Elgie's Kitchen has posted a recording of their concert at Cafe 420 on April 12, 2013.
The Kitchen on Soundcloud
Sunday, May 12, 2013
Sunday, May 05, 2013
Mugshots in Fairmont, Philadelphia -- Cinco de Mayo -- May 5, 2013
Lucky to be playing with my good friend Chuck McCann and jammin' with our hostess and host, Elissa Sclaroff and Jim Klassen. (Photos of them may appear later). Hear "New Revolution" from this show at this link: New Revolution
Friday, May 03, 2013
NYC Buskers -- Subway Stops, Trains and Central Park
Buskers in New York City - April 2013
On a recent weekend in New York City I had an opportunity to experience some seriously dedicated buskers.
66th St. Subway stop at Lincoln Center.
Juilliard School is in this neighborhood. The subway entrance is expansive and allows sunlight to enter from above. A great cavernous space. A young woman was singing opera accompanied by music from a portable player nearby. Her singing was stunning. It brought me to tears. Everyone was watching her. I have no idea what the opera was or what part she was singing. I tell myself I don't like opera. Perhaps here is an opening for me.
Express train 72nd St. to the Brooklyn Museum stop.
Just as the doors close a guy gets on with an electric bass guitar and a portable speaker on a cart. He sits down on the speaker box and starts playing a bluesy bass riff and making up song verses about people in the car. "Hey girl in the green hair, where you get that green hair?' "Hey Sweetheart why to getting' off just when I'm getting started?" "Hey Mr. White man in the suit, you like my music?" Stuff like that.
Some riders are laughing and enjoying this but most are stonily ignoring him. After a couple of stops he moves into the next car. And just as soon as he exits another more serious musician moves into our car. He stands where the bass player was and begins singing and playing a classical-style guitar. He sings in Spanish the tune (I just looked this up) "Cielito Lindo" which, unfortunately, brings to mind the Frito chip advertisement jingle "I am the Frito Bandito." He moves to the next car before we get to Brooklyn.
A Sunday walk through Central Park
Everywhere you turn someone else is playing an instrument, selling their CD or breakdancing and then walking through the crowd to collect tips before the final act.
There is an area in the park called Strawberry Fields, named for the Beatles song. At the end of our walk we come to the "mandala" in sidewalk stone with the word "Imagine" at the center. Someone has placed a ring of plastic flowers around the "Imagine." Everyone is taking a photo of it.
There are two guys on a bench off to the side with guitars and a music stand with a book of Beatles songs on it. They spend a lot of time flipping pages, discussing guitar chords, and talking about what song to play. Not many songs are played.
Back Home
Perhaps I should consider taking the Bolt Bus to NYC and busking on a sunny afternoon in Central Park. Perhaps.
On a recent weekend in New York City I had an opportunity to experience some seriously dedicated buskers.
66th St. Subway stop at Lincoln Center.
Juilliard School is in this neighborhood. The subway entrance is expansive and allows sunlight to enter from above. A great cavernous space. A young woman was singing opera accompanied by music from a portable player nearby. Her singing was stunning. It brought me to tears. Everyone was watching her. I have no idea what the opera was or what part she was singing. I tell myself I don't like opera. Perhaps here is an opening for me.
Express train 72nd St. to the Brooklyn Museum stop.
Just as the doors close a guy gets on with an electric bass guitar and a portable speaker on a cart. He sits down on the speaker box and starts playing a bluesy bass riff and making up song verses about people in the car. "Hey girl in the green hair, where you get that green hair?' "Hey Sweetheart why to getting' off just when I'm getting started?" "Hey Mr. White man in the suit, you like my music?" Stuff like that.
Some riders are laughing and enjoying this but most are stonily ignoring him. After a couple of stops he moves into the next car. And just as soon as he exits another more serious musician moves into our car. He stands where the bass player was and begins singing and playing a classical-style guitar. He sings in Spanish the tune (I just looked this up) "Cielito Lindo" which, unfortunately, brings to mind the Frito chip advertisement jingle "I am the Frito Bandito." He moves to the next car before we get to Brooklyn.
A Sunday walk through Central Park
Everywhere you turn someone else is playing an instrument, selling their CD or breakdancing and then walking through the crowd to collect tips before the final act.
There is an area in the park called Strawberry Fields, named for the Beatles song. At the end of our walk we come to the "mandala" in sidewalk stone with the word "Imagine" at the center. Someone has placed a ring of plastic flowers around the "Imagine." Everyone is taking a photo of it.
There are two guys on a bench off to the side with guitars and a music stand with a book of Beatles songs on it. They spend a lot of time flipping pages, discussing guitar chords, and talking about what song to play. Not many songs are played.
Back Home
Perhaps I should consider taking the Bolt Bus to NYC and busking on a sunny afternoon in Central Park. Perhaps.
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