Ikeem PoetrynMotionNYC re-inspired

I first met Ikeem of PoetrynMotionNYC, with his dancing buddy Shawn in Union Square on their way to their own busking gig.  2 months later our paths crossed again and he shared how he was inspired by my What's Your Inspiration?" project.  I asked him how so and his reply "makes me wanna do what I'm doing differently than just dancing, just makes me think more, think bigger"

You can see Ikeem and Shawn's original What's Your Inspiration? clip as part of a post Hurricane Sandy blog with inspiration clips of other people I met in Union Square on the same inspirational day.

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Inspirations From The Underground

I've been recording on my flip camera or zoom digital recorder the voices and images of commuters I meet who inspire me with their comments.  The section of this site is called  What's Your Inspiration? where I post what I capture.  It’s not a difficult process, I actually don’t need to edit much, except to try and keep it under 2 minutes.

There is no absence of people inspired by life by what they see and hear, willing to walk up to me while I’m performing and chat. I’ve just recently had the guts to say, “hey would you mind if I record what you're saying for my website?"  So that’s how I discovered Paradise at 125th street station who matter-of-factly said, “keep love in your heart everyone, remember that.”  Sherwin at Penn station expressed,  “Joy is my inspiration."  These people need to be heard, they make our world a better and interesting place to live in.

And their inspirational stories resonate with me deeply.  We live in a harsh world, and here in New York City it’s a very crowded and chaotic one.  Ester shared, “today we have ‘soundicians’ (sic) that make noise, but real music is compelling.  Music is in my soul, I get goose-bumps, I feel heightened.  Maybe if people had the right music they’d be happier.”   "Soundicians” ? !!  Wonderful, that description is compelling enough to make me want to find more and more Ester's of the world to share with you.

Heartfelt, honest, strange, inspiring….you be the judge. Stay tuned as I introduce you to the people I meet in the subway on this website, maybe you’ll feel compelled to share or leave a comment.  It’s easy.  And maybe one day if you happen upon me in the subway, you too will feel inspired enough to share what inspires you.

As a performer in the Music Under New York program since 1999, I have been included in many documentaries. I always wanted to see a film made from my perspective and realized the only way to do that was to film it myself. Of course the audio and visual qualities are limited. But the stories I have captured make a compelling collaboration of sound and imagery, of music in public spaces and the effects on the passersby.

To share through film this conversation and song, a soundtrack for the daily commute is the power of interactive performance in public spaces.  How integrating conversation=inspiration with performance, creates community spirit, dialogue and inner knowing of connectivity.  

I created this film to help preserve the heritage and spirit of the Troubadour. By nature of performing in public spaces, includes diverse people of social economic backgrounds and ethnicities. Creating an all inclusive, free, alternative to stage performing. Bringing the outside world in to isolated locations or state of being. Using modern technology to travel virtually (social media: youtube, twitter etc). And by traveling physically, enhances the exchange of culture and art. Thereby encouraging conversation into community action for inspired change.

What's Your inspiration?  

I also created a special Youtube Playlist where I feature short films I've made for others using my What's Your Inspiration? technique. I'd gladly create one for you. Contact me here

Inspiration from Raices Group:Sound of the Andes

Jachamallku is the founder of the Raices Group (Raices means "Roots" in Spanish), a pan-Andean music project that formed out of the "desire to express their nostalgia and feelings of longing for their respective homelands."His inspiration? Contact with God. He sends energy, people catch it, and send it back. For the Raices Group performing in the subway is not a concert, but a spiritual ceremony– an opportunity to tell the people of New York who they are.

edited by Dan Kleederman

jamming with Dan + Bobby Inspired

Every once in a while another Music Under NY musician walks by and we jam.  Dan Kleederman is a wonderful guitarist and bassist with the group Yes Noyes.  He gladly took my guitar and we jammed to the song Valerie.  His friend Bobby a film maker, was game to take the camera and record us.  Afterwards I asked my favorite question of Dan + Bobby: What's Your Inspiration?

Jimmy + Lucille share inspirations in Grand Central

Jimmy works in Grand Central and Lucille, well she's a regular wanderer and happy spirit. We've chatted many times about her living in and out of homeless shelters.

We all found ourselves chatting at the same time. This is the beauty of performing in public spaces, you never know what the person standing right next to you has to say unless you ask a question

What inspires Jimmy? His new grandchild, and Lucille? my music reminds her of her childhood in the south...

music-Good Thing by C. Grier

 

Sister Monk - Live For This Moment

I came upon Kathy Deane and Jody Rubel from the group Sister Monk performing in Grand Central. They enjoy performing with the Music Under New York program when they aren't touring around.

What inspires Kathy?  "people like you, other talented musicians, amazing women drummers"

Inspired Grand Central Shuttle One day in October

I had a particularly inspired day at Grand Central Shuttle here are the comments from the people I met.  Photographer Mithun Bhat "that life doesn't end"  Lighting director, Fletcher Wolf:  "the city at night", MUNY musician Brisdane Ford: "Joy", Jason Cooper "The Arts" and Michael Gonzalaz "people that show what they got."

Good Thing words and music C. Grier SESAC Singerfish publishing

Performing for Winter Walk community event

A video from last year's event.

Join me Saturday December 1st in lovely Hudson, NY for the 16th annual Winter Walk street fest. Warren St is closed to vehicular traffic, shops are open and live music is everywhere.

I'll be performing from 6-8pm at 428 Warren St in Culture + Commerce Project (a Hybrid gallery/showroom showcasing emerging furniture + accessories designers, lighting and fine art from the Hudson Valley to Brooklyn. Many of the craftspeople work utilizing reclaimed materials.)

A comment from owner Sherry Jo Williams: Hello from hudson...! (the downtown of upstate NY) We are thrilled to participate in our 2nd Winter Walk, Dec 1, this Saturday- from 4-8pm and honored to welcome for the 2nd year, NYCsubwayGirl! Thank you cathy...so wonderful to hear her sing her folked-up blues in our gallery. Looking forward to it- and please join us if you find yourself looking for some big small town charm. Only 2 hours north of NYC by train or car.

cheers and happy holidays, sj williams

and here's a clip I made of my Music Under NY friends Paul and Marc Mueller of Mecca Bodega, performing to excited crowds.

Natalie Gelman Inspiring LIRR

It's always great to chat with another Music Under New York musician. I passed by Natalie playing in Penn Station (LIRR) singing her song Sweet July and she took a minute to chat with me about what inspires her. She's now living in California. We certainly miss her voice in the NYC transit stations.

Check her out!

edited by Dan Kleederman

Richie Kaye's Music and Mirth

Richie Kaye and Tony Lavorgna came to play after my set in the Graybar corridor of Grand Central and we chatted about their inspirations. Paul stopped to listen as he was leaving his shift working in the Graybar building, and he shared how Richie and Tony's music inspires him. A sound which can bring you right back to another time and place.

edited by Dan Kleederman

Natalie Gelman inspiring LIRR

It's always great to chat with another Music Under New York musician. I passed by Natalie playing in Penn Station (LIRR) singing her song Sweet July and she took a minute to chat with me about what inspires her. She's now living in California. We certainly miss her voice in the NYC transit stations.

Check her out

edited by Dan Kleederman

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.

Nousha Salimi Inspired photo journalist

I met Nousha at Columbus Circle, she found my website and came to take pictures for her
project about Subway musicians. We've connected quite a bit since then and she has
shared the pictures she took of me,

and here's her photographic expose of the 1st day she spent with me at Columbus Circle from her website.

I invited Nousha to be a part of Eve Ensler's One Billion Rising project to end
violence against women. Nousha is from Iran and her video is especially moving.
 
What inspires Nousha?  Music and Photography.
Here are some of the images Nousha took last Thursday and Friday as she walked around NYC after the Hurricane. 
Battery Park
cell phone charging station

closed subway station

I Love NY, Inspired post Sandy

As Hurricane Sandy was barreling towards the NYC region. last Thursday I was performing in Grand Central Shuttle and Friday at Union Square in relative bliss unaware of the pending devastation. Those days couldn't have been more inspiring. In Union Square, it was an unusually full day of many people stopping to chat. I was interviewed by a film crew who found me for their webseries "Back of The Busk" we had a fun time.

Since we're all hurting from the devastating storm, I hope these Inspirations make you smile. We are resilient, we are strong and no matter what we are inspired.

Mithun Bhat inspiration Back of The Busk producer

Nick Capezzera Inspired Back Of The Busk cameraman and editor

Michael Inspiration Back of The Busk producer

Hardy Inspiration Back Of The Busk interviewer

Delpin Tardio Inspired Union Square Music Under New York guitarist

Ikeem + Shawn Unique Force dancers (now PoetrynMotionNYC)

Candy The Clown NYC

Joe from Brooklyn

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