Street I Am, Guest Blogger about Buskers @NewMuseum

Street I Am is about about: Street Entertainment News – Street Art, Buskers, Street Performance, gatherings, festivals, parades.  I am happy to post their recent blog about the opening night at the New Museum where I performed.  Also featuring another street performer Jacob Cohen the subway cello.  Read on…...

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February 19, 2014 by Iru Streetiam 

Subway Buskers meet The Neighbors, Pawel Althamer

Subway buskers in collaboration @NewMuseum - Pawel althamer ” The Neighbors” Sculpture and Music as One -

Collaboration commences as Subway Cello sets tone at exhibit opening,- NYCSubwaygirl to follow -

Two of New York City’s finest subway buskers are a part of an innovative gallery experience at the New Museum in NYC. Polish born sculptor Pawel Althamer’s, The Neighbors exhibit runs into the month of April. The sound track is provided by some of the best street musicians in town.

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subway buskers One of these outstanding subway buskers is Jacob Cohen from NYC, known as the Subway Cello. He is seen here playing his heart out for the exhibit’s Grand Opening. Positioned  in the middle of the visitors creative space, he set the tone for collaboration. People who attend the exhibit are invited to draw an the walls as you see in the picture. Musicians play live music from the street below the gallery. The live music is broadcast throughout rooms of magnificent sculpture. 

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Althamer-roomfull A multi-level collaboration.

The Subway Cello has many styles and all of them resonate with a timbre of sophistication. Sometimes classic sometimes jazz, maybe hip hop or even pornographic. His many sides are revealed for one and all on his website and his YouTube documentary. Jacob Cohen Documentary

 and here's another Street I Am post by Patrick Rulh 

Busking NYCSubwaygirl one of The Neighbors collaborates in Althamer Exhibit @NewMuseum

The 2nd of the subway buskers, Cathy Grier has a website http://nycsubwaygirl.com and a lot more. She not only loves to play in the subway but she likes to write about it too. This is part of what she has to say about the Pawel Althamer exhibit The Neighbors

On thursday February 20th from 6-9 pm I will be performing at the New Museum during the Pawel Althamer exhibition. Pawel wanted to have street musicians performing during the exhibit to express the idea of collaboration and connection. I will be performing from time to time until April 12th (here’s a link to my schedule).  Many other street musicians have been selected to also perform.

Someone asked me why I don’t consider this a concert series in a museum lobby. I am being amplified so that the live music is carried up into the exhibition onto the 3rd floor. Since I have seen the exhibition, it changes the way I perform.

Cathy Grier – NYC Subway Girl : The Back of the Busk

This documentary will give you some music and a chance to meet this New York City talent.


INTI and the Moon, Music Under NY

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.

Singing For NYCSubwayGirl

The Chosen Voices a fantastic Doo-Wop group, waiting for the uptown 1 at Columbus Circle 59th street, gave NYCSubwayGirl a special performance. They usually perform in the cars. I've followed them as long as I can remember. They brighten my day.

About a year ago they pushed a flasher off a car who was sitting right next to me. I was oblivious because I was watching the guys sing, but as they got closer they stopped smiling and I thought, that's odd. Then they yelled at the guy and so I turned to see what the fuss was about, luckily we were already at a stop and they shoved him out yelling, "that's disgusting." Before the group came by and disrupted the scene, no one else had said a thing. And I wondered why when I got on the car people looked at me strange-because I sat down right next to the guy. And that's NY folks.