Thank you so much to everyone who has backed us and helped make this project a success. Now its our job to live up to our promise and edit the film into a really great piece.
Please make sure to log into kickstarter and enter your information so we can send you all your just rewards.
Finally, as a last thank you to everyone involved, the following video is from the after party where Nigel, and a group of his talented friends including Eric Krasno, and Adam Deitch of LETTUCE, and Maurice Brown put on a spectacular spontaneous show at The Loving Cup in Brooklyn.
Thanks everyone for following our journey, and for every dollar contributed. We’ll keep you posted when you can see the film.
Some said it couldn’t be done…Okay, no one really said that, but that doesn’t mean it was easy.
After 7 days of slogging through the stifling New York City summer and going to regions of the city we never otherwise would have discovered, we did it. The All City quest concluded at piano # 60 in McCarren Park in Williamsburg. Eric Krasno of Soulive, Adam Deitch of Lettuce, and kickass trumpeter Maurice Brown came out to put the icing on the cake. Nigel and co. then moved to a bar called the Loving Cup for a spontaneous after party jam session.
Play Me I’m Yours turned out to be a sensational project that brought art and music to the streets of the city. We were just happy to be a part of it in the little way we could.
It was a crazy and exhausting week, and there’s no rest for the weary. Nigel is heading out on tour across the country, and we are heading back home to edit the past week’s footage into a short film. That film should be debuting several weeks from now so make sure you keep your eyes out.
Thanks to everyone who was a part of this, both on the interweb and in the streets of New York City!!
Sorry the posting has fallen off a little bit the past couple days. We’ve had our full crew out on the streets shooting. To catch you up we’ve taken care of most of Brooklyn, and all of Staten Island.
All that’s left today is to hit the pianos we missed in Manhattan. We’ve purposely left the piano in Mccarren Park in Brooklyn for last so that Nigel can finish up in his own hood and bring some friends out to play with him. We’d love if you came out to. It’s going to be a great show and will be followed by celebration. We’re estimating 7 or 8 o clock in Mccarren Park. Keep an eye on twitter @nigelhall89 for an exact time later today.
The moral of yesterday’s story is that Queens is HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE.
There were only 6 pianos in Queens, but some of them are so far apart that it was a whole day just to hit 6.
Started as far out as we could and worked our way back in towards Manhattan, stopping for frequent ice cream breaks.
In Rufus King Park, way out in Jamaica we wet a cool cat who could jam on the baritone sax. Made the hour plus subway ride each way well worth it.
Props to whoever designed the E train. Air conditioning, what an idea.
Finished the day in Gantry State Park Plaza with the sun setting overlooking the East River. Despite not a single spectator, one of the best shows yet. Just a man, his piano and the Midtown skyline.
2 full boroughs and most of Manhattan down. 33 pianos and 4 days down. 27 left and only 3 days to go. Gotta pick up the pace!
Today is going to be a huge challenge trekking all over Brooklyn and Queens to reach some of the pianos most far afield. It’s also a great opportunity to play some of them that haven’t seen the kind of performances the ones in Manhattan have. All told we’re going to cover almost 20 miles today on foot and train. It’s going to be exhausting.
A nice writeup this morning from John Jurgensen in the Wall Street Journal. Perhaps some of those suits from yesterday will appreciate it more now. http://tiny.cc/j41mo
Upper Manhattan and the Bronx went off with scarcely a hitch.
Nigel rocking out for some grateful spectators.
Kicked it off in the bandshell area of Central Park, where Nigel put on a hell of a show for the good folks who gathered there. Probably the biggest crowd yet.
Up the top of Central Park at the Dana Discovery Center we were lucky enough to be joined by Joana Teter for a rousing duet.
St John the Divine was an amazing backdrop for a performance, though the church bells didnt stop ringing.
Our first trip out of Manhattan was a huge success. Big up to the Bronx, which was the most vibrant and energetic part of New York thus far.
Nigel Clowning for the Camera
Gotta keep it short because we’ve got a big day starting momentarily.
To everyone who is new here, welcome to your home for Nigel Hall’s All City New York street piano oddysey. To everyone else, welcome back. This is day 3 of the All City quest and spirits are high.
We’ve currently raised just a hair under 2k on Kickstarter and are $543 from reaching our goal. We need this money to finish the film and keep bringing the performances to a street piano near you. If you haven’t donated yet please, PLEASE throw us a buck or two (or two hundred). Spread the word, post to facebook, twitter, blogs, myspace, xanga (people still use xanga, right?) and help us raise that last $543 by the end of the week.
Day 2 was a wild journey from the southern tip of Manhattan up through midtown, battling crowds and the rain the whole way. Nonetheless, it was a great day, we hit 10 pianos and gave some really great performances. Some highlights:
We were turned into spectators as a drummer with mad skills accompanied the piano in Battery Park.
Felt a little out of place walking through the suit robots around Wall St. Then Nigel started playing. Turns out even the busy busy businessmen can take time out of their days for some street jazz.
South St. Seaport has to be one of the highlights so far. Nothing like playing a little Donnie Hathaway with some pirate ships looming over your shoulder.
Couldn’t get on the piano in Chelsea Market, add another to the clean up list. Going back on Saturday to hit it.
Then came the rain, a constant threat to shut down the rest of our day. We had to duck into a sushi spot in midtown for lunch and some sake bombs. Certainly not a bad way to spend a rain delay. Soon enough it opened up and we headed back out.
Disaster struck when we hit Lincoln Center. We were told by some of New York’s finest that we couldn’t film in Lincoln Center. Had to drop some names and pull some strings. By the time we got the go ahead the rain started looming again and the piano buddy had locked up shop early and headed home. That’s another four pianos to come back for.
We ended the day by meeting up with Wall St. Journal reporter John Jurgensen in Columbus Circle. He’s writing a piece about our project so keep an eye out for that. The rain returned but we were determined to get one more before calling it a day. Sitting in with an ensemble band we played to the biggest crowd of the day despite the rain.
Day 2 by the numbers: Pianos Played - 10 Pianos missed - 6 (4 in Lincoln Center, Chelsea Market, Riverside Park) Total - 18
