2012 Music Under NY auditions clip

The annual Music Under NY auditions are fast approaching (deadline for 2013 applications must be postmarked by March 20th). Here's a clip I made from last year.  The audition is a wonderful NY experience and if you are available be sure to drop by Grand Central Terminal Monday May 13th from 9am-3:30pm in Vanderbilt Hall.  this clip will give you a peak into what you might find.

2012 Music Under New York auditions were held May 16, 2012.  As a MUNY artist I was asked to be a judge. I captured the event and I asked my favorite question, "what's your inspiration?" Here's what I heard:

- NY Guitar Festival artistic director and judge David Spelman: "the sounds of NY, I never wear an ipod, there's too many wonderful sounds in NYC ..the wild polyphony of mayhem that we hear all around is inspiration."

- Music Under NY violinist Ebony Hillbillies and judge Henrique Prince : "Life, …art, that music can allow you to be different all the time that you can keep growing until the last minute, and you can get better and better, how many things in life are like that except.. food."

- Music Under NY artist and volunteer Jahstix: "Life + possibility of magic at every moment, + the goodness and love."

- Auditionee and accordionist Melissa Elledge: "feeling grateful that I'm in a city that I can make a living  doing what I want to do." Update: since her audition, now now a MUNY artist.

- award winning recording artist and judge Dane Zanes: "I felt that I was part of the NY musical overground."

- Music Under NY classical guitarist and judge Don Witter Jr. "music making and the boldness of young people who believe in what they are doing and do it."

- documentary filmmaker, 78 Project and judge Alex Styermark:  "authenticity and people who are just trying to make the most out of what they've got."

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Subway Inspirations Performing Arts HS seniors

Performing at Grand Central Shuttle, a film crew from Hong Kong and Taiwan stopped by.  Janis a wonderful singer from Taiwan asked if she could sing Crazy by Gnarls Barkley with me.  Of course I was happy to oblige.  

Meanwhile a group of seniors from the Performing Arts High School stopped by and the rest is a perfect example of what can happen when you allow spontaneity in the subway with a microphone and some really talented and fearless kids.

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Judy Grunberg Inspiration

As I am on a bit of a winter hiatus from subway gigs I've been going over my Inspiration archives.  This one was shot in Columbia County, NY at an Equine Advocates sanctuary event.  Judy Grunberg is an amazingly enterprising, supportive community hero. Called a "force of culture."  She's one of those individuals who spends her energy doing good and enriching her community with her efforts every day. Inspiration.

edited by Dan Kleederman

Joe Tucker Cajon player

As I was performing in 34th st a guy walked by carrying a Cajon (a wooden box played as a drum) and I asked if he would like to jam. To my excitement he did stop. His name is Joe Tucker a classical percussionist and I was happy to see he was uninhibited to join in and jam in the subway.  I asked Joe my favorite question What inspires you? His response "my parents....and that indescribable part of music"  Joe plays in the group InnoVox Music 

Jungle words and music by Cathy Grier

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Percussionists Owusu and Sabor Inspiration

MUNY artist Owusu (Tyrone Owusu Slater) and fellow percussionist Sabor played before me at the LIRR location in Penn Station. Before they left, they gave me incredible, honest inspirations about love and healing.

Here is a performance brought to you by StreetperformersTV  

Tyrone Owusu Slater is the co-founder and program director of the Biko Transformation Center. Check it out!

edited by Dan Kleederman

More Rising

One Billion Rising flashmob in Union Square + ABC carpet + home,  I chatted with organizer Daniela Plattner and photographer Cole Blumstein. Deepak Chopra gave his wisdom and I sang my song Rise up inspired by Eve Ensler and the One Billion Rising movement.

What inspires Daniela? " Dance shows us that we're never stuck...and teaches us to say no and to learn our boundaries and defend our love."

Deepak "let this moment be a new revolution for humanity, no more violence against women. The empowerment of the goddess energy. A new civilization. Beauty, intuition, nurturing, affection, tenderness will rule the world. We love our mothers, our sisters, our spouses, our lovers and let this be a sacred moment and a revolution at the same time."

Rise Up words and music Cathy Grier

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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.

Singing to support Sandy Relief + local farms

Here's the clip I created from my trip to the Green Market.

GrowNYC/Greenmarket has a wonderful way to contribute directly to aiding those affected by Storm Sandy with their "Donate A Bag of food" campaign. Working with local community kitchens, they will be providing healthy prepared meals for those affected by Hurricane Sandy and relief workers. 

I took this weeks gig contributions as an immediate way to help.  On Wednesday I bought a huge bag of apples and cider from Locust Grove Fruit Farm (Milton, NY). Saturday the Greenmarket returned to Union Square Friday (after being relocated due to the storm). It was a beautiful morning and I walked my dogs to the market which was all abuzz in Thanksgiving preparations. I spoke with engaging volunteers of GrowNYC who were handing out flyers and asking people to purchase food and donate. I met senior greenmarket manager Jamie Gaehring who explained how they organize the distribution of food and prepare the meals for Sandy victims. We chatted about how important this program has also been for local farmers also affected by the storm.  I love being able to see how my contributions are working immediately and effectively.

I asked Jamie my favorite question "What inspires you?" and his response " the farmers inspire him, the hard work they do to make wonderful food, despite the hardships."

With my tips I was able to purchased eggs, salad greens, onions and potatoes from Norwich Meadow Farm (Norwich, NY), cheese from Hawthorne Valley farm (Ghent, NY) and bread from Our Daily Bread, (Chatham, NY).

So a big thank you to all those who might not have known by tipping a subway performer, you also helped to feed families displaced by Storm Sandy and the relief workers who were tirelessly helping them.

 

Cool Trick words and music Cathy Grier SESAC singerfish publishing

 

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