Leonie guest artist Grand Central Station

I met Leonie while playing at Grand Central Graybar corridor.  I noticed Leonie looking at my guitar and asked if she played. I encouraged her to have a go and the gutsy woman that she is, played 'Closer I Am To Fine,' by the Indigo Girls. Leonie works for the UN in Darfur, Sudan doing landmine clearance).

What Inspires Leonie?  "A word free of land mines and kids at play having fun."

What Inspires Carol who used to also work in Darfur?  Her friend Carol added her inspiration too: the work that Leonie does. I second that!

What's Your Inspiration?

Nancy VanReece Road to Carnegie Hall

Nancy VanReece Social Media Strategist and Website Manager of Nashville Symphony. 

Nancy came to NYC with the Nashville Symphony for the Spring For Music Festival at Carnegie Hall. She had contacted me months earlier to help with an unconventional social media campaign for a classical music organization, to film New Yorkers and ask them about the Symphony and get some tips on what to do while in town. Clearly a new kind of marketing and a lot of fun for me.  I got comments from a dog walker, Don the shoe dude, a violinist, and a fun group in Grand Central Station, not to mention poodles.  New Yorkers are always eager to help. It was cool to see her social media strategy noticed by who else…The Media!

When Nancy arrived in town for the concert, I took her around to some of my favorite spots. She gave me her "Inspiration" in front of the iconic LOVE sculpture (Robert Indiana) before we headed off to MoMa with Symphony publicist Laurie Davis.

What Inspires Nancy?  "People"

Richard Green Inspiration

Richard stopped by my Columbus Circle gig while he was in town for work. It was a nice surprise. He and I are in a Blues Band in Columbia County, NY (about 2 hours North of NYC), we perform mostly for non-profit organization fund raisers.  Richard is an amazing guitarist and great spirit. We have a lot of fun making people dance.

What inspires Richard?  "Using music as a tool for community."

What's Your Inspiration?

Richard filmed me singing my song Question Of Desire, here's the clip

Thula Sizwe Inspired the commuters

While performing at SI ferry terminal, a group arrived with some gorgeous large African drums, colorful shirts and warm glowing smiles. They came over and performed a song for people awaiting the 3:30 ferry. Little by little the crowds drew closer until they filled the area in front of the group. This clip is an excerpt and I could only film from my vantage point (I still had my guitar on and was frozen in my feet with amazement).

I later learned the group Thula Sizwe was in America thanks to a wonderful organization Bridges Of Peace and Hope.

Enjoy.

What's Your Inspiration?

Bridges of Peace and Hope is an international network of teachers, students, and friends collaborating on creative, arts in education projects that promote respect, understanding, and communication. You can like them on facebook

Jack O'Brien Inspired

I met Jack O'Brien in Grand Central terminal one afternoon, we chatted and he shared he had written a song entitled "Birds Of A Feather," inspired by his daughter's engagement. He later contacted me and asked if I would sing and record it for him. So I did. He returned to Grand Central with his son JC to film me singing it live. I found the whole experience moving and well, Inspirational too.

What's you inspiration?

 

Adham Fisher Subway Record attempt

Adham connected with me from England as he was preparing a trip to NYC to attempt to break the record of visiting all 468 NYCSubway stops in the least amount of time. In 2009, two New Yorkers, Matthew Ferrisi and Chris Solarz, set the Guinness record for covering the city’s 468 subway stations in 22 hours 52 minutes.

We met during the annual Divas Underground performance at Union Square to discuss his plan. I found a pocket map someone gave me some time ago and we have a funny chat about the size of the maps the MTA provides. Good Luck Adham.

 read about it in NY Times CityRoom blog

Adham wrote to me: I went to all stations in 23 hours, 11 minutes, 24 seconds. It wasn't the record he had hoped for, but has left for Toronto where he'll attempt to break the record there. Good Luck Adham.

Samantha Margulies Diva Underground

Samantha Margulies Music Under New York performer (Opera, Broadway + Pop singer).

I chatted with Samantha during the 2011 Divas Underground (annual full day lineup of women performers from the MUNY program) at Union Square station.

What Inspires Samantha?  "Freedom that the subway allows."

check out the New York Magazine article with Samantha featured 

  • the 2012 Divas Underground will be held Thursday March 29 from 12pm-7pm at Union Square 14th street just above N/R platforms

Jessie guest performer Grand Central

Jessie and her father Mike stopped by Graybar corridor to listen, we chatted about guitars and then I asked if one of them played the guitar, come to find out Jessie is the guitarist and I prodded her to play. Under the amazing limestone vaulted ceiling in the Graybar corridor in the Grand Central terminal she sang "Hallelujah." The best free concert hall in NYC.

What Inspires Jessie? "channel and feel emotion...every day life…..pour into voice and music."

What Inspires Michael?

I met Michael at Grand Central subway station, he listened for a while and then we engaged in conversation about the experience of spontaneous moments like passing a subway musician and taking the time to stop. What Inspires Michael? "Humanity of what this experience was inspired by your music at this particular moment, the human connection with you and your music absolutely lovely. Totally unexpected, I have risen with my heart and my sense of being multifold."

What's Your Inspiration?

Brian Hill + Neil Bartram Inspired

Friends playwright Brian Hill and composer Neil Bartram walked past me just after getting off a train in Grand Central Station. It's always fun to catch up with people I know. I took the opportunity to ask the question "What' Inspires You?" "Human connection."

What's Your Inspiration?

 

Ruthie Lane Inspiration

I met Ruthie in Zuccotti Park where she was visiting from Detroit during a school trip to the UN talking with other nations to help find resolutions for things.  She asked to join in singing Angel From Montgomery and I was happy to oblige. 

filmed by Ruthie's friend Samantha 

what Inspires's Ruthie? "want to happy in the world, inspiring me to go find happiness in life." 

Mecca Bodega Hudson Winter Walk 2011

I was performing in Hudson NY at an annual event called Winter Walk. I was happily surprised to find Paul and Marc Mueller of Mecca Bodega, my Music Under New York buddies, a wonderful duo of hammer dulcimer and percussion performing on a sidewalk to dancing children and enthralled listeners. 

Small world, Hudson is a special town and for a moment between the festively decorated main street USA, known as Warren Street and happy togetherness, there was a glimmer of what we are all capable of. 

You can't help but appreciate as you can see in this clip, that Paul and Marc had to deal with the elements, it was cold + dark, but they were rewarded with enthusiastic people on a fun night.

What inspires Paul "People who love what they do…..it's a one shot deal, do it now."

What Inspires Qainat kahn?

I met Qainat Kahn, a Columbia journalism student at Grand Central Station where she came to interview me for research for a master thesis on subway musicians. A musician herself, she believes that music allows people to connect in a way that is rare in this world and subway musicians get a chance to do that.

What inspires Qainat? Human interaction

 

Noah Scalin author of Unstuck

I met artist Noah Scalin and his sister Mica in Grand Central Station to talk about the release of his book Unstuck, in which I am a contributor.

Unstuck, (Voyageur Press) provides 52 ways to keep your creativity flowing, with projects that are curiously effective as they are inspirational. As Noah was developing the book, I submitted how I get unstuck when in a creativity rut and happily was included. So what do I do? Here's my blog about it. 

What's also cool besides the book and Noah's amazing art, is that as a socially conscious designer he created a design for the Occupy Wall Street creedo "The 99%" 

OWS day after Raid, Amazing Grace and Alixanne

November 16, 2011, the evening after the police raid I went to OWS after my subway gig. It was cold and rainy but spirits were strong. The park was barricaded and had only one entrance heavily guarded. They weren't allowing anyone in with items thought to be used for camping etc. Since I had my subway gig stuff, they wouldn't let me in. I went home to drop off my stuff and returned to join the supporters. I got up and sang Amazing Grace. It was truly an uplifting experience. Thanks to Alixanne Goodman who gladly took my camera to film me.

I later heard from her that she witnessed some pretty tough police action. "I have bruises and cuts from the riot cops when I had indeed put my hands up, did exactly what they told me to do, and moved back.....A man next to us was writing down badge numbers of cops who were being too physical with the protesters and he got dragged off the sidewalk and arrested. Well his cardboard he was writing badge numbers on fell to the ground and my fiance went to pick it up... well the cops saw and dragged him off the sidewalk and arrested him... It's a scary world we live in when you're getting picked off the sidewalk for nothing... "

What Inspires Alixanne? The people of OWS. What Inspires me? Alixanne and her fiance ready to stand up and peacefully protest even in the midst of riot police and threat of arrest.

 

Why I Busk? Amazing Grace

I met Cathy at the Staten Island Ferry terminal, she shared with me her recent loss of her father and how my music was healing to her. Inspired by her daughter Ashianna to come over and chat I also learned Cathy could sing. This clip is a wonderful inside look at how I engage and am engaged by the amazing commuters that feel so comfortable to chat and allow me to record.

Talk about grace, Cathy at the end gets the audience to applaud. So this is a perfect example and peek into my world of performing in public spaces. Thanks to another commuter and singer Justin who gladly took my camera to capture Cathy and I singing Amazing Grace together.

What Inspires Cathy? "music...and listening to your smooth sound put a peace in me...."

Public spaces are being put in the spotlight with Occupy Wall Street in Zuccotti Park inhabited by the People, juxtaposed by Citigroup representing a corporation buying the rights to Bryant Park to install a skating rink.

Maybe instead of a casual place to sit on a bench and read or walk across a park, for a time, a public park is a place for public protest against injustices, or one that becomes a skating rink surrounded by shopping kiosks. My view is we need to understand the rights of all aspects of our community by the people and for the people, live within our beliefs of Democracy and Freedoms, and use ethics and reason to guide our laws. I am hopeful. I sing it and see it every time that I sing in public spaces.

Justin Sings SI Ferry Terminal

Here's another impromptu moment with commuters joining me in singing. Justin had just filmed me and another commuter Cathy singing Amazing Grace and shared he too is a singer. Justin sings while Cathy films and joins in harmony at the end.

I love these spontaneous moments precious because they're not trying to be.

You've Got A Friend. 

Dark Sisters Premiere

I attended the premiere of Dark Sisters, and chatted with composer Nico Muhly and some of the creative team, cast and participants to hear what inspires them..

What inspires producer Diane Wondisford? "Wonderful artists with great ideas."

With inspirations from Nico Muhly, O+M PR rep guru Rick Miramontez, participant and light sorcerer Joshua White, Director Rebecca Taichman, Conductor Neal Goren and Soprano Caitlin Lynch.