The Israeli Connection

When I arrived at the Music Under New York busking spot at the 34th street subway station, an Andean pan-flute player has been playing there for two hours. Tomorrow he has a booth at a street fair where he sells Andean clothings. He is worried that it might rain and the street fair will be…

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Largest Gypsy Gathering in the World

As I was setting my busking gear up at the Music Under New York spot at the Union Square subway station, Jinn, the lady who busks around the world singing and playing a keyboard hooked up to a laptop computer, was looking for a spot to busk. She asked me for recommendations of good busking…

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Saw Me Gently

As I was climbing the stairs up to the subway platform I heard the train arriving. I doubled my climbing pace in an attempt not to miss the train. I heard the announcement “Stand clear of the closing doors”, and I thought “Oh, no – I’m not going to make it”. Then I heard the…

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Green Streak of Color

As I started to play in the subway today, two Nortenos playing guitar and accordion waved ‘hi’ to me on their way to playing on the #6 train. A guitar player carrying his gear nodded ‘hello’ as he passed by me. A teenager leaned against the column in front of me and listened to four…

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A Dog With a Health Care Plan

As I was climbing up the stairs at the subway station, an MTA construction worker was climbing down, carrying a ladder. “You still play?” he asked me. It always warms my heart when people recognize me. As the train passed the 59th street subway station I could see Frankie playing his guitar on the platform.…

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My Bow Got Caught on My Pants

On the subway platform at 59th street a guy was playing accordion. On the subway platform at 14th street the Chinese dulcimer player who never says ‘hi’ was playing. On the mezzanine at the Music Under New York busking spot Sixto and Louis were playing Andean music. I haven’t seen Sixto in the subway for…

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You’re Gonna Cut Somebody With That?

At the Music Under New York busking spot at 59th street, Tantz from Brazil was sitting on the bench, playing acoustic classical guitar. When I showed up with the MUNY permit he said he would go play on the platform downstairs. As I was setting up to play a guy looked in the garbage can…

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Thats My Song

Two Chinese people were playing the erhu and what looks like a Chinese version of a banjo on the platform when I arrived at the Union Square subway station. At the Music Under New York busking spot a thin guy was playing electric guitar with an effects pedal. He was playing an endless melody while…

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Just Keep It Down

A nice lady helped me carry my busking cart up the stairs at the subway station, even though she herself had a load of bags to carry. Some people are so kind! There were three Nortenos on the train, playing bass guitar, regular guitar and accordion. They were wearing white straw hats that had the…

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Yellow Tulip Hanging on the Hook

When the train doors opened at the 59th street subway station I saw Frank playing guitar/singing/whistling on the platform. Two members of Faustino’s Group (Andean music) were at the Music Under New York spot at Union Square – one guy was playing the pan flute, the other was selling CDs. I sat down on the…

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