Lady in Wheelchair and Guy Didn’t Pay Fare
Going up the stairs to catch the train to Manhattan a blond girl carrying a guitar asked me if I want help lifting my cart up the stairs. It turned out it was Mimi, a Blue Grass & gospel musician who has been playing in the subway on and off for a few years. She…
Read MoreSanitation Personnel Changes
On the train on my way to playing the musical saw in the NYC subway there was a lady collecting donations to feed the homeless. She gave a sandwich and an apple to a homeless guy who was sitting not far from me. When I got to the 14th street subway station there was a…
Read MoreA Black Sweater
Mason’s group, “N” tune, was performing at the Music Under New York spot at the 59th street subway station when I arrived. They are not members of MUNY – they freelance. Mason wasn’t with them today, but they had a returning singer wearing a long coat – he used to sing with them a long…
Read MorePlaying Above Ground
I took a few days off of playing the musical saw in the subway to perform with the Riverside Orchestra conducted by Maestro Jun Nakabayashi. The Maestro and the 52 musicians in the orchestra were all really nice – it was a pleasure working with them. Then I played at the Grand Central Station Holiday…
Read MorePlaying in 33 Degrees
Today was really cold in New York City – high temp of 33 degrees. When I left my house in the morning it was well below freezing. At the Music Under New York spot at the 14th street subway station two Andean musicians were playing pan flute and wood flute. It was Louis from Ecuador…
Read MoreNames are Superfluous
As I came up the stairs, lugging my busking equipment to the #6 train platform at the 59th street subway station, a lady told me she was having a bad day. It was her first time ever taking the subway in New York City (she is from PA) and a lady had just fainted and…
Read MoreSantas Everywhere!
As I arrived at the Union Square subway station I could hear a jazz guitar. I couldn’t see who it was, but it kind of sounded like Don Witter to me… As I was setting up at the Music Under New York spot some people asked me how to get to the Plaza Hotel. I…
Read MoreKing Lear at Sherwood Forest
Geovanni Suquillo and his Japanese percussionist were playing at the Union Square subway station’s Music Under New York spot when I got there. The percussionist wraps his fingers for protection and beats on a box on top of which he is sitting. I sat on the bench to wait for Geo and his friend to…
Read MoreSingers Everywhere
As I was playing at the Music Under New York spot at the 59th street subway station I could hear the sound of singing faintly drifting in the subway station. I wasn’t sure where the sound was coming from. Chill, Bow and two friends were “doing the trains” – walking from train car to train…
Read MoreSubway Musician at Canne Film Festival
I passed the 59th street & Lexington subway station on my way, and I could see Frankie playing his guitar there. This seems to be his favorite spot these days. As I don’t usually play in the subway on Sundays, I was surprised by the different atmosphere that engulfed me at the Union Square subway…
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