If you love model trains, each year in Grand Central Terminal they install the most wonderful train show. This is one of my top 10 Holiday reasons to love NYC.
Enjoy this time lapse fllm of the installation.
The show runs through February 23, 2014.
New York Transit Museum: http://mta.info/museum/
Trains by Lionel: http://www.lionel.com/
Model layout designed and built by T W TrainWorx:http://www.twtrainworx.com/
Ab + Zu are percussionists who normally perform inside a moving subway car. Personally I don't have the balance (what I call subway legs) or the lack of fear I'll impale someone with my guitar neck, so I stick to the stations. Zu commented on my Emotional Creature t-shirt (Eve Ensler's new play worth seeing).
I have known Ab + Zu for many years and we are always happy to see each other, but this was the first time they actually jammed with me. I'm happy to have caught it on tape. I filmed them for my "What's Your Inspiration?" project when I was first developing it.
What inspires Ab + Zu? "Good energy and positive vibes...if you embrace it, it will embrace you."
Jungle words and music C. Grier SESAC Singerfish Publishing
What's Your Inspiration?
http:/nycsubwaygirl.com
Performing in the Graybar corridor of Grand Central Staion, I discovered INTI and the Moon, a trio led by guitarist Geovanni Suquillo, with Fatih Tabboushe-percussion and Muammer Aryar-Guitar. Geo has been with the Music Under NY program for many years and I am always thrilled to find him performing. He has a way of collaborating with other musicians that makes his music sound fresh and organic.
Well now dear friends, I have returned from a wonderful break recharged and ready to return to performing. Check my performance locations here.
But my first exciting event is to go hear the Nashville Symphony perform at Carnegie Hall this coming Saturday. I was contacted by their promotional people, and over the past months as an interesting project, I've been filming New Yorkers asking them about good tips and things for the Symphany members to do when they're in town. Here are a few of the clips they put together from my footage.
I am looking forward to the Nashville Symphony performing at Carnegie Hall. I was contacted by their promotional people, and over the past months I've been filming New Yorkers asking them about good tips and things for the Symphony members to do when they're in town. Here are a few of the clips they put together from my footage.
I love this clip because I asked a passerby "Do you know how to get to Carnegie Hall?" He unfortunately didn't know the tired old joke, nor the punchline...."Practice, practice, practice."
Here's a reprint from WNYC's Music Hub
By Marlon Bishop : WNYC Culture Producer
The Lost and Wandering Blues Band are one of the acts chosen to join the Music Under New York program (Marlon Bishop/WNYC)
Coming soon to a subway station near you: a Japanese mandolin player playing Italian classics, Baroque harp music, and a full blown Afro-jazz group. They're just some of the 19 individuals and groups chosen by the MTA's Music Under New York (MUNY) program to join the roster of musicians officially sanctioned to perform underground.
Last week, 68 groups tried out for the program in front of a panel of judges culled from New York's cultural scene in an alcove of Grand Central Terminal. The new acts will join about 350 sanctioned groups already in the program. Although anybody can play in the subway legally, MUNY artists can display official banners, use amplification, and have dibs on some of the best and busiest spots underground.
Check out the list of the winning artists below -- or listen to what one of the winners, the Lost And Wandering Blues Band, sounded like at the MUNY auditions last week.
Several of the artists chosen, including Tom Larsen and the Body Electric, are featured in the audition video below produced by the MUNY staff.
reprinted from Music Hub by Marlon Bishop WNYC Culture Producer
Not to be missed, for a truly unique NYC experience Music Under New York Annual Auditions
It's such a wonderful event, stop by to take a listen to the approximately 65 artists who will be auditioning!
Grand Central Station Northeast Balcony, take escalators up from main terminal, you can't miss hearing it!
NYCSubwayGirl clip from the Music Under New York 2010 auditions where she was judge. Following Carl Kriss documantarian who was creating a film on NYC Subway Performers (entitled "Give and Take"). and with MUNY artist volunteers Meghan McGeary from Dagmar, Sean Grisson the Cajun Cellist, Jesse Selengut from Tin Pan, Irving Louis Latin, Natalia Paruz the Saw Lady, Juan Castillo from Andes Fusion, Angel Marin from Aqua Clara and MC Bob Helman.
Grand Central Station
The Music Under New York annual auditions are coming up soon. If you are a musician and are interested you still have time to get your application in.
And as a commuter, if you ever want a really wonderful NY experience I urge you to go to Grand Central Station this Spring for the annual Music Under NY auditions. I'll be posting the exact date once I know it.
Don't forget to tell a street/subway performer how much you appreciate their presence underground!
Also, Divas Underground @ Union Square this year is Thursday March 17th all day women artists from Music Under NY perform at Union SQuare 14th Street below Pavilion entrance.
check back for the full schedule, if you want to have an amazing experience try and get over to Union SQ and catch the women of Music Under NY.
here's a clip from last year's event
Watch a clip I made in Grand Central Station for the holidays with Music Under New York artists James Graseck, Sean Grissom and saw player Moses Josiah.
With the holidays upon us and so many people still affected by the market crash and feeling the pain of higher cost of living, I can see the stress, I can feel it. So lately I have been chatting more than usual during my subway gigs. I don't usually really chat much because people are moving along their busy way and don't stick around for longer than a song or 2. But that doesn't mean most people aren't listening as they rush on by. This month, I've been reminding people to not get so wound up by the consuming machine for the holidays. As people pass by, I say things like "be good to yourself this holiday season, be mindful that we all don't have to buy into the 'I need' stuff game." We're all so busy and stressed trying to make ends meet and also keep up with the multitude of tech items that now seem we can't live without, but oh yes we can. Really. We forget to focus on the stuff we can do that doesn't cost anything but our time and genuinely makes a difference in our lives.
So be good to yourself and those around you over the next few weeks, and you just might find it's a new way to start 2011.
What happens when subway performers jam. Grand Central mezzanine (above 4/5/6) on a Friday afternoon. The musicians from Alex Lodico Ensemble were arriving to perform after me and the drummer Neil asked if he could join in, then Yosuke the sax joined in followed by Michael the baritone sax. We had never played together and the spontaneity of the moment is clear. Filmed by Yasuhito Sasaki (guitarist who also joined in later but not in this clip)
song 'Keep You Out' words music C. Grier SESAC singerfish publishing
clip montage by Brendan Padgett
Jan 11, 2009 Grand Central Station Mezzanine Thanks for the love today, I’m full Today was a day no one would have been surprised if I cancelled. The cold air above the platform was sharp, my guitar strings immediately proved what they are made of: steel, cold steel. Somehow like a little match girl fable stroking a match to create warmth and fantasy, everyone that passed me had huge warm smiles, amazing compliments and just a general warm haze o
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Grand Central
'Question Of Desire' from CD 'Comin' Back To Me' Words/Music-C. Grier Sesac Singerfish Publishing
clip by Greg Reitman
