil Ochs: This is the site of Sonny Ochs, the legenday Phil Ochs' sister. Sonny has a wonderful radio program on WRPI-FM (Troy NY) and she also hosts a wide variety of Phil Ochs Song Nights all over the country. Sonny's site also has some excellent memories of her brother's life and music.
Si Kahn: Si Kahn is a folksinger cut from the classic, Left-wing mold. He stands as an important part of the 1960s folk revival but also has a number of books on political action and theory to his credit, as well as the important pedigree of having worked as a labor organizer (more power to you, brother!). Kahn relocated to the south as a result of time spent there for civil rights actions, so he's the real deal. BUt don't let any of this stuff overshadow his wonderful music...
Joe Strummer: The brilliant, revolutionary singer/songwriter and buzzsaw guitarist, Strummer helped to bring punk rock to communists and others on the international Left. While the Sex Pistols shouted out for anarchy, it was the Clash who had songs about the Spanish Civil War and the British years under Thatcher. They of course recorded an album called Sandinista which offerd scathing protest of the right-wing's (read: reagan/Thatcher) support of the Nicaraguan Contras. Militancy was too loose for the likes of Strummer and co, who specified their support of the revolutionary Leftists in that battle and others. After the Clash broke up, Strummer's solo career would never reach of his old band's success and then we'd lose him altogether...but just give a listen to London Calling and you know that even if thge revolutuion would not be televised, it can be envisioned through the soundtrack created by the Clash lo, so many years back!
Kurt Weill: The Kurt Weill Foundation archives the great composer's original papers and manuscripts, while overseeing events and performances. Weill composed Brecht's greatest plays, helping to forge a new genre which bridged opera to musical and contained moving social drama.
Rod Serling: Brillianr, visionary writer Rod Serling forged new ground in television with the teleplays "Requiem for a Heavyweight", "Patterns" and many more. These noir-inspired classics made powerful statements about the strength of the common person in the face of adversity. His celebrations of equality and portraits of the little guy standing up to the power structure were further seen in 'The Twilight Zone' which offered dozens and dozens of examples. One of our favorites is 'The Monsters Are Due on Maple Street', a drama about the hysteria of suspicion. Just listen to Serling's amazing closing speech which declares, "For the record, prejudice can kill and paranoia can destroy...". Ooooh, all this during the high Cold War years! Truly, Serling was the Arthur Miller of television.
Michael Franti & Spearhead: Perhaps the Flames' favorite political band in years, Spearhead has found a way to release powerfully outspoken records that groove just as hard as they agitate. Franti and co can do no wrong (nuff said)!
Richie Havens: Since the later 1960s, Richie Havens has been globally acknowledged as an iconic protest singer, though his repertoire has a wide reach. Blurring strumming right hand, spider-like left fingers embracing his guitar neck, bent over his instrument, Havens embodies the notion of the folk revival.
Ramblin' Jack Elliot: Ramblin' Jack is best recalled as the guy who hung out with Woody so much that he developed an almost perfect imitation of his voice, gestures and stage presence. But Jack's music and adventures go way beyond that. He remains an active musician till this day. Check out the site for info on his recent release.
Billy Bragg: ONe of the strongest voices of musical radicalsim, Bragg crosses the boundary between punk and folk music better than most anyone else.
Bev Grant: Singer/songwriter/activist Bev Grant has been doing her thing since the 1960s when she shared the stage with such notables as Phil Ochs. After breaking through the coffeehouse scene in Greenwich Village, Bev led the band, the Human Condition for some years before establishing a series of powerful associations including leading the Brooklyn Women's chorus and more recently her group the Dissident Daughters. Bev has performed on several events organized by John; her music is always welcome.
Readnex Poetry Squad: This group of young, Rap-driven poets reloacted from NYC to New Paltz NY recently and have been spreading their unique style of protest poetry throughout the Hudson Valley and the NY area. Late 2006 saw the release of their second CD and a tour in 2007 will extend into Europe. The Readnex bring socail justice poetics into the current age we live in, while never refuting the origins of Left-wing spoken word art.
George Mann & Julius Margolin: The fire of a century of labor song are pent up in George and Julie, but George cannot claim to have lived through much of that---Julie can. Now (in 2007) 91 years young, Margolin was a CIO organzer long before the purge by the McCarthyites and in this regard is one of labor's heroes. The two met in the NYC Labor Chorus and have been a highly visible duet all over the US, recording a series of radical CDs which include song and poetry, largely denigrating the crimes and general character of George Bush. Go get 'em, guys!
Jennie Litt & David Alpher: Progressive cabaret pair Jennie Litt and David Alpher light up the stage with powerful voice and piano in a wide asortment of music. But we know that these two are died-in-the-wool radicals and so really enjoy their Peoples Cabaret show which includes songs by the likes of Harold Rome. For our Dissident Fest 2007 they turned a Beacon cultural center into a decadent Berlin cabaret of the late 1920s. These two can perform Brecht and Weill or Brecht and Eisler like they have done so in the thicket of German nightlife while dodging the brownshirts!
The MacDougal St. Rent Party: A quartet of strong individual topical folksingers, this grouping comes off like a modern-day Almanac Singers with a humorous ax to grind. All that and they love placards such as the one adorened with the large black letters spelling out--"Smell the Sulphur!"
Mel & Vinnie: Two of the many social protest-based folkies of NY's Hudson Valley, Maryellen Healey and Vincent Cerniglia are a couple of troublemakers we areproud to know.
Ray Korona Band: Ray Korona is a singer-songwriter who is steeped in the folk-protest tradition. His songs are satirical, biting, often humorous and always offer a message. His band and he have performed for many progressive events, acting as accompaniests or opening acts for people such as Pete Seeger, Jim Hightower and Patti Smith. All that, and Ray is a good friend to the Flames, having appeared at several events John has organized over the years.
Lach: Lach is the founder of the "Antifolk" genre of the early 1980s, but he's also a talented songer-songwriter with much to say right now. Antifolk was created in NYC's Est Village as a direct response to the West Village's "legitimate" folk scene's conventions----which excluded the young, edgy performers who believed as much in the Clash as they did Woody Guthrie. So they created a bizarro-planet folk scene, if you will, which sported numerous 'Anti-Hoots' in East Village clubs and a traveling performance series called 'The Fort', another Lach invention. The Anti-Folksters spoke the language of the time and place in which they lived---just as the originators of the folk revivial did. So what's up with Lach today? Punk-laced folk songs which explore our lives, lifestyles and history---its all here.
Robert Milby: Radical poet Robert Milby tells it like it is in verse--as often as he can. A published poet many times over, Milby also performs his work in cafes and runs poetry circles throughout much of the mid-Hudson Valley of NY.
Graham and Barbara Dean: The Deans are a Massachusetts-based pair of talented musicians and songwriters who perform a great deal of social justice music.
Redwood Moose: The Wobbly heart of "Moose" meets the folkie human service professional "Redwood" while armed with acoustic guitars and a mission of peace and justice. Good music and organzing, too.
Mancini and Martin: This is the website of powerhouse avant duet Mancini & Martin, wonderful friends to the Flames. The pair are well-known jazz saxophonist/composer Gus Mancini and poet/author/performance artist Patti Martin. We have had the wonderful opportunity to not only share bills with M&M (ie-Woodstock Fringe Festival and others), but the duo have joined the Flames onstage for several collaborative efforts as well. These always turn out to be exciting, improvisational explorations into the sonic underbelly of song! M&M blend through-composed music with free improv, threading spoken word performance into jazz improv that ranges from wailing to mellow, tuneful to out there and back. "No Age" might begin to describe their sound.
Gwen Laster: Celebrated Jazz musician Gwen Laster is an amazing violinist who performs on the international stage but is always available to lend support to progressive causes and community events. We are lucky to have her based here in NY's Hudson Valley and have her take part in some of our events. Gwen's vilin leads are soaring, floating epic adventures of sound and she's equally comfortable playing Jazz Fusion, traditional Blues or Country, pure improv, scored concert music or burning swing.
Journey Blue Heaven: Talented Woodstock-based singer/songwriter/activist and host of cable TV's Woodstock Tell-a-Vision show. Here's to the next generation of great artist-activists.
Bob Lusk: Bob is a musician and activist based out of Kingston NY. A master of classic US folk music, he also specializes in Celtic songs and includes numerous pieces from a variety of folk traditions (and languages) in his sets. Bob is also known as one of the people, along with the Woodstock Women in Black and others, who were arrested in Kingston for engaging in a silent protest at the military recruiting center in an area mall. At the point in which the police moved in on them, the protestors were softly chanting "om" and focusing on peace. Endangering national security through chant???
Voices for Peace/Danielle Woerner: Noted sporano Danielle Woerner formed Voices for Peace in order to add to the protest of George Bush's endless war. They have graced the platform of many peace rallies as well as community events in and around NY's Hudson Valley.
Sing Freedom/Joel Landy: Topical singer-songwriter Joel Landy's website and cable television show (Songs of Freedom) in the New York area. Joel performs regularly in the northeast and is a member of the MacDougal St. Rent Party. HIs TV show has been a wonderful opportunity for many progressive-minded musicians and folksingers in general to have airtime that includes the visual!
Sana Sabazz: Sana is a talented poet and writer who is very much a social activist as well. In 2006 she released the book, "Why Women Cry", exploring the many issues women are faced with in society and within their own familes and themselves. Soon to be released is "Why Men Cry", also a poetic study of the inner and outer worlds of men.
The MacDougal Street Rent Party: THis NYC-based ensemble performs an array of music that is entrenched in the protest tradition. Quite influenced by the repertoire and philosophy of the Almanac Singers, they present performances where all have equal time at the lead-vocal mic. Each of the members are serious performers in their own right, too, so if you check out the website please consider making visits to each of the others' sites. Its all powerful music.
Pittsburgh Raging Grannies: Pittsburgh's charpter of the Raging Grannies is indeed special. One of their forces is a talented musician and music teacher who's a serious activist in her own right, Mimi Yahn. Outside of her duty as the Grannies' musical director, this Fellow Worker is also a presenter of seminars on protest song, specializing in the music of the IWW. She has self-published two song-books which feature much of this music and offers it to those who attend her lectures.
Judy Gorman: Judy is a gifted singer-songwriter who travels throughout the US from her home base in Brooklyn Heights, performing songs of labor, social change and feminism. She has several CDs available via this page on the CD Baby website.
Chris Ruhe: Chris is a wonderful folksinger/activist who's been performing music of social justice, peace and the environment for decades. Shortly after 9/11, Chris began a peace vigil which stands at the very busy intersection of Rts 9 and 9-D at the crossraods of Wappinger and Poughkeepsie NY. Chris and friends person this post each Saturday afternoon, rain, snow or shine. He is also the host of the "Planet Blue" radio show on WVKR-FM (Poughkeepsie NY), which focuses entirely on environmental issues and news.
Bruce Markow: Bruce is a very talented lead guitarist who has come into his own as a gifted singer-songwriter. Much of his alternative folk music focuses on peace and justice, but there's quite a bit of humor in there as well. A strong performer and great guy.
Bryan and Marcy: This NYC-based folk-pop duo offers an exciting, harmony-laced brand of semi-acoustic music that is very enjoyable. Dueling guitars and call-and-response singing, driving rhythm, humor, evocative pieces, social conscience.
The J Kirks: The J Kirks are a family band led by activist-musician parents. They work with their children (teen and pre-teen) in a unique ensemble which showcases original songs of protest. Daring, outspoken and decidedly leftist, the Kirks are offring a wonderful education to their kids---and the rest of us. Check out their site as well as some of their powerful pieces on You Tube.

Articles by John Pietaro

Z Magazine-ZSpace Page for John Pietaro: This is John's ZSpace Page over at zmag.org. Every writer has a dedicated page but unfortunately, this one is woefully empty of the many articles and reviews he's written for Z. You'll find several articles here and hopefully it will soon include all of his writings published in Z.
Political Affairs mag--articles by John Pietaro: Political Affairs has been a noted Marxist magazine for generations; John Pietaro has had numerous articles published in their mag or on their excellent website. Some of his pieces are included in this page's selection.
Various articles published in the People's World: This link will bring you to a page with a selection of articles John Pietaro wrote for the People's World e-newspaper. Unfortunately many of his pieces written prior to the paper's transition to a web-only publication did not make it into this selection of articles.
Various articles: H-Labor-Arts: Here is a selection of brief pieces posted to the H-Labor-Art website/newsletter on a variety of topics
Woody Guthrie: 95 Years of Fighting Fascists---Labor Arts: This is an article I wrote for general internet consumption and am glad to note that it was picked up by the good people of Laborarts.org, so its here for posterity. This is an article on the 95th anniversary of Woody Guthrie's birth, and of the legacy in his wake.
Obit of Sis Cunningham-- Z Magazine: John wrote this obituary of the great folksinger/songwriter and activist Sis Cunningham for 'Z'
On Pete Seeger's 85th birthday: John's article on Pete Seeger's birthday went out to theinternet widely and was picked up by many sources including landing in the sermon of a mid-western preacher and in the newsletter of LA Indymedia
Article on Moe Foner celebration at Town Hall, NYC: This is a piece I wrote that was published on the Interactivist Exchange site in 2002. The topic was an amazing evening at NYC's Townb Hall in honor of labor legend Moe Foner
Article on David Letterman's battling interview with Bill O'Reilly: This was posted to the internet widely the morning after Letterman's embattled interview with guest Bill O'Reilly, fascistic media commentator
Portside piece on Henry Foner's birthday celebration: This article was posted to Portside several years ago following the birthday celebration for noted labor figure Henry Foner
Article on Woody Guthrie Concert: Though not written by John Pietaro, here's a February 2001 article from the People's Weekly World covering a concert organized and hosted by John. The event was called MADE FOR YOU AND ME: OVER 60 YEARS OF 'THIS LAND IS YOUR LAND', which commemorated Woody Guthrie's composition of that seminal ballad and celebrated his music in general. The event was also a fundraiser for the then-striking Domino Sugar workers of ILA.
Z Magazine article: Paul Robeson: Standing Tall" was published by Z in honor of Robeson's birthday commemoration. Robeson remains one of our nation's great heros.
Z Magazine CD review, Michael Franti & Spearhead: "Yell Fire" by Michael Franti and Spearhead is one of the most important albums in the struggle against the Bush years. I happily wrote this review of such a strong and involving CD.
Z Magazine review of ReadNex Poetry Squad: Here's John's review of the CD 'Social Issue' by the radical hip-hop group ReadNex Poetry Squad which appeared in the May issue, 2007.
2004 May Day concert in Union Square Park, NYC (Labor Arts): Here's a report on a May Day concert organized by John in Union Square Park, NYC in 2004. We did not know it at the time, but this was to be the last of the regular May Day events he helmed in Manhattan---following this point, our May Day events have all been in NY's Hudson Valley area, but ya never know what the future may hold...
Article on event organized by John Pietaro: This is another People's Weekly World article, originally published in November of 2001, concerning the Oct 2001 event SOLIDARITY: AN EVENING OF INTERNATIONAL LABOR UNITY, which was a fundraiser for the NYC Central Labor Council's 9/11 Fund. This event occured in Manhattan only weeks after the terorist attacks of 9/11. Though the event was organized by John Pietaro, he was not the author of the article, but its been added here for history's sake.
Z Mag review of Bev Grant & the Dissident Daughters' disc 'Cheeky Woman': Here's a review of the latest disc by perenniel folkie Bev Grant. Her latest aggregation is the 3-part harmony drenched Dissident Daughters, featured with her on this CD.
Z Magazine CD review: Review of "Hail to The Thieves Part 3" by George Mann & Julius Margolin
Z Magazine CD review: This is a review of Bruce Springsteen's wonderful album, "We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions" (too bad I did not wait until a few months later when it was re-released and included several cuts of a more distinctly radical nature!)
John's review of a CD by George & Julius: Here's a copy of a review for a CD by George Mann and Julius Margolin from several years ago. Other than being posted to their website, the review was unpublished.

Cultural Worker Organizations

The Brecht Forum: Home of the New York Marxist School, this very hip Left performance space is also a lecture center which attracts many important radical writers, musicians, poets, actors, dancers and of course activists since its doors first opened in 1975. The BF maintains several arts-specific series which have celebrated cultural work in amny genres. It has been the site of large-scale events in honor of Mumia and many other cutting-edge issues and our Hanns Eisler Centenary Festival and benefit concert for UFPJ, among others, also occured here. 451 West Street (between Bank & Bethune Streets, New York, NY 10014 Phone: (212) 242-4201 - Email: brechtforum at brechtforum.org
Progressive Artists' Roster of the US Social Forum: The US Social Forum has expanded its reach this year and opened the doors to cultural workers for, seemingly, the first time. We are very excited by the rpospect, though we are not available to attend this year. We urge all rpogressive artsits, regardless of genre, to get a listing in this roster. It is surely time for the cultural workers to speak out.
Graphic Witness: Wow! A brilliant site which celebrates visiual art as activism and even has a special segment of CP cultural worker Hugo Gellert, who was a master Left-wing illustrator, offering drawings, paintings and etchings for 'the Masses', 'the Daily Worker', 'the Liberator' and many other historic periodicals.
Musicians Alliance for Peace: The Musicians Alliance for Peace is an organization founded in the Long Island New York college, Stony Brook, and it has grown in leaps and bounds within a five year period. Each year they coordinate The Music for Peace Project, which asks musicians all over the world to stage simultaneous concerts with an anti-war theme during the weekend that bridges March and April. In 2006, the Flames became a part of this event, with a concert in Poughkeepsie, NY. M4P is a very important organization that effectively bridges the gap between progressive actions and the arts. The Flames are big supporters of M4P.
Culture Works Collective: Born out of the progressive heart of Local 1000 of the American Federation of Musicians, this newly founded (2008) collective is one which works toward a ploitically outspken output for the arts. The advisory board includes familiar names like Pete Seeger and the list of affiliated artists seems to run the gamut of style and nationality. Check outmthis well formulated site and be sure to go to the links to each of the musicians involved, especially Joe Uehlein, the collective's founder.
Musicians Against Sweatshops: One might think of this organization as the musical arm of United Students Against Sweatshops, though their membership has a wide range of ages. Here's more evidence that the artists have not gone to sleep during this time of social struggle and war.
Peoples Music Network: A terrific group of diverse folk-oriented performers who use their network to build annual concerts and other events.
Butterfly Gardeners Assoc--MUSICIANS & FINE ARTISTS FOR WORLD PEACE: Musicians & Fine Artsits for World Peace is a network of artist/activists organized by Allen Moore, a west coast-based peace activist and musician. His highly extensive website, with endless links to musicians, poets, dancers, visual artists and more, plus activist organizations, includes a call for more additions---so drop him a line! Not only will you the cultural worker and /or your organization be listed, but he also helps cultural organizers to get the word out about their events and festivals by adding those links as well. He is also planning a 2008 festival of peace music, among other events.
Radical Poetry Collective: Women's Political Poetry: A collective of women poets who are writing about injustice, the war and more. This is also an outlet for the sale of a poetry anthology the group has published. The cultural workers speak---loudly!
Walkabout Clearwater: This is the website for the Walkabout Clearwater Chorus, the musical arm to the great Clearwater environmentalist organization. The Flames have been on the same bill as Walkabout and found their harmonies to be strong and moving.

Cultural Education Foundations

Labor Arts: Labor Arts was founded by Rachel Bernstein of the New York University Labor Library and Henry Foner, perenniel Labor activist and former president of the Furriers' union. The site has a regular permanent collection of historic Labor-oriented art and other pieces, plus usually includes various other exhibits as well.
Max's Kansas City Project: Keeping alive the name of this long-lost-but-never-forgotten iconic NYC rock club, this foundation offers grants to musicians in medical crisis and also has a great youth outreach program as well. Housed in Woodstock NY and run singlehandedly by Yvonne Sewall,the widow of Max's original owner Mickey Ruskin, the Project is tireless in its heartfull mission.
Bread and Roses Cultural Project: Bread and Roses is the Cultural arm of 1199 SEIU, the powerful healthcare workers' union. Bread and Roses maintains a permanent gallery plus runs a series of events and sells a large number of prints pertaining to Labor or other social justice issues.
Sphinx Music: Sphinx is a wonderful organization which aims to counter the obvious inequalities in the classical music field. Clearly, few African-American professional musicians are employed in major orchestras throughout the country, and positions are few and far between for any kind of involvement in what can be a rather exlusionary setting. BUt their mission is a vast one which seeks to bring classical culture out of its box by teaching children of color, presenting musical programs and highlighting the work of noted Black and Latino performers and composers. Sphinx begins their mission with children, exposing Black and Latino kids to concerts and music education and bringing programming into particularly deprived school districts. They also offer higher-level music instruction up to and including major scholarships. Sphinx also has several professional-level performance groups which demonstrate the artistry of their laureates. The organization also sponsors competitions which result in increased educational and performance opportunities. Annually, Sphinx holds major concerts, combining professional musicians with students, at such locations as Carnegie Hall.
Strummerville- The Joe Strummer Foundation for New Music: This foundation was established by Joe Strummer's family and friends in the period immediately following his untimely death. The site offers info on the foundation itself as well as events that benefit its mission.

Leftist Educational Resources

Marxist Internet Archive: A treasure trove of Marxist information, this site offers sections on all major left figures in history. Not just Marx and Engels, but Gramsci, Lenin, Debs, Luxemburg and way beyond.
Political Truth blog: Here's a politically astute blog that is progressive to its core and offers articles and video of current happenings, struggles and pol updates. What makes this unique, though is the connection to music via numerous clips of classic rock performances that have some level of connection to the issues (ie--the Beatles performing their great Lennon-penned song "I'm a Loser" with a caption referring to the McCain loss!). Also find footage of great historic political speeches here. You must check this site out....
The Radical Apple: Here's a very handy interactive webpage which allows you to scan over a map of Greenwich Village and the East Village and click onto some locations of revolutionary occurances or other important spots in radical NYC history. Ever wondetred where Emma Goldman lived or Trotsky worked? Now you can virtually go there. Our only complaint is that the sources stop before the map can get to Union Square Park--perhaps the prime site of more labor and other radicalism than any other. NYC has such a rich left history--hopefully this pages map will expand to reflect much more of it. But in the meantime, here's some involuable info. Check it out...
Niebyl-Proctor Marxist Library: This is a detailed research collection of Marxism drawn from the teachings of Prof Karl Niebyl, who left Germany to escape the Nazis. His collection was stored at UC Berkley. THe college then took on the collection of African-American activist, teacher and labor organizer Roscoe Proctor. The collection, in total has over 15.000 books, pamphlets and other wiritings on Marxism-Leninism, labor and civil rights history and more.
New Deal Stage: Here's a website dedicated to the WPA Arts Project, specifically that of the theatre program. A great array of info on the Federal Theatre Project including scripts, records, data of all kinds from within the Library of Congress.
The Red Encyclopedia: One of the most thorough sites featuring radical history of most every stripe. okay, so the editor may be opinionated, but then who on the Left isn't? Here are full explanations of Left organizations today and yesterday, as well as organizations in Europe. There's also a map of sorts guiding you through these same organizations and also a section on lingo. Exhaustive, but its vital that someone took the plunge to try to catalog all of this.
Red Globe: "News for your class, not your country"---Red Globe is an international communist and otherwise Left news service with coverage you cannot find in most other places. Most links are for Spanish-language readers, but there are many other articles and links here for everyone.
In Defense of Marxism: A thorough, thoughtful collection of articles and information on Marxism in history and its applications today. This site can be trasnalted into most every language and it was created by the International Marxist Tendency, an outgrowth of the Troskyist movement.
Leninist dot biz: With the most unlikely of designations, this terrific Leninist site offers up vast amounts of information, with multiple links leading to volumes of articles on nearly any topic of interest to those of us on the Left. There are a few technical snags on the site right now, but apparently these problems are temporary. I was able to get around quite well and tap into many, many bits of research in just a few moments. Sure, we'd all feel better if this was a dot-org, but isn't the irony of the title just too good to pass up, comrade?
Antonio Gramsci, Marxist Internet Archive: An amazing collection of Gramsci's writings and philosophy c/o the Marxist Internet Archive. Antonio Gramsci was a groundbreaking Italian Communist who lived for his cause. After spending several years struggling for labor causes and attempting to build workers' councils, he became a delegate to the Communist International and began to develop his own philosophy of socialism. He was imprisoned by the fascist Italian government in the latter 1920s and composed his most famous work, The Prison notebooks in the decade of his incarceration. Gramsci did not survive his sentence, ultimately dying in a prison hospital, but his writings remain among the most important of global Leftist documents.
Black Panther Party, Marxist Internet Archive: As usual, the Marxist Internet Archive has put together an excellent overview of the Black Panthers, including some wonderful excerpts of great writings. The Panthers were demonized by the white conservative establishment, but much of white socia=ety remained fearful of this organization which had as a primary mission the defense of African-Americans. The agenda included educational programs, breakfasts for children in poor communities, opportunities for cultural understanding and pride, as well as a neighborhood watch.
Jay's Radical History Links: We on the Left cannot get enough of ourselves and so here's a site that offers more of Left history and current events than you can possibly digest. This site will offer international links so that you can reach out to brothers and sisters all over the planet. I am sure that Jay is now working on some links to connect us to the Mars Canal Boat Pilots Union and the Saturn Ring Airline Pilots Association as well.

Resources for Progressive Musicians/Listeners

Living With War Today: An offshoot of Neil Young's website, LWWT features tons of anti-war songs by artists you've heard of those you never have come across before. The tradition continues...until we can stop writing such songs. As of late may 2006, two of the Flames' songs have been added to the litany of radical songs which speak back to the Bush Administration, achieving first-column status. We are proud to keep such good company!
The Internationale: Here's a page dedicated to the communist and socialist anthem, The Internationale. This powerful piece of music sustained many a revolution over the world, though it was written in honor of the Paris Commune. This song has been so important to the Left that the CPUSA named their national cultural clubs after its composer, Pierre DeGaytor. The poem by Eugene Pottier has been translated into every language and during the Spanish Civil War members of the International Brigade sang it together as a unifying force, though each did so in their native tongue. The Stalin-era Soviet Union, sadly, claimed this brilliant work as its national anthem and the image of Red Army soldiers marching to it in processions with tanks and other weaponry in Red Square has often tarnished the piece. Regardless, it remains the theme for all workers struggles and in recent years has risen in stature once again.
Music of the Spanish Civil War: This is a wonderful website which will bring you directly to a page of recorded music of the Spanish Civil War. If you move about on it, you'll find sections which include history and more. Among the music selections is our fave, Viva La Quince Brigade, but this site goes well beyond that. Also look for some great links.

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