Washington Post - Putting D.C. on the Musical Map

Putting D.C. on the Musical Map

By Eric Brace

Friday, January 23, 1998; Page N12

THE WASHINGTON music scene got a little respect last week. At a reception at Coco Loco downtown, the National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences celebrated the opening of its newly created Washington branch office. NARAS is the group that puts on the Grammy Awards every year, and now has four branch offices to go along with its seven higher profile chapter offices. Founded in 1957, its mandate is to represent the interests of the musical community (musicians, writers, recording engineers and the like) on issues such as intellectual property rights, piracy, the preserving and archiving of music, and censorship. This specific concern for the individuals involved in making music distinguishes NARAS from the Recording Industry Association of America, an organization that primarily promotes the interests of major record labels.

NARAS President Michael Greene was on hand to praise the area's music community and greet the newly elected board members. He said that Washington was ripe for a NARAS office: "Besides having a vibrant and varied musical community, Washington was already the site of a whole list of organizations we already do business with. We're partners with Music Educators National Conference. The Music Therapy Association is headquartered in D.C. The Recording Industry Association of America has a very strong office here. In addition to that, the Smithsonian Institution and the Library of Congress are invaluable archival resources that are already doing a great deal to preserve this country's musical heritage, and NARAS is here to offer its support and its services."

Daryl Friedman is the executive director of NARAS's Washington branch, and says that in addition to supporting Washington's growing music scene, NARAS will have a strong presence in area schools. "The 'Grammy in the Schools' program is one of our strongest," says Friedman, "and we'll be kicking that off with an event at Howard University on Jan. 27. We'll have industry professionals on hand to talk about the business to 600 school kids, and we'll have the debut performance by the Grammy High School Jazz Ensemble, made up of high school students from the Washington area."

Friedman, formerly Wolf Trap's media and public relations director, has been making the rounds, networking with groups that may have common concerns with NARAS, "because I want to make sure we've got a daily presence in our working relationship with groups like the RIAA, the Arts Advocates, the Music Educators, the NEA."

NARAS is a 12,000-member organization, and it's those members who vote on the Grammys. To become a voting member, you have to have been involved in six commercially released (and widely available) recordings, either as a performer, writer or producer. There are two other membership categories -- associate member and affiliate -- which have less stringent requirements and which don't allow you to vote on the Grammy ballot.

Washington currently has 150 members, represented by 15 board members who will meet once a month. "I'm looking to them for their expertise," says Friedman. "I'll need them to help determine the right program mix for Washington, and to help recruit members." Once the branch has 400 members, it can apply for chapter status.

The NARAS Washington branch board members are John Alagia, Robert Aubry Davis, Heidi Gerber, Laurie Jacoby, John Jennings, Pete Kennedy, Tom Lee, John MacDonald, Charles McCardell, Pat McGee, Jeffrey Mumford, Joel E. Seigel, John Simson, James Weaver and Susan Graham White.

WAMMIE BAM THANK YOU MA'AM

Washington Area Music Association president Michael Schreibman is pleased with the arrival of a NARAS branch office, because he says it helps give the local music scene a higher profile. Schreibman, who's been helping put Washington music on the map for years, says "anything that gives greater recognition to Washington musicians is good."

On Tuesday night WAMA will recognize accomplishments of area musicians at the 12th annual Wammie Awards, being held at Lisner Auditorium beginning at 8 p.m. Local performers of all styles will be honored for live and recorded work done between July 1, 1996 and June 30, 1997. The ceremonies will include performances by Ruth Brown, Tony Gil and Pam Bricker, Ruthie & the Wranglers, 3LG, Tom Paxton, Bridges to Bliss, the Michael Sheppard Group and Rumba Club. Tickets to the Wammies are $20, $15 for WAMA members.

All the Wammie winners will be listed in this column next Friday. For more information call WAMA at 703/237-9500, and for advance tickets, call Protix at 703/218-6500.

WISHFUL THINKING

Last week, a band called Wish performed at the Bayou, and we thought we were doing the right thing in reviewing the new Wish CD in the Weekend section. Well, we blew it.

It seems there are two bands currently going by the name Wish, both performing at clubs in the area, both very good, and until recently, both known by names other than Wish. The record we reviewed last week was by the Wish that was of late called Naked Blue, a group built around the talented duo of Jennifer Smith and Scott Smith. The Wish that was performing at the Bayou is the band that was known as For Mercy until late last year.

A press release from the former For Mercy folks was loaded with little TM letters (for "trademark") beside every mention of their new name, indicating that there's some legal stuff already happening. And indeed there is. Neither camp wants to talk about it, but lawyers are reportedly involved in this battle of Wishes.

The Northern Virginia-based Wish released a six-song CD last year under the For Mercy name that was never reviewed in these pages, so let me just say that it's a powerful piece of modern rock. Vocalist Melissa Christopher is strong and emotional without being over-the-top, and guitarist Todd Christopher layers his sound like the Smiths' Johnny Marr. Hear for yourself Saturday night at T.T. Reynolds in Fairfax (703/591-9292), and you can visit their World Wide Web site at www.worldofwish.com. * To hear a free Sound Bite of the Wish that was once For Mercy, call Post-Haste at 202/334-9000 and press 8121. (Prince William residents, call 690-4110.)

The Wish that was once Naked Blue is based in Baltimore, and also has a Web presence at www.baltimorebands.com/wish. Jennifer and Scott Smith's song "We Will Fly" was covered by major-label country band Evangeline recently, while "Fade Away" will be heard Monday on CBS's "Brooklyn South." They're also sending their new CD (titled simply "Wish") around to industry big shots, so you know they're hoping to keep the name.

This Wish is performing in Northern Virginia Saturday night as well, at Whitey's in Arlington (703/525-9825). * For a Sound Bite of the Wish that was once Naked Blue, press 8122.