New York Daily Photo Analytics

Friday, April 11, 2008

Delivery

There is a saying - let the music speak for itself. This makes sense, except you need to hear it which you can't do here. And of course there are different languages and the music may not speak to you. But for me, these guys are some of the best jazz musicians I have heard on the street. It's such a treat to run across talent like this on the streets of New York City. Many street musicians are superb. Music is very competitive and they work the streets for a number of reasons - sole source of income, part time source, exposure or just fun. The variety of musicians you find on the street can be just remarkable. I have run across Manhattan or Juilliard School grads and students, professionals playing cello, a traveling one man band, punk rock concerts, rock festivals, swing musicians, blues slide guitar players, a Chicago brass band, bluegrass reunion, - it's a menagerie out there. A number of us spend evenings in Washington Square Park listening to singing circles - on a good night, hundreds of spectators may congregate and participate in the choruses.
The trumpet player, Rasheed Richard Howard is superb. And he plays two trumpets at one time - see here. He is part of NuQ-Leus - website here.
This photo was taken when they were doing Georgia - a favorite with such a great melody (if you haven't heard Ray Charles do Georgia, you must).
Rasheed really delivers, which is good since New Yorkers are spoiled and quite used to delivery :)

9 comments:

Chuck Pefley said...

Yeah, Washington Square is the place! Love the vibes there. Great photo ... and yes, it's too bad you couldn't post the sounds for us. I'll just have to imagine -:)

Kate said...

Looks like a great jam session. Great photo, Brian!

Anonymous said...

ever see this guy play 2 trumpets?
their band is cool.

b13 said...

what a great photo! So much character caught in an instant.

Brian Dubé said...

chuck, kate, b13 - thanks.
anon - yes, there is a photo of him playing two - see the link in the text of the posting.

Anonymous said...

Nice post. I love the portrait.

Grand Life said...

Love this post. Love Washington Square Park. Love all of N.Y.C. except Times Square-my least favorite place.
judy

Nathalie H.D. said...

Another excellent post and portrait. Informative and inspiring, thanks Brian!

Anonymous said...

I was in NYC last May and I am sure I saw this guy playing his trumpet whilest driving on 5th Ave!!!