8 String Guitar Jam inspired Vincent Denis

I met Vincent when he auditioned at the Music Under NY Auditions (he's also in the clip I made about the auditions for my Inspiration Project series).

One day Vincent showed up while I was playing in LIRR Penn Station and we jammed. What inspires Vincent? music and people and the chance to play.

 What's Your Inspiration?

thanks to Ian James MacRae Jackson for co-editing this clip

Heard-NY Nick Cave Inspiration

A sensory performance art piece.  A visual mixture of color, music and movement. Live percussionist and harp, and dancers from the Ailey school. Creative Time and MTA Arts For Transit have joined together to present visual artist Nick Cave and his HEARD-NY.  Performances have been going since Monday and will end Sunday March 31st 11am + 2pm (get there 1/2 hour early to be able to get a seat-kids are allowed a special section).

As someone who performs in public spaces, to get a chance to witness a live (and free) performance art piece is such a thrill. The Vanderbilt Hall is an amazing place on any given day, the high ceilings the natural reverberation, but with Nick Cave's piece it comes alive with delight.

What I loved about my experience watching HEARD-NY were the multi-layered sounds as the dancers fitted under horse costumes (yet so much more than that) the materials dragged and snapped the floor all mixed in with children's voices of glee.

In the summer of 2010 I also enjoyed another Creative Time installation by Paul Rameriez Jonas' Key To The City. You can see what inspires Paul here.

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Calvin The 3rd

I met Calvin at the Grand Central Shuttle my first day back after the Hurricane. He had come from Atlanta and was one of the 1000's of disappointed runners who learned that the marathon was cancelled. He was dedicating the run to his grandparents. His attitude was wonderfully accepting of not being able to accomplish his plan, but I think his grandparents will be proud of him no matter what.

Margie Ruddick Landscape Architect

I met Margie Ruddick Landscape Architect at the Central Park Woodlands Stewardship conference on October 5th. There I was the subway musician, amidst architect students, landscape architects and firms representing top minds in the field for a day long conversation about stewardship of Central Park. After the conference Margie and I chatted about what inspires her.

Margie designed the evocative and re-imagined Queens Plaza. She expressed, "Art helps people connect with a place and helps proprietary commitment."  As a subway musician performing in public spaces I see that first hand every time I perform.

What Inspires Margie? "Lake Minnewaska in the Catskills……..When there's unbelievable energy and you pick up on that, that's very inspiring"

I love NY and I love the Park so I was excited to attend the event. One of the presenters (Cultural Landscape Foundation) found my sustainability blog (I love search engines), I blogged about the conference. They invited me to come along and see for myself. It was held at the fantastic Museum Of The City Of New York. 

It was an truly informative and wonderful day spent with thinkers in the world of landscape architecture. I left feeling empowered and optimistic about the people out in the field working passionately every day to find solutions to better serve communities and humankind while not forgetting nature's involvement.

read more about my day at the conference on my Sustainability Blog 

 

Alanna Rios inspired

I met Alanna Rios, a student of landscape architecture at the City College of New York Spitzer school, during a Central Park Woodlands Stewardship conference I attended. There I was the subway musician, amidst architect students, landscape architects and firms representing top minds in the field for a day long conversation about stewardship of Central Park. During the lunch break Alanna and I chatted about what inspires her.

"Non-conformity."

It was an truly informative and wonderful day spent with thinkers in the world of landscape architecture. I left feeling empowered and optimistic about the people out in the field working passionately every day to find solutions to better serve communities and humankind while not forgetting nature's involvement.

I love NY and I love the Park so I was excited to attend the event. One of the presenters (Cultural Landscape Foundation) found my sustainability blog (I love search engines), I blogged about the conference. They invited me to come along and see for myself. It was held at the fantastic Museum Of The City Of New York. 

read more about my day at the conference on my Sustainability Blog 

Vicki Randle Inspiration

Summer Solstice arrived June 20th at 7:09 PM EST and already giving NYC some serious summer heat. I was performing on the uptown 1 platform at Columbus Circle, and the unmistakable vocalist and percussionist Vicki Randle (of the Kevin Eubanks group on Jay Leno) passed by me with a grin. 

In town performing with Mavis Staples at the Beacon Theatre with Bonnie Raitt, Vicki and I chatted about inspirations and the first time we met many years ago in Key West when I opened for Laura Nyro and Vicki was in the band.

What Inspires Vicki?  "…what just happened…..just the sound, its the complex beautiful sound of music that creates something inside you, it makes an emotion in me…"

a little 1980's history in Key West

Helga Davis WNYC + WQXR radio host

Helga Davis WNYC + WQXR radio host of "Overnight Music," passed by my LIRR gig and recognized me from my appearance at the 1st WNYC Battle of The Boroughs.  She was a judge and I was representing Manhattan.  I was surprised to see how fresh my performance that night was still in her mind.  Made this subway performer smile. 

What inspires Helga?  "Beauty and music."

here's a link to my Battle of The Boroughs performance of my song "Comin' Back To Me"

What's MY Inspiration? by NYCsubwayGirl

I created this short of my experience performing in the underground of NYC. Here are the things I see, the people I meet and the moments that turn my music in collaboration with commuters into it's own version of public art. And why I created the Inspiration Project.

 

Inspirations from people I meet, spontaneous jams with other artists. Life, humanity and human connection. Filmed throughout NYC subway and train stations.

words and music Cathy Grier singerfish publishing SESAC

Question Of Desire, Keep You Out, Cool Trick, Jungle,

with Bobby News Guy and featuring Inspired commuters: -Leonie- Graybar -Jeremy- Graybar-woman- Grand Central mezzo-Ruth- Columbus circle-Michael- Shuttle-Guy- Grand Central mezzo-Sonia German student- Shuttle-Richard- Col cir-Qainat- Shuttle-Jorge- Col Cir-Myah -Union SQ-Cathy- SI ferry terminal-Mustafa- LIRR and musicians, Break dancers, Poet Myah, Cathy sings duet Amacing Grace, Josjua bucket drummer,Justin sings duet-You've Got A Friend-Carole King, Ray saxaphone and Don The Shoe Dude.

Jim Abbott Inspiration

 

While performing in Times Square against a backdrop of gorgeous colorful mosaics, who should walk by but Jim Abbott.  He's an amazing musical director, soulful, has great timing and the ability to put together a group that sounds as if they've been together for years. cohesive, emotional and well, musical.  He also works in a lot of Broadway shows. NYC would dim without him.

What inspires Jim? "artists ...like you,.. people that do it for the love of it."

Myah subway poet Union Square

I've been pouring through many of my archives of clips and discovered this gem that I never edited.  

I met Myah one afternoon in the Union Square subway station, we chatted about how God and poetry inspire her.  She's also a basketball player, the combination of poetry and sports really inspired me. I asked if she would recite a poem and she took the mic and haltingly recited her poem "Misunderstood."  Make no mistake she truly owned that moment.  These are the beautiful things that happen underground that I love to share. 

Jeremy Inspiration Grand Central station

 

I met Jeremy as he was working at the Civic Duty footwear kiosk in Grand Central's Graybar corridor where I had been singing. Civic Duty is socially responsible product, made from Tyvek a recyclable material. The imprint of the shoe sole reads 'conspire to inspire'.  Imagine leaving that mark on a beach….. They have a mission to support charitable organizations by creating a personalized shoe and donating all proceeds.

What inspires Jeremy?

"Love to see other people that are vibrant and that are inspired themselves…it's contagious"

 

 

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?

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

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?

 

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