Dmitry Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 I remember reading Arthur Rhames' bio, which indicated that he played on the streets of Manhattan for several years, mostly in the Upper West Side area. Any other examples of musicians of note[no pun intended], who gigged in the streets when they were already known players? What would attract a musician to play on a street/in the subway? Desire to be heard, want of funds, other "life's circumstances"? Arthur Rhames in the early 1980s. Somewhere in the City. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazztrain Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 How about Moondog? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul secor Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Charles Gayle, Clarence "C" Sharpe, Giuseppi Logan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fasstrack Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Don't know how famous he was, but Kalaparusha Difda (sorry for mangling the name). Also Denis Charles (I played in a street band with him). At about 20 years old, Don Braden (I was also in a band with him). Vincent Herring, when he started out, used to play by the cube statue at Astor Place in NYC. Drew big crowds, too. George Braithe with Tommy Turrentine (mid-'80s). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillF Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 18 minutes ago, fasstrack said: Don't know how famous he was, but Kalaparusha Difda (sorry for mangling the name). Also Denis Charles (I played in a street band with him). At about 20 years old, Don Braden (I was also in a band with him). Vincent Herring, when he started out, used to play by the cube statue at Astor Place in NYC. Drew big crowds, too. George Braithe with Tommy Turrentine (mid-'80s). Nice to have the insider view! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fasstrack Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 56 minutes ago, Dmitry said: What would attract a musician to play on a street/in the subway? Desire to be heard, want of funds, other "life's circumstances"? Arthur Rhames in the early 1980s. Somewhere in the City. I did it for years (solo guitar) b/c it was entrepreneurial, I was able to give out cards and get gigs, to get up in the morning, get out and communicate some beauty to people. I regarded it as a service. I also liked two other things: when people stopped it was b/c I sounded good to them, not b/c some wonk or critic said I was good. They didn't have to stop. Also, I had to answer to no one, and could pick up and leave as I saw fit---no 'sets'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medjuck Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 (edited) There was a good British saxophonist, Lol Coxhill, who busked in the streets of London a lot. I remember seeing him once playing soprano and being quite impressed. That was before I read about him. Joshua Bell once played outside a metro stop in Washington but that was for an experiment to see if anyone noticed how good he was. I don't think he needed the money. Edited February 4, 2016 by medjuck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alankin Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 Byard Lancaster use to play in the streets and in the subway around Center City Philadelphia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted February 4, 2016 Report Share Posted February 4, 2016 (edited) 27 minutes ago, medjuck said: There was a good British Saxophonist, Lol Coxhill who busked in the streets of London a lot. I remember seeing him once and being quite impressed. That was before I read about him. Hungerford Bridge - just outside the RFH. I might well have passed him on that spot in the 1980s without registering who it was. One of his last UK tours was in a skip ! Edited February 4, 2016 by sidewinder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnS Posted February 5, 2016 Report Share Posted February 5, 2016 Lol was a fixture outside of London's Royal Festival Hall on jazz concert nights.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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