NYC part I
Here's a quick update on my trip so far.
I arrived in NYC Friday evening and managed to take public transportation all the way from La Guardia airport in Queens to my friend's apartment in Upper East Side Manhattan. Aren't I big city? On Saturday, I had this awesome day where I went and saw all kinds of classic 19th century and modern at the Metropolitan Museum and then caught this incredible group at well-known "underground" club Fat Cat. Fat Cat featured this bassist's fine group that included a who's who of up & coming NY talent including Mark Turner on tenor sax (who's really more established), Ali Jackson on drums, Avishai Cohen on trumpet, and Aaron Goldberg on piano. They were all incredible. I was forced to sit right at the front - the only available table, and was only a couple of feet from these players. My view was parallel to the piano keys! It was really exciting music and you could feel the crowd's intensity. I met up with an old friend, Matt who I knew from working on a Holland America ship a few years ago in Europe which was fun. Afterward, his roommate, another unt guy, and the two of us had a slice and got all dorktalk about what we heard. I actually found myself not saying much and found nitpicking about these players a bit annoying. It was cool to hang though. Unfortunately, it took me over 2 hours to get back to the apartment, mostly due to me walking the wrong way for a few long blocks before realizing I had gone the wrong way to get to Lexington Ave.
Yesterday, I saw a crappy improv comedy troupe (oh well, they advertise well anyway) that proved not everything NY is so great. I also checked out some of the vast Natural History Museum which was great, but I needed a lot more time & energy for it.
Today, more sights with a friend of mine who lives in Brooklyn and plays guitar. That should be cool. Man, I have not done this much walking in a long time.
More later.
I arrived in NYC Friday evening and managed to take public transportation all the way from La Guardia airport in Queens to my friend's apartment in Upper East Side Manhattan. Aren't I big city? On Saturday, I had this awesome day where I went and saw all kinds of classic 19th century and modern at the Metropolitan Museum and then caught this incredible group at well-known "underground" club Fat Cat. Fat Cat featured this bassist's fine group that included a who's who of up & coming NY talent including Mark Turner on tenor sax (who's really more established), Ali Jackson on drums, Avishai Cohen on trumpet, and Aaron Goldberg on piano. They were all incredible. I was forced to sit right at the front - the only available table, and was only a couple of feet from these players. My view was parallel to the piano keys! It was really exciting music and you could feel the crowd's intensity. I met up with an old friend, Matt who I knew from working on a Holland America ship a few years ago in Europe which was fun. Afterward, his roommate, another unt guy, and the two of us had a slice and got all dorktalk about what we heard. I actually found myself not saying much and found nitpicking about these players a bit annoying. It was cool to hang though. Unfortunately, it took me over 2 hours to get back to the apartment, mostly due to me walking the wrong way for a few long blocks before realizing I had gone the wrong way to get to Lexington Ave.
Yesterday, I saw a crappy improv comedy troupe (oh well, they advertise well anyway) that proved not everything NY is so great. I also checked out some of the vast Natural History Museum which was great, but I needed a lot more time & energy for it.
Today, more sights with a friend of mine who lives in Brooklyn and plays guitar. That should be cool. Man, I have not done this much walking in a long time.
More later.