Photo of the Day: Better the Sax Man Than the Tax Man

Yesterday, having paid my debt to Uncle Sam, I happened to be in New York’s Duffy Square when I came upon the fellow you see here.

In contrast to the costumed characters that have come to populate (or, if you prefer, litter) this center of the Manhattan entertainment world, this musician was intent not on sight but on sound, blowing sweet notes into the rapidly warming air. 

It felt like such a blessing and relief, amid the high temperatures and the annual presence of the IRS, that I just had to take his photo.

Photo of the Day: Street Musician, 175th Street Subway Station, NYC

Street musicians can be found all over New York City, including the 175^th Street subway station, where a bunch of curious onlookers and listeners encountered the guitar player seen here. I was among this group, and took this photo.

Photo of the Day: Street Musicians, Columbus Circle, NYC

I took this photo nearly two weeks ago, when, with a few minutes to spare before a movie, I walked around Central Park and, at its southwest corner, Columbus Circle in Manhattan.

Longtime readers of this blog know that this is not the first image that I’ve posted of street musicians. I’m not sure why they continue to attract my interest. Maybe it’s because, against all odds in a city that continually rises the ante and tries to monetize art at all costs, these musicians find every way possible to continue to practice their art.

Photo of the Day: Subway Flute Quartet, NYC

I had two quite different experiences with musicians underground this past Saturday afternoon.

Early in the afternoon, at the Columbus Circle subway station, a drummer played so loudly that it felt like noise pollution to me. Though I was trying to transfer to another train, the assault on my ears was so insistent and protracted that I fled the station.

But later in the afternoon, at a different station, not far away, I was lucky to hear the ladies from Flute Swept. You can see them, in this photo I took at the time, but I wish you could have heard them. I hate to use the words “smooth” or “sweet,” but their music sure went a long time from removing much of the bile from my spirit that had been building up all week.

Photo of the Day: Blowin’ Away in Times Square

Since Mayor Mike Bloomberg made Times Square a pedestrian plaza, I’ve become all too accustomed to characters in costumes (and some figures, like the Naked Cowboy and his male and female imitators, with the bare minimum of clothing). These animated performers pretend to be something else, until the moment they demand money from tourists.  Then their true selves—aggressive, out for the main chance—spring out.

Except for this jazzman I noticed and photographed this past Friday. In contrast to the other denizens of Times Square, apparel artifice was not what he was about. He came prepared to coax everything out of his instrument.

Photo of the Day: Street Musicians, Rockefeller Center, NYC

In mid-afternoon, stepping out for a late lunch, I was headed toward the subway concourse of my building when I heard the sounds of musicians up on the street: Avenue of the Americas, at the 48^th Street corner. Curious, I hurried up the steps. The crowd wasn’t immense, but it was large enough that I did not have an unobstructed view for long when I took pictures of the trio.

The identifying sign behind them read “Lincoln.” I’m sure there was a logical reason for the name, but there was hardly time to ask before the show was over. It just seemed a bit incongruous to me, as Mr. Lincoln was one of the most melancholy occupants in the history of the White House, whereas the singer here, obviously, radiated joy.

When I came upon this group, they were playing the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back.” Judging by the smiles around me, I think the listeners reflected the song’s message back.