This video was recently posted on youtube. It's nice to have a reminder of a beautiful Spring day in the middle of winter. Thanks to the Richard from Berlin for sharing it, and Pete for finding it.
Showing posts with label washington square park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label washington square park. Show all posts
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Addendum to WSP 10/26/08 + harp 101
By the way, Charisse is becoming an accomplished bass player--very solid. She also sings well, though a little softly. She might try leading a song once in a while. I really appreciate her playing on Lay Down Sally, and Dead Flowers.
Red Hook Slim is a good harp player, with a blues background I think. He plays cross harp, which is the blues style.
Harp 101
Harp is slang for harmonica. There are different styles of diatonic harp. A diatonic harp has the notes from the major scale of a single key--ie, the white keys on the piano. This is opposed to a chromatic harp, which lets you play all 12 notes on the chromatic scale--ie, the white keys & black keys on the piano.
The 3 styles of diatonic harp that I know are:
1) Straight harp. If the song is in C, you use a C harp. The C harp has C, E & G as blow notes. (The draw notes are a little more complicated.) In other words, when you blow out playing straight harp you get I, III & V -- the C major triad. So if you blow out randomly on a C harp, you get some random inversion of a C major chord. When you play straight harp, about 3/4 of the notes are blows. Straight harp is good for folk, and for playing melodies. I play straight harp about 70% of the time. It's easy, and I think most people enjoy hearing a solo that incorporates the melody. It can also sound pretty soulful on certain songs. I like it on "On the Road Again", "Salty Dog Blues", "Blue Ridge Mountain Blues." Bob Dylan mainly played straight harp.
2) Cross harp. To play cross, you pick up a harp that is at an interval of IV from the key of the song. So if the song is in C, you pick up an F harp. This is great for twelve-bar blues, and very common in country. In cross harp, about 3/4 of the notes are draws. (When you suck in on the harmonica, it's called a "draw". Harmonicas are double-reed instruments, and the draw makes a different note than the blow). Draws can be more expressive than blows, partly because it's easy to bend a draw note. Draws are good for making train sounds, and playing blue notes. This is why cross harp works well for blues and country. Red Hook plays cross almost exclusively, and Daniel seems to use it most of the time.
3) 3rd position. Use a harp that is a VII interval from the song. So if the song is in E, pick up a D harp. This is good for songs in a minor key. A song in A minor would be very hard to accompany with an A harp--i.e., first position. But a G harp will usually do the trick. I also heard that 3rd position can be used for blues, but haven't had much success with it yet.
Red Hook Slim is a good harp player, with a blues background I think. He plays cross harp, which is the blues style.
Harp 101
Harp is slang for harmonica. There are different styles of diatonic harp. A diatonic harp has the notes from the major scale of a single key--ie, the white keys on the piano. This is opposed to a chromatic harp, which lets you play all 12 notes on the chromatic scale--ie, the white keys & black keys on the piano.
The 3 styles of diatonic harp that I know are:
1) Straight harp. If the song is in C, you use a C harp. The C harp has C, E & G as blow notes. (The draw notes are a little more complicated.) In other words, when you blow out playing straight harp you get I, III & V -- the C major triad. So if you blow out randomly on a C harp, you get some random inversion of a C major chord. When you play straight harp, about 3/4 of the notes are blows. Straight harp is good for folk, and for playing melodies. I play straight harp about 70% of the time. It's easy, and I think most people enjoy hearing a solo that incorporates the melody. It can also sound pretty soulful on certain songs. I like it on "On the Road Again", "Salty Dog Blues", "Blue Ridge Mountain Blues." Bob Dylan mainly played straight harp.
2) Cross harp. To play cross, you pick up a harp that is at an interval of IV from the key of the song. So if the song is in C, you pick up an F harp. This is great for twelve-bar blues, and very common in country. In cross harp, about 3/4 of the notes are draws. (When you suck in on the harmonica, it's called a "draw". Harmonicas are double-reed instruments, and the draw makes a different note than the blow). Draws can be more expressive than blows, partly because it's easy to bend a draw note. Draws are good for making train sounds, and playing blue notes. This is why cross harp works well for blues and country. Red Hook plays cross almost exclusively, and Daniel seems to use it most of the time.
3) 3rd position. Use a harp that is a VII interval from the song. So if the song is in E, pick up a D harp. This is good for songs in a minor key. A song in A minor would be very hard to accompany with an A harp--i.e., first position. But a G harp will usually do the trick. I also heard that 3rd position can be used for blues, but haven't had much success with it yet.
Monday, October 27, 2008
WSP 10/26/08
I played for a couple of hours with Pete, Charisse and Red Hook. Dan dropped by just for a couple of songs. I wish I could remember all the songs we did. Some were:
Song, written by -- sung by
For the Good Times, Kristofferson -- Pete
Dead Flowers, Rolling Stones -- Adam
You Ain't Going Nowhere, Dylan -- Dan
Lay Down Sally, Eric Clapton -- Pete and Adam
Rambling Boy, Tom Paxton -- Adam
Don't Think Twice, Dylan -- Adam
The Bottle Let Me Down, Merle Haggard -- Adam
Wagon Wheel, Old Crow Medicine Show -- Pete
You Never Can Tell, Chuck Berry -- Pete
Me & Bobby McGee, Kristofferson -- Adam
City of New Orleans, Steve Goodman -- Pete
On the Road Again, Willie Nelson -- Pete
Weary Blues from Waiting, Hank Williams -- Adam
Omaha, Waylon Jennings -- Adam
It's Good to Be Back Home Again, John Denver -- Pete
Everybody, John Prine -- Pete
Cold Cold Heart, Hank Williams -- Pete
You Better Move On, ?? -- Pete
Song, written by -- sung by
For the Good Times, Kristofferson -- Pete
Dead Flowers, Rolling Stones -- Adam
You Ain't Going Nowhere, Dylan -- Dan
Lay Down Sally, Eric Clapton -- Pete and Adam
Rambling Boy, Tom Paxton -- Adam
Don't Think Twice, Dylan -- Adam
The Bottle Let Me Down, Merle Haggard -- Adam
Wagon Wheel, Old Crow Medicine Show -- Pete
You Never Can Tell, Chuck Berry -- Pete
Me & Bobby McGee, Kristofferson -- Adam
City of New Orleans, Steve Goodman -- Pete
On the Road Again, Willie Nelson -- Pete
Weary Blues from Waiting, Hank Williams -- Adam
Omaha, Waylon Jennings -- Adam
It's Good to Be Back Home Again, John Denver -- Pete
Everybody, John Prine -- Pete
Cold Cold Heart, Hank Williams -- Pete
You Better Move On, ?? -- Pete
Friday, September 05, 2008
Washington Square Park 8/31
I must say I had a very nice time in Washington Square Park last Sunday. It's not the same since its under renovation, but Pete and friends have a nice shady spot that they stake out. When I was there last there were a few new faces, and people were joking that there were 4 harmonica players at the same time. I may have been the least skilled, but possibly the loudest, which counts for a lot in WSP. I also learned something very important, which is that the key to success is not to concentrate harder on what you are doing, but to listen more to what everyone else is doing. Keeping your ears open compensates for all kinds of weaknesses.
There was a guy there named Bill who claimed that he met Levon Helm of The Band in Nashville and Levon gave him some charts. I believe it. Bill played slide guitar, harmonica, and could play solos on the mandolin, though he claimed he was still trying to figure out how the strings were tuned. He sang good high harmonies. He said that we were one of the soberest group he had ever played with.
We had a very nice time.
There was a guy there named Bill who claimed that he met Levon Helm of The Band in Nashville and Levon gave him some charts. I believe it. Bill played slide guitar, harmonica, and could play solos on the mandolin, though he claimed he was still trying to figure out how the strings were tuned. He sang good high harmonies. He said that we were one of the soberest group he had ever played with.
We had a very nice time.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Washington Square Park
Thanks to Pete, Dan and all those who played and sang at WSP yesterday. The park is 2/3 closed due to renovation, but they have found a nice shady spot near the eastern edge of the park. Yesterday it was even quiet.
Here are a couple of photos I found on the internet from last year, before the renovations started.
Here are a couple of photos I found on the internet from last year, before the renovations started.
Friday, August 17, 2007
Washington Square Park 8/14/07
Well, I have been going to Washington Square, though not writing about it for a while.
I went there earlier this week and had a nice time playing with Pete and a guy named Andy who plays the mandolin. Andy knows many of the same Dylan songs as me.
I was also there on Sunday and there was an Italian TV crew trying to film us. But there was this slightly marginal guy who I guess had gotten pissed off about something, and he kept making a lot of noise and trying to disrupt the song and the shooting. Anyway, cameras love Pete who has no shortage of showmanship, and one of the members of the Italian film crew was trying to keep this guy away from us. So it was pretty cool because it was kind of like being a star and having guards to protect you.
On the other hand, cameras make me nervous, and I never know which way to look when one is on.
Later the producer from the Italian film crew came over with a harmonica and wanted to do a song with us.
I went there earlier this week and had a nice time playing with Pete and a guy named Andy who plays the mandolin. Andy knows many of the same Dylan songs as me.
I was also there on Sunday and there was an Italian TV crew trying to film us. But there was this slightly marginal guy who I guess had gotten pissed off about something, and he kept making a lot of noise and trying to disrupt the song and the shooting. Anyway, cameras love Pete who has no shortage of showmanship, and one of the members of the Italian film crew was trying to keep this guy away from us. So it was pretty cool because it was kind of like being a star and having guards to protect you.
On the other hand, cameras make me nervous, and I never know which way to look when one is on.
Later the producer from the Italian film crew came over with a harmonica and wanted to do a song with us.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Washington Square Park 6/9/07
Yesterday, WSP was taken over by some kind of Indian cultural fair, and packed to the gills with people. There were no guitarists in the usual places.
However, I was able to find Pete on a bench on the West side of the park. He recently bought a mandolin, and we messed around with that for a while, and worked on some old-timey stuff like "Lonesome Valley" "Crawdad Hole", "I Ain't Got No Home". Dan joined us a little later, singing harmonies, playing recorder, and trying his hand at the mando also.
Dan told me about this picture of me, taken by Yosef Bates:
However, I was able to find Pete on a bench on the West side of the park. He recently bought a mandolin, and we messed around with that for a while, and worked on some old-timey stuff like "Lonesome Valley" "Crawdad Hole", "I Ain't Got No Home". Dan joined us a little later, singing harmonies, playing recorder, and trying his hand at the mando also.
Dan told me about this picture of me, taken by Yosef Bates:
Friday, June 01, 2007
It Takes a Worried Man...
Just found myself on YouTube. Thanks to Pete for digging this up.
Anyway, I've been away; will begin posting again soon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apiVTW81Le0
Anyway, I've been away; will begin posting again soon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=apiVTW81Le0
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Photo I found
I found this photo at http://www.flickr.com/photos/maomee/467579621/
I'm the one with his back to the camera. Pete is playing the resonator guitar, and Australian Pete on the harmonica.
You can read about it here.
Lots of people take pictures of musicians of musicians in the park. But this is the first one of me I've found floating around cyberspace.
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Monday 5/7/07
Yesterday around 5:30 pm at the height of rush hour I'm walking down 6th Ave by 14th St Street, headed for the park. Someone is begging loudly, would someone please give him some change, he's trying to save enough for a harmonica. All he needs is a harmonica, a little music, he keeps whining, really.
I walk past, then turn to look. The guy is standing by the F train entrance; he's kind of old and raggedy, tall and thin with long gray hair. I start to walk away then turn back again. Finally I ask him: do you really want money to buy a harmonica?
Up close I see he's not so old. Maybe my age. He's pretty dirty and his teeth are mostly gone--3 or 4 brown stubs. He's happy I asked. Of course he wants a harmonica.
I happen to be carrying a backpack full of six harmonicas, so I give him my C harp which is the only marine band. I tell him it's been used, but he doesn't mind. He plays a little bit of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", then some blues. He gives me a big smile and a big filthy hand-shake, heads down the subway stairs to make some money, I hope.
Two steps down he turns back and says: Who sent you? Was it Jesus?
I keep going to the park It's half-closed, roped-off and patrolled by glowering security guards. NYU graduation is coming.
Some say that NYU wants to make the park its front lawn. NYU is a prestigious university with no campus, except Washington Square which becomes campus defacto, because NYU buildings surround it.
No guitarists are out, but there is a serious jazz duet --bass and saxophone--which demands complete respect. Music students, I guess. If I had their talent and dedication I could probably do at least as well. The guy I gave my harmonica to wasn't bad, either.
I walk past, then turn to look. The guy is standing by the F train entrance; he's kind of old and raggedy, tall and thin with long gray hair. I start to walk away then turn back again. Finally I ask him: do you really want money to buy a harmonica?
Up close I see he's not so old. Maybe my age. He's pretty dirty and his teeth are mostly gone--3 or 4 brown stubs. He's happy I asked. Of course he wants a harmonica.
I happen to be carrying a backpack full of six harmonicas, so I give him my C harp which is the only marine band. I tell him it's been used, but he doesn't mind. He plays a little bit of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", then some blues. He gives me a big smile and a big filthy hand-shake, heads down the subway stairs to make some money, I hope.
Two steps down he turns back and says: Who sent you? Was it Jesus?
I keep going to the park It's half-closed, roped-off and patrolled by glowering security guards. NYU graduation is coming.
Some say that NYU wants to make the park its front lawn. NYU is a prestigious university with no campus, except Washington Square which becomes campus defacto, because NYU buildings surround it.
No guitarists are out, but there is a serious jazz duet --bass and saxophone--which demands complete respect. Music students, I guess. If I had their talent and dedication I could probably do at least as well. The guy I gave my harmonica to wasn't bad, either.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Yesterday in the Park
Saturday, May 5 was a beautiful day in Washington Square Park.
For a while I listened to a very capable (ie, professional) blue-grass quintet: guitar, banjo, mando, stand-up bass. The guitar player (also the strongest singer) was a guy I recognized from Paddy Reilly's. I sat in the audience on the low retaining wall nearby and blew along on the harp for a couple of numbers. Sounded OK to me, but they never invited me to stand up and join them. Good warm-up anyway. I saw them send away a couple of guys with guitar and mando who asked to play with them ("this isn't really a jam").
OK, I could criticize these guys for not being open. On the other hand, I know from experience how accoustic music can seriously degrade when there are too many instruments playing at once, especially if some of them are off the beat or out of tune. Paddy Reilly jam often has 6 guitarists, 4 mandos, 3 banjos a couple of fiddles, and assorted others. It invariably sounds muddy and diffuse, even though many of the musicians are excellent. By contrast, this group in the park sounded terrific, probably because they kept it to a minimum (though a fiddle and dobro would have made it even better). So I understand what they were doing.
So I wandered over to where Pete was playing and spent a couple of hours. There was a guy named Jay there, who was a strong gutsy singer and accompanied himself on an Ovation Applause. Kind of a classic rock guy, I suppose: he did a Doors blues, a U2 ballad which I thought went great with the harp, American Pie, The Weight (a park standard) sung along to Bobby McGee in Janis mode, even though Pete was in Kristofferson mode. He said he was in a band--I guess he is the front man.
I did a few Hank shit-kickers, which I am getting pretty satisfied with. I would like to learn a few more.
A guy named Jeff who I met before played some nice leads on a Gibson, Dan was playing recorder and singing some harmonies, Ron was also singing some harmonies. Larry came by later on and did some Cat Stevens songs that a tourist in the audience kept requesting, as well as Nashville Cats which sounded great with harmonies (and I knocked out a very satisfying harp solo).
Towards the end, Pete, Dan and Ron harmonized on a couple of oldies. These guys are old hands at this kind of song and they always sound great to me.
For a while I listened to a very capable (ie, professional) blue-grass quintet: guitar, banjo, mando, stand-up bass. The guitar player (also the strongest singer) was a guy I recognized from Paddy Reilly's. I sat in the audience on the low retaining wall nearby and blew along on the harp for a couple of numbers. Sounded OK to me, but they never invited me to stand up and join them. Good warm-up anyway. I saw them send away a couple of guys with guitar and mando who asked to play with them ("this isn't really a jam").
OK, I could criticize these guys for not being open. On the other hand, I know from experience how accoustic music can seriously degrade when there are too many instruments playing at once, especially if some of them are off the beat or out of tune. Paddy Reilly jam often has 6 guitarists, 4 mandos, 3 banjos a couple of fiddles, and assorted others. It invariably sounds muddy and diffuse, even though many of the musicians are excellent. By contrast, this group in the park sounded terrific, probably because they kept it to a minimum (though a fiddle and dobro would have made it even better). So I understand what they were doing.
So I wandered over to where Pete was playing and spent a couple of hours. There was a guy named Jay there, who was a strong gutsy singer and accompanied himself on an Ovation Applause. Kind of a classic rock guy, I suppose: he did a Doors blues, a U2 ballad which I thought went great with the harp, American Pie, The Weight (a park standard) sung along to Bobby McGee in Janis mode, even though Pete was in Kristofferson mode. He said he was in a band--I guess he is the front man.
I did a few Hank shit-kickers, which I am getting pretty satisfied with. I would like to learn a few more.
A guy named Jeff who I met before played some nice leads on a Gibson, Dan was playing recorder and singing some harmonies, Ron was also singing some harmonies. Larry came by later on and did some Cat Stevens songs that a tourist in the audience kept requesting, as well as Nashville Cats which sounded great with harmonies (and I knocked out a very satisfying harp solo).
Towards the end, Pete, Dan and Ron harmonized on a couple of oldies. These guys are old hands at this kind of song and they always sound great to me.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Washington Square Park Sunday 4/29
With the nice weather I have been out in the park the last couple of weekends. Last Sunday I went out with just the harmonicas. No one expects you to lead any songs when you don't have a guitar, so there's a lot less pressure.
My harmonica playing is improving, though I'm still just making it up as I go. Sometimes I can't find the note I'm looking for. Other times, something very simple, like a single note or chord at just the right moment will add a lot to a song.
I'm playing regular Hohner diatonic harps (harmonica). I have a few different keys: A, B, C, D, E and G. I am missing F, and don't have any sharps or flats. Most of my harps are "blues harps" though the C is a classic "marine band" (same kind I had when I was 15), and the G is a "Pro Harp".
There were bunch of different people out on Sunday. Pete knows a lot of songs, and did a really nice singing lead on a doo wop with Arthur and Dan. "In the Still of the Night" (?) He's also working on one of my favorite Waylon Jennings songs: Honky Tonk Heroes, and did a few Hank tunes like Jambalaya and Cheating Heart.
A guy named Michael came by with a new old 12-string that he got for $135 online. It sounded pretty good. He does Dylan, Hank and a bunch of old-timey stuff.
Larry did a few of his songs. I like his version of Lovin' Spoonful's "Nashville Cats". He also does "Mr. Bojangles" in E. I had no problem following him. I had to capo up from C, and it was like playing in my sleep--this was one of the first songs I ever learned. Larry told me that he teaches high school Social Studies in Brooklyn.
There was a Puerto Rican guy named Carlos, who strummed along a bit, but didn't lead. I finally convinced him to do "Rancho Grande". I borrowed his guitar a couple of times, did "Early Morning Rain", "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues", Hank Williams' "Move it on Over" (twice). I did CCR's "Don't Look Now" but don't quite have the lyrics down.
Jerry came by. Jerry is a big guy with bright red dyed hair. I think he's done some singing at piano bars. He sings but doesn't play an instrument. He did "Boogey Woogey Bugle Boy of Company B", and sort of half did Mac Davis' "I Believe in Music".
Not much of an audience this time, just a few people coming and going. Sometimes it's fun to play different things with different people, and not worry so much about pleasing the people who are listening. On the other hand, sometimes something clicks, and it's nice to have an appreciative audience to confirm that you did a good job.
My harmonica playing is improving, though I'm still just making it up as I go. Sometimes I can't find the note I'm looking for. Other times, something very simple, like a single note or chord at just the right moment will add a lot to a song.
I'm playing regular Hohner diatonic harps (harmonica). I have a few different keys: A, B, C, D, E and G. I am missing F, and don't have any sharps or flats. Most of my harps are "blues harps" though the C is a classic "marine band" (same kind I had when I was 15), and the G is a "Pro Harp".
There were bunch of different people out on Sunday. Pete knows a lot of songs, and did a really nice singing lead on a doo wop with Arthur and Dan. "In the Still of the Night" (?) He's also working on one of my favorite Waylon Jennings songs: Honky Tonk Heroes, and did a few Hank tunes like Jambalaya and Cheating Heart.
A guy named Michael came by with a new old 12-string that he got for $135 online. It sounded pretty good. He does Dylan, Hank and a bunch of old-timey stuff.
Larry did a few of his songs. I like his version of Lovin' Spoonful's "Nashville Cats". He also does "Mr. Bojangles" in E. I had no problem following him. I had to capo up from C, and it was like playing in my sleep--this was one of the first songs I ever learned. Larry told me that he teaches high school Social Studies in Brooklyn.
There was a Puerto Rican guy named Carlos, who strummed along a bit, but didn't lead. I finally convinced him to do "Rancho Grande". I borrowed his guitar a couple of times, did "Early Morning Rain", "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues", Hank Williams' "Move it on Over" (twice). I did CCR's "Don't Look Now" but don't quite have the lyrics down.
Jerry came by. Jerry is a big guy with bright red dyed hair. I think he's done some singing at piano bars. He sings but doesn't play an instrument. He did "Boogey Woogey Bugle Boy of Company B", and sort of half did Mac Davis' "I Believe in Music".
Not much of an audience this time, just a few people coming and going. Sometimes it's fun to play different things with different people, and not worry so much about pleasing the people who are listening. On the other hand, sometimes something clicks, and it's nice to have an appreciative audience to confirm that you did a good job.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Washington Square Park 4/14/07
Spent a couple of hours there Saturday pm, playing with Pete and Larry. I mostly accompanied on harmonica--a lot of fun. Pete did Love is in the Air, Moon River, Leaving on a Jet Plane. He also sung a bit with a young lady named Ana Marie who has a very nice voice. We did Honky Tonk Blues, St. Louis Blues, Rambling Boy. Larry did Tambourine Man + others. For a while Anina, who I've met a couple of times before played along with us. She sings pretty good harmony.
I also did a couple of songs with Joe: I Used to Love Her, Honky Tonk Blues, Midnight Hour.
I also did a couple of songs with Joe: I Used to Love Her, Honky Tonk Blues, Midnight Hour.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
3/25/07 Wash Sq Pk and Paddy Reilly's in 1 day!!! Part 2
This is a continuation of the previous post. If you want to start from the begining, click here.
So we went in Pete's car and arrived at Paddy Reilly's where the music was playing. Australian Pete bought us 3 guinesses. I stood at the bar drinking my beer, and chatted for a while with AJ (a singer / guitarist who I met in the park last last fall). He says that a group of old time / bluegrass folks will resume meeting up in the park on Friday afternoons as soon as the weather gets a little warmer, and took my email address. Australian Pete wandered over to the "stage" area, and started playing. Yonkers Pete was parking the car.
Soon I went over to the stage too, and started picking along to the bluegrass music. There were about 12 people playing guitar, fiddle, mandolin and banjo. Mostly familiar faces including Scott, Tony, Tom. There was one older African-American guy. He was playing a banjo most of the time, but at one point he picked up a guitar and led an excellent sweet-sounding version of "Snowbird".
Since we arrived late, there wasn't time for many songs. The regular professional band came in and started setting up, most of the players went home, a few went to the back room. It was no surprise that Pete stayed on the stage for one more (Willie Nelson's "I'm Gonna Get Drunk"). Aussie Pete and I played along. In the middle of the tune, Tony told us that we better move to the back room after the song was over. Pete didn't like it, but we complied.
Aussie Pete struck up a conversation with the Black banjo player, whose name is Norris. It turns out Norris is a member of an all-Black old time string band called The Ebony Hillbillies. The week before, the New York Pinewoods Folk Society had sponsored a concert by this band with tickets at $20 a pop. I haven't heard them play, but I heard they're very good.
Meanwhile, Scott, Aussie Pete, and a great fiddle player named Rick were playing some bluegrass tunes that sounded terrific. All 3 are great players, and this fiddle player always impressed me. I couldn't resist pulling out my guitar, but it's hard to keep up with these guys. I was happy to be in the same room with a guitar in my hand (and a guiness on the counter). Later Pete started trading tunes with Scott. Pete suggested "Girl From Ipanema" which Scott offered up in the key of Eflat. Pete was able to keep up without the aid of a capo, which is pretty impressive.
So we went in Pete's car and arrived at Paddy Reilly's where the music was playing. Australian Pete bought us 3 guinesses. I stood at the bar drinking my beer, and chatted for a while with AJ (a singer / guitarist who I met in the park last last fall). He says that a group of old time / bluegrass folks will resume meeting up in the park on Friday afternoons as soon as the weather gets a little warmer, and took my email address. Australian Pete wandered over to the "stage" area, and started playing. Yonkers Pete was parking the car.
Soon I went over to the stage too, and started picking along to the bluegrass music. There were about 12 people playing guitar, fiddle, mandolin and banjo. Mostly familiar faces including Scott, Tony, Tom. There was one older African-American guy. He was playing a banjo most of the time, but at one point he picked up a guitar and led an excellent sweet-sounding version of "Snowbird".
Since we arrived late, there wasn't time for many songs. The regular professional band came in and started setting up, most of the players went home, a few went to the back room. It was no surprise that Pete stayed on the stage for one more (Willie Nelson's "I'm Gonna Get Drunk"). Aussie Pete and I played along. In the middle of the tune, Tony told us that we better move to the back room after the song was over. Pete didn't like it, but we complied.
Aussie Pete struck up a conversation with the Black banjo player, whose name is Norris. It turns out Norris is a member of an all-Black old time string band called The Ebony Hillbillies. The week before, the New York Pinewoods Folk Society had sponsored a concert by this band with tickets at $20 a pop. I haven't heard them play, but I heard they're very good.
Meanwhile, Scott, Aussie Pete, and a great fiddle player named Rick were playing some bluegrass tunes that sounded terrific. All 3 are great players, and this fiddle player always impressed me. I couldn't resist pulling out my guitar, but it's hard to keep up with these guys. I was happy to be in the same room with a guitar in my hand (and a guiness on the counter). Later Pete started trading tunes with Scott. Pete suggested "Girl From Ipanema" which Scott offered up in the key of Eflat. Pete was able to keep up without the aid of a capo, which is pretty impressive.
3/25/07 Wash Sq Pk and Paddy Reilly's in 1 day!!!
Well I had a great day last Sunday. I had a beer, then went to the park with guitar at around 3 pm.
It was a beautiful sunny early Spring day--warm enough in the bright sun. I saw Pete playing with Alan, Dan and others, a big crowd gathered around. A bearded guitar player I've seen a few times, guitar virtuoso Scott, Joe with guitar mostly not playing , also a good harmonica player who I'd played with the night before. Later on a guy who played a conga drum. I was sitting up on top of a little concrete wall, trying to pick along to the songs. If the song is in G or E I can usually do a halfway decent bass-line, and my guitar has a pretty full sound.
I forget all the songs we were doing, but it was the songs those guys always do, like "Hang on Sloopy" and "Love the One You're With" and "Bad Moon Rising". Pete worked in a few of his songs in between. And Scott did a few. The only one I remember was "Jet" by Paul McCartney and Wings.
Finally I asked Pete if he wanted to work on some folk songs. So we went over to the other side of the circle. He tried to show me his arrangement of "Early Morning Rain" which I still can't follow -- something about the phrasing I guess doesn't jibe with my uniquely fucked-up sense of rythm.
But we played some easier songs, and of course a few people stopped to listen, because there were hundreds of people in the park. Soon the harmonica player from the other group came by. He looked like he had somewhere to go, but I asked him if he would do a Dylan song with us (as a rule, people who play harmonica in Washington Square Park are Dylan fans). So we did "Don't Think Twice" and a bunch of others. This harmonica player was awesome.
He turned out to be an Australian, named Pete ("Pete and re-Pete" ha.ha.ha), visiting New York. He was apartment sitting in a high-rise on 5th Ave overlooking the park (tough life). He heard people singing and playing so he came out. He hadn't spoken to anyone in two days.
We did a bunch of country songs, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and anything else we could think of. Of course "Rambling Boy", "My Bucket's Got a Hole in it.", "St Louis Blues". We had a small but very appreciative crowd. One guy said that he used to play in the park in the 50's and early 60's and that he was glad to finally hear some "quality music" again. Last thing I ever thought anyone would call me was quality music. Anyway this guy liked to hear himself talk, and Pete finally told him to shut up (Pete would make a good embassador to North Korea). The woman next to him expressed solidarity with Pete, and told us that she was the guy's ex-wife--they split 10 year's ago. There was also an Israeli woman who tried to sing, a French guy, and a very cute young couple. The guy was enthusiastic about singing along, and had a nice voice.
Finally it started to get cold and dark, and I my fingers got stiff. It was coming up on 7 pm, and we decided to go to bluegrass jam at Paddy Reilly's, which goes from about 5 to 8 pm.
To be continued on next post...
It was a beautiful sunny early Spring day--warm enough in the bright sun. I saw Pete playing with Alan, Dan and others, a big crowd gathered around. A bearded guitar player I've seen a few times, guitar virtuoso Scott, Joe with guitar mostly not playing , also a good harmonica player who I'd played with the night before. Later on a guy who played a conga drum. I was sitting up on top of a little concrete wall, trying to pick along to the songs. If the song is in G or E I can usually do a halfway decent bass-line, and my guitar has a pretty full sound.
I forget all the songs we were doing, but it was the songs those guys always do, like "Hang on Sloopy" and "Love the One You're With" and "Bad Moon Rising". Pete worked in a few of his songs in between. And Scott did a few. The only one I remember was "Jet" by Paul McCartney and Wings.
Finally I asked Pete if he wanted to work on some folk songs. So we went over to the other side of the circle. He tried to show me his arrangement of "Early Morning Rain" which I still can't follow -- something about the phrasing I guess doesn't jibe with my uniquely fucked-up sense of rythm.
But we played some easier songs, and of course a few people stopped to listen, because there were hundreds of people in the park. Soon the harmonica player from the other group came by. He looked like he had somewhere to go, but I asked him if he would do a Dylan song with us (as a rule, people who play harmonica in Washington Square Park are Dylan fans). So we did "Don't Think Twice" and a bunch of others. This harmonica player was awesome.
He turned out to be an Australian, named Pete ("Pete and re-Pete" ha.ha.ha), visiting New York. He was apartment sitting in a high-rise on 5th Ave overlooking the park (tough life). He heard people singing and playing so he came out. He hadn't spoken to anyone in two days.
We did a bunch of country songs, Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, and anything else we could think of. Of course "Rambling Boy", "My Bucket's Got a Hole in it.", "St Louis Blues". We had a small but very appreciative crowd. One guy said that he used to play in the park in the 50's and early 60's and that he was glad to finally hear some "quality music" again. Last thing I ever thought anyone would call me was quality music. Anyway this guy liked to hear himself talk, and Pete finally told him to shut up (Pete would make a good embassador to North Korea). The woman next to him expressed solidarity with Pete, and told us that she was the guy's ex-wife--they split 10 year's ago. There was also an Israeli woman who tried to sing, a French guy, and a very cute young couple. The guy was enthusiastic about singing along, and had a nice voice.
Finally it started to get cold and dark, and I my fingers got stiff. It was coming up on 7 pm, and we decided to go to bluegrass jam at Paddy Reilly's, which goes from about 5 to 8 pm.
To be continued on next post...
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Washington Square Park--Saturday March 3
Another beautiful warm day. Sun shining into my apartment was so strong I had to open the windows to cool the place off. But by the time I made it to the park around 3:30, the sun was behind the clouds and the wind was picking up.
Anyway, I was able to do a few songs with Pete, Dan, and another fellow who sings harmony. A guy named Phil who plays slide guitar was also there, as well as John, who did the drawing at the top of this blog.
Pete had been there for an hour by the time I arrived, and said he was freezing his butt off. My fingers felt cold and stiff nearly from the get-go. But we did a few songs anyway:
*Early Morning Rain -- Pete has his version of this, I have mine. Problem is, I can't quite follow his version yet, so we did mine.
*Margaritaville--Dan does a nice recorder solo. It's an easy song, but I made a hash of it.
*Rambling Boy--Our regular song--nice harmonies all around
*King of the Road--One of Pete's standards
*Honky Tonk Heroes--Pete led it. I'm going to work on my version too.
*You Ain't Goin Nowhere--Our "new" old Bob Dylan song--sounded pretty good to me.
*Buckets of Rain--A Bob Dylan song I've been doing for a while. This time I did it in E, more like a blues.
*Waltzing Matilda--Well, not the whole thing, but Pete showed me how it goes.
*Goodbye Muirsheen Dirken--I tried to to this song that I learned from a Dubliners CD
All in all, I think it was a nice start to the season. Now I am thinking about the Brooklyn open folk sing on Wednesday. Maybe I will do "The Croppy Boy"? Stay tuned.
Anyway, I was able to do a few songs with Pete, Dan, and another fellow who sings harmony. A guy named Phil who plays slide guitar was also there, as well as John, who did the drawing at the top of this blog.
Pete had been there for an hour by the time I arrived, and said he was freezing his butt off. My fingers felt cold and stiff nearly from the get-go. But we did a few songs anyway:
*Early Morning Rain -- Pete has his version of this, I have mine. Problem is, I can't quite follow his version yet, so we did mine.
*Margaritaville--Dan does a nice recorder solo. It's an easy song, but I made a hash of it.
*Rambling Boy--Our regular song--nice harmonies all around
*King of the Road--One of Pete's standards
*Honky Tonk Heroes--Pete led it. I'm going to work on my version too.
*You Ain't Goin Nowhere--Our "new" old Bob Dylan song--sounded pretty good to me.
*Buckets of Rain--A Bob Dylan song I've been doing for a while. This time I did it in E, more like a blues.
*Waltzing Matilda--Well, not the whole thing, but Pete showed me how it goes.
*Goodbye Muirsheen Dirken--I tried to to this song that I learned from a Dubliners CD
All in all, I think it was a nice start to the season. Now I am thinking about the Brooklyn open folk sing on Wednesday. Maybe I will do "The Croppy Boy"? Stay tuned.
A Taste of Spring--Back to the Park (Friday, March 2)!
This weekend it was finally warm enough to get to the park. On Friday, I took the day off from work to pack. But with temperatures in the 50's, and the sun shining, I felt a moral obligation to check out Washington Square Park.
On working days, the park belongs to tourists and NYU students. I watched a young man with guitar and harmonica knocking out a nice blues. That was when I decided that I better go home and get my Martin. When I came back he was gone. I sat in a sunny spot and did a couple of songs on my own:
*Stormy Weather
*Saint Louis Blues
*Whiskey in the Jar
A couple of people stopped to listen, including a gentleman who was very interested in talking about his own musical adventures (he claimed to have written a hit song in 1967, to have introduced Janis Joplin to Judy Garlin, etc.) For all I know he was sincere, and I listened for a while. But he was doing an awful lot of name-dropping, which is something I have little patience for. If you want to impress me, sing a song nice and loud and risk making an ass of yourself.
I walked over and found an old-time group (guitar, vocals, kazoo) who sounded good, in an up-tempo Washington Square Park kind of way. They were collecting a lot of dollars from passers by. They were young--probably students. They gave me a flyer which contained the name "Roots & Ruckus" and a myspace address: myspace.com/rootsnruckus
I also heard a guy playing stand up bass and singing his heart out (unamplified). He was standing behind the statue, facing Washington Place. I could hear him singing up on 5th Avenue and between 8th & 9th street--a good 4 blocks away.
On working days, the park belongs to tourists and NYU students. I watched a young man with guitar and harmonica knocking out a nice blues. That was when I decided that I better go home and get my Martin. When I came back he was gone. I sat in a sunny spot and did a couple of songs on my own:
*Stormy Weather
*Saint Louis Blues
*Whiskey in the Jar
A couple of people stopped to listen, including a gentleman who was very interested in talking about his own musical adventures (he claimed to have written a hit song in 1967, to have introduced Janis Joplin to Judy Garlin, etc.) For all I know he was sincere, and I listened for a while. But he was doing an awful lot of name-dropping, which is something I have little patience for. If you want to impress me, sing a song nice and loud and risk making an ass of yourself.
I walked over and found an old-time group (guitar, vocals, kazoo) who sounded good, in an up-tempo Washington Square Park kind of way. They were collecting a lot of dollars from passers by. They were young--probably students. They gave me a flyer which contained the name "Roots & Ruckus" and a myspace address: myspace.com/rootsnruckus
I also heard a guy playing stand up bass and singing his heart out (unamplified). He was standing behind the statue, facing Washington Place. I could hear him singing up on 5th Avenue and between 8th & 9th street--a good 4 blocks away.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Dead of Winter
Walked through Washington Square Park with the Martin today (1/28/07) on the off-chance that a) someone would be there, and b) the sun would come out. Temperature: 39 degrees Fahrenheit.
No guitarists were out. Some big orange Chinese mythical animal made of 2 guys in a suit dancing around, someone beating on a kettle drum. Later we saw them carrying everything up 5th Avenue.
But I did get an email from Peter Bud, who is a fixture in the park when the weather is warm.
No guitarists were out. Some big orange Chinese mythical animal made of 2 guys in a suit dancing around, someone beating on a kettle drum. Later we saw them carrying everything up 5th Avenue.
But I did get an email from Peter Bud, who is a fixture in the park when the weather is warm.
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Washington Square 1/14
A gray, wet afternoon. I played a bit by myself on the Ovation. Tried to accompany myself on harmonica but it sounded pretty awful. I realized later that it was in the wrong key (for cross-harp in the key of E you need an A harp, not B. I found this out the hard way)
I had Vince and Jeff as an audience, and a couple of passers by, including a very interested toddler with intense blue eyes.
A young guy with a guitar came by looking for Scott. I directed him to the bluegrass jam at Paddy Reilly's, where I've seen Scott a couple of times.
I did St Louis Blues and a couple of Dylan songs at Jeff's request (Don't Think Twice, Tambourine Man, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues). Also did Worried Man Blues and Busted. Did Springsteen's State Trooper, which Vince got a kick out of.
When I was in the park earlier today (practicing harmonica), a guy with a guitar case and a dog came by and asked to borrow a pick. I happened to have one in my pocket and gave it to him. He said that he had been commissioned to do the music for a movie being produced in Europe, and was going to go work on a new song. Nicely dressed guy with an accent.
Arthur was in the park today, showed me how to play "Dance With Me" in key of D. Anthony was there with his Martin, told me he couldn't wait till Spring.
I had Vince and Jeff as an audience, and a couple of passers by, including a very interested toddler with intense blue eyes.
A young guy with a guitar came by looking for Scott. I directed him to the bluegrass jam at Paddy Reilly's, where I've seen Scott a couple of times.
I did St Louis Blues and a couple of Dylan songs at Jeff's request (Don't Think Twice, Tambourine Man, Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues). Also did Worried Man Blues and Busted. Did Springsteen's State Trooper, which Vince got a kick out of.
When I was in the park earlier today (practicing harmonica), a guy with a guitar case and a dog came by and asked to borrow a pick. I happened to have one in my pocket and gave it to him. He said that he had been commissioned to do the music for a movie being produced in Europe, and was going to go work on a new song. Nicely dressed guy with an accent.
Arthur was in the park today, showed me how to play "Dance With Me" in key of D. Anthony was there with his Martin, told me he couldn't wait till Spring.
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