Brass Band: Underground Horns

Underground Horns playing


Underground Horns still playing after intense 3 hours


Interview with the Underground Horns

Artists: Welf Dorr (alto sax), Nick Gianni (baritone sax), Elizabeth Dotson-Westphalen (trombone), Michael Irwin (trumpet), Gunter Gruner (drums)
Medium: Alto saxaphone, baritone saxaphone, trombone, trumpet, drums
Location: 42nd Street Times Square near the S platform


The Underground Horns are a band, if you can even call them that (they haven’t actually chosen a name, yet). In truth, as spectacular as the Underground Horns are, they are new to playing in this form. Generally the Horns, which have not officially chosen that name, play in a group of 40 and not in the street. This incarnation, though is composed of five members:

Gunter Gruner, from Germany, plays the drums and got into music “by accident.” His father had a drumset at home and one day just he started playing for the rest of his life.

Welf Dorr, from Munich, Germany is on the alto sax. He started playing music with the piano but decided he liked the sax after listening to it. Aside from being a member of the Underground Horns he also plays with another band - Funk Monk.

Nick Gianni was born and raised in NY and “he’s what you call a multi-instrumentalist.” Because his Grandfather played sax Nick decided to play guitar…and bass…and violin…and banjo until, at last, he came back around to play the baritone sax with Underground Horns.

Elizabeth Dotson-Westphalen is from Vermont. Like many of the others, her music is a family affair. Her father played trombone so she got into it too.

Mike Irwin hails from Washington Heights and plays the “ribadee”, A.K.A. the trumpet. He also describes his music as a “family thing” including his “dad, uncle, mom [and] third cousin.”

The five play together a lot but usually in standard venues and at gigs in a group of about 40 people. The street thing got started when Welf called Mike about a week ago and this is only their second or third time playing together in the subway.

The Underground Horns are a pretty tight group and each cites the other members as their inspiration and musical influence – cross pollination they call it. They characterize their music as fun/spiritual.

The Horns also have one of the more unique reasons for playing in the subway. There is, of course, the money but, if you can believe their sarcasm, they also play for “celebrity sightings” and to meet other musicians. The Horns find it fun to play in public because there are all sorts of people, children and hecklers. Also, as Mike points out “it’s good to show people that there are other things to do besides go to work.”

Like what you hear? Hire ‘em
You can get contact with the band through the following members
Elizabeth Dotson-Wesphalen: Elizabeth@elizabethjazz.com
Nick Gianni: nickgianni@hotmail.com

Buckets, guitar and vocals: The Cocksmen

Rafael and John playing


Interview with Rafael and John

Artists: Rafael Leyva (buckets), John Reagan (Guitar)
Medium: Buckets and guitar
Location: Union Square Station on the L platform

Street Performance: A Primer (It’s their first day)
A testament to the reality of street performance, Rafael and John lost their jobs three weeks ago and decided to play in subway because they “heard that you could make money that way.” So how do you start playing on the street?

1. Motivation: “We’re, uh…trying to get money from all these strangers ‘cause we lost our jobs two weeks ago and it’s really cold so it’s hard to get a job as a server.” “We’re trying to pay rent.”

2. Ability: John and Rafael have no formal training. “I used to play drums back home, but fuck it.”

3. Equipment: “We stole this bucket from my building, that’s his guitar and I found this [bucket] in a corner of Chinatown.”

4. Courage: “We started in the other corner kind of embarrassed but then we figured, like, we really don’t care what people think – as long as our moms don’t see us.”

Rafael Leyva is from Chicago and by trade he is a filmmaker. John Reagan is from Puerto Rico and by trade he is an artist/painter/actor. Together they are The Cocksmen, a two man sketch comedy troupe which, as of now, occasionally plays music in the subway.

Now that you know what it takes what are you waiting for? Go play in the street!

Like what you hear? Think they could be funny? Check out
They influences – The doors and punk music
Their sketch comedy routine The Cocksmen or www.myspace.com/therealcocksmen

Really like what you see? Contact
John Reagan – reganjs@gmail.com or
Rafael Leyva – rafaelin5106@hotmail.com

Cello and Drums: Break of Reality

Break of Reality playing


Break of Reality playing


Break of Reality discusses their musical influences and how they got started


The members of Break of Reality talk about how they got into music and their band's message

Artists: Patrick Laird (tall Cellist), Chris Thibdeau (Asian cellist), Erin Keesecker (female cellist), Ivan Trevino (drums)
Medium: Cellos and drum
Location: Union Square in front of the statue

Break of Reality is a five person group (including the manager) which puts together the sounds of three cellos and a drummer to play music most never expect to hear on classical string instruments. Although Break of Reality is inspired by classical music, they play a fusion of everything they can think of, from metal, to rock to Middle Eastern. Aside from original pieces, much of what they play are actually covers of groups like System of a Down and Metallica.

Break of Reality comes out of the Rochester University Eastman School of Music, an acclaimed music school in the United States. As of this interview the cellists in the band are each in their fourth year of majoring in cello and the drummer has already graduated in Music Performance. Jesse, their manager, is also a third year studying piano. The band got started when the members met each other in the cellists’ Freshman year three years ago.

Patrick Laird (tall cellist) hails from Midland Park, NJ. He started playing cello in the 4th grade when his school required students to play an instrument. His sister had played viola but since Patrick is “kind of a big guy” he went for the cello. In high school Patrick decided he wanted to play professionally and has been moving toward that goal ever since.

Chris Thibdeau (Asian cellist) is a native of Newtown, CT. He got into music in 3rd grade during a summer program known as SMART. Although he can’t remember what the acronym stands for anymore, Chris knows the program had a huge impact in him because after that he ended up majoring in cello.

Erin Keisciker (female cellist) is from Deland, FL near Orlando. She started playing the piano at the age of four and moved over to cello at around eight or nine.

Ivan Trevino (drums) is the only group member to have graduated from Eastman as of yet. He comes from Victoria, TX and says he got started with the drums at an early age. When Ivan’s father, who headed a gospel band, heard him banging on cabinets he thought: “wow, we really need to get a drumset.” And how right he was, Ivan has been playing drums ever since.

Jesse the manager says “Hello.” Not much is known about this elusive member of the group; only that he studies piano and handles all the “nitty gritty” business aspects of the band – truly a must have member of any group.

Since its formation the band has been greeted with success and has played in various places - from business conferences to schools to weddings and, of course, on the street. Although they are accustomed theaters, Break of Reality says it never passes up the chance to play on the street when it’s in New York because it’s both great exposure and a lot of fun. Playing on the street allows them to perform in front of thousands of people, expose the public to a new kind of sound and, as Erin points out, “that’s the great thing about New York, you can turn almost any location into a performance spot.”

Break of Reality is committed to its art and plans to move to New York this May to keep playing after graduation. Along with their music they hope to bring a simple message: “Listen to more instrumental music, expand your horizons and, if you play an instrument, break boundaries.”

Like what you hear? Check out
Their main influences – Any classical music, Unearth, System of a Down, Metallica

Really like what you hear? Buy the CD or hire them
www.breakofreality.com

Hay Sculptures: Michael

Interview with Michael

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Some of the sculptures

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Some of the sculptures

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Some of the sculptures

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Some of the sculptures

Artist: Michael
Medium: Hay sculpture
Location: Union Square near 14th street and University Ave subway entrance

Michael is from the south of Poland and describes his art as a sort of new local tradition. The sculptures Michael makes are all made from hay which is worked into and around a wire mesh body. Smaller, constituent pieces of the hay animals are made separately and attached to the body with glue. Michael does what he can to keep the sculptures close to nature, however, and notes that he makes the animal’s noses out of black beans.

Michael says that he picked up hey sculpting just by being around it. When he came to the United States to study, he started making them for fun and for a little pocket money. Each item sells for between $7 and $20 depending on the size.

Like what you see? Contact Michael and order some hey sculptures
mistrz23@hotmail.com

Traditional Jazz/Swing - Guitar, violin, bass, vocals: The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn

The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn playing


The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn playing


Interview with The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn

Artists: Chris Pistorino (bass), Chris Meyer (violin), Billy McNeil (Guitar and vocals)
Medium: Guitar, bass, violin, vocals
Location: Union Square by 16th St and Union Square West

The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn are a traditional jazz/early swing group, a rare treat even in New York City. The members of the band featured here met each other playing on the streets of New York but hail from all across the country. We’ve got: Brooklyn attitude from Chris Pistorino, Detroit skill from Chris Meyer and Nebraskan oomph from Billy McNeil. Wherever they come from all of the Vipers of Brooklyn are here to play. “The best place to play music, really, is in the city,” it’s an expensive place to live but you get a lot of work, explains Chris Pistorino.

Each Blue Viper has his own story.
Chris Pistorino wanted to play guitar as a kid but when he started a band in grade school he realized they needed bass. He took the role himself and realized he liked it.

Carl Meyer plays violin because him mom played the Cello. He didn’t want to play what she plays but wanted something similar – it’s that simple.

Billy McNeil says that, like everyone else in the world, he wants to be a rockstar, hence the guitar and vocals. Unlike most rockstars, though Billy learned “everything [he] know[s] on the streets of New Orleans” and stays true to his roots with his music.

The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn serenade the public at large for a variety of reasons, although when asked what brings him to the streets of New York Billy glibly replies “the Grey Hound bus.” Transportation aside, “it’s better money than half the gigs in NY…most places pay $50 and a meal for a gig…we just made $130 for 3 hours. As long as you have energy, you make more money playing on the street than you do in a gig.” Additionally the Blue Vipers like playing outside because it’s a different vibe and they get to meet people from all over the world.

Like what you hear? Check out
Their influences: Fats Waller, Louis Armstrong, New Orleans street musicians

Really like what you see? Contact them through
Their website myspace.com/thebluevipersofbrooklyn
Or call 718-599-5441

Bachata -Guitar and Vocals: John Anthony

UPDATE: John Anthony has been signed to a new Latin music group. He's down in Florida making his way in the world. Kudos, John Anthony.


John playing


John explains his story


John talks about his musical aspirations and influences


A discussion of the definition of Bachata

Artist: John Anthony
Medium: Guitar and vocals
Location: 6th avenue L stop

Once I met this guy from Puerto Rico. He came to the US directly after high school with a promise from a band called Groupo Extreme. Unfortunately it was a lie, when he arrived in New York there was no one waiting for him and he was forced out onto the street. Luckily, though, his music skills had him earning enough money to get into a room and have him fed inside of four days. Now he's staying in NY hoping for a break while he plays on the street.

This guy is John Anthony, a very talented Bachata/R&B singer. As noted, Groupo Extreme came to Puerto Rico to sign his talent. Upon advice from his grandfather who was skeptical of the band, John finished high school before coming to the States only to find that Groupo Extreme was not there waiting. Even so, John is upbeat and thanks God for his musical talent. So far he’s been in the US about four months and has been able to get off the street, get an agent and has begun pursuing several deals although nothing is set yet. He hopes to be on La Mega in a few weeks.

Although he’s fallen on some hard times, including $500 worth of fines for playing with a permit, John is determined to stick it out and find his way in New York. He feels it would be selfish to worry his grandfather, who suffers from a heart condition, with his troubles. Although this leads him to another dilemma, he must lie to his grandfather to spare his health.

John describes his music as Bachata mixed with R&B. He started vocal lessons when he was seven and began singing pop but fell in love with bachata the minute he heard it. For those of you who don’t know what bachata is, John describes it as and urban-Latin music which is “a mixture of like, a ballad and Salsa but in slow motion.”

Like what you hear? Check out
John’s Influences: Barrio Boys, Boys II Men, Frankie J, Az Yet

Really like what you hear? Hire John
brickcityone@yahoo.com
646-639-9165

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Trumpet, keyboard and Vocals: Subway Steve

Subway Steve playing


Interview with Subway Steve

Subway Steve sings and plays the trumpet and the keyboard all at the same time. This wasn’t always the case though, he’s only been doing it for about 30 years since he “accidentally put them together when [his] brother suggested it.” In those 30 years Steve has done a number of different things but making music has proven to be his favorite.

Steve doesn’t only play in the subway, he’s done restaurants and art shows as well; in fact, he played at the last art show at the Javits Center. However, true to his name, the subway is his favorite place because, as he’s keen to point out, “I’m the boss!” Not only does he get to make his own hours and about as much money but, believe it or not, he has a greater sense of control over the environment. In the subway there’s a different kind of tension than in a bar, he explains. In a bar, if someone comes over and wants to be stupid, the owner’s on their side whereas in the subway it’s even. Steve enjoys this free nature of the Subway. “They didn’t pay to come hear me play. That means that anyone who listens, it means that they want to.”

Subway Steve describes his music as uplifting and, occasionally, humorous. He says his inspirations are anything that give people hope and that any genre of music can do that.

Like what you hear? Contact Steve and check out
SubwaySteve.com

Really like what you hear? Go hunt for him
Favorite hangouts – midtown, 42nd St., 59th St.