If you look around on the web, and check out whats happening in your own town or city, chances are that you will find an inspirational cellist doing some cool projects, expanding their way of performing, dedicating themselves to something they believe in. Cello Joe is one of those cellists.

I met Cello Joe at a tiny coffee shop called Bazaar Cafe on 5927 California Street. Every cellist in San Francisco knows something about Cello Bazaar and likely has performed something or other there; from cello and guitar folksy stuff to Kolday sonata to Bach to Carter to cello beatboxing, this wood panel warmly lit cafe has seen it all in terms of cello. Pretty much immediately Cello Joe had the small crowd in the palm of his hand laughing and jiving, smiling despite themselves and entirely pulled out of their laptop work. To me, it was refreshing to see a cellist with real rhythm and control of his instrument in addition to his absolutely original and fresh songs. I improvised a little bit with Cello Joe and some others at the Make-out Room bar once, and as at Cafe Bazaar it was impressive to me how totally un-rockstar Cello Joe was in person, and yet how powerfully he could make his cello rock. No pretending, no false images, just Cello Joe.   

Cellojoe.com writes: "Cello Joe is an anomaly in the world of cellists. By combining cello with beatboxing, he has created a unique genre: Classical Hip-Hop. Looped and layered beatboxing beats (vocal percussion) and funky cello form a rich soundscape for intelligent lyrics; CelloJoe spreads joy, laughter and consciousness raising vibrations. CelloJoe rides his bicycle with his cello and has traveled from San Francisco, California to the bottom of Mexico; from Portland, OR to Vancouver, BC; from Logan to Provo, Utah; and in England, Holland, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Italy, France, and Spain with the Pleasant Revolution." A film is being made now about the band Cello Joe traveled with and the dream which these guys pursued. It  is really unbelievable. You can find out about it here:
 http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/266682699/stuck-on-earth-going-where-no-band-has-gone-before

I worked on a recital once that tried to explore the identity of cellists and cellos. I film interviewed people in the Market Street subway station in San Franciso asking them if they'd ever heard of the cello. I asked people there and online what they thought of when they heard the word cello. If people had any context for cello it usually went something like: melancholy, beautiful, serene, feminine, honey, orchestra... But the cello really has so many possibilities for sound and rhythm and textures... perhaps unrivaled by any other instrument, and right there for the exploring. Cello Joe has definitely carved out his own sound with his cello and has pursued his own musical dream. At the same time Cello Joe has a passion for people and bringing cellists and the public together. Check out his website.  (PS my favorite song is veggie maniac!)

After hemming and hawing this morning I finally got out the door to go and do a little busking at the Rochester Public Market. Memories in my childhood include bang snaps and drives into Rochester while the sun was just coming up; with business starting at 5am, Mom wanted to get there early. Today I arrived around 11am. I came alone.

I walked around scouting and noticed a few fellow buskers in the usual corners and finally settled on a less trafficked corner by the hot dog stand which had a nice bit of shade. I didn't bring a chair with me and since I didn't want to take up picnic table room reserved for hot dog eating patrons, I opted for practicing my upright cello skills and set up next to the street in the shade of a nice tree. 

It was one of those days I wasn't sure I wanted to go out busking. Sometimes I get excited about playing cello out on the street. It feels sort of dangerous and 'out there' and I feel passionate about sharing my cello with other people around me. Today I wasn't sure I was up to it. I guess you could say I was a little depressed. I slowly set up and tried to take in the environment. It was close to 80 degrees and the peaches in peck baskets were BIG! Apples $1.50 for a small basket, zucchini $.50, cheese, Amish pies, perennials, cut flowers wilting in the sun. As I was walking over I heard a woman call out to someone ahead of her "Thank you Mama! I love you!" Is it me, or are people at the Rochester Public Market usually in a good mood? As I was setting up a woman came and introduced herself as the busking scheme manager. "If any of the stand owners have a problem with you just move to another place and if anyone is rude tell me and I'll take care of it. I've got your back." Cool to have support from the administration for the market, but also interesting that there are now rules for buskers... 1. You have to sign in 2. you can only play for two hours 3. only three buskers at a time... Supposedly all in the best interest of the busker but also more bureaucratic control of the arts. While I was in London I saw two big burly policemen make a busker move just because he wasn't within the specified footage perimiter  someone in an office had pre-ordained. Never mind the beautiful music he was offering, never mind the worn out waitress taking a coffee break with tranquility, never mind the tourists wanting to buy his cds, the quiet calm of the plaza...  

Halfway through my first little warm-up improv I had money in my case and someone interrupting to ask for a card. I often meet a lot of interesting people playing on the street. One man came and stood to my left humming along. "You ought to come out and join our Genesee Valley Orchestra" he said. "And I know about auditions" he added referring to the terrible journey for the classical musician bent on a decent paying orchestra job. "Don't worry, you're good, you'll make it." A woman put a bill in my case and looked up, "Good luck honey". One patron suggested a better tempo for the Courante. "I always thought it would sound good slower" he said. A friendly couple chatted to me in between songs and racing through their hot dogs. "Are you a full-time busker?" the man asked. I laughed.

Playing without a chair is a little interesting for a classical cellist; we're used to our sitting comfort. But today I found out that its a lot easier to have a kid try your instrument standing up. "How old are you?"
"Eight."
 "That's the perfect age to start playing an instrument!"
As usual the littlest kids were often the most aware and absorbed into the music, craning their necks and staring from their strollers while their parents drag them on to buy peppers and watermelons. Sometimes the parents stop and give their child coins or crumpled dollar bills to throw in my case. I always smile at the kids and ignore the adults putting money into my case. Several times I've had people tell me they weren't really sure what a cello sounded like because they'd never heard it on its own before. Busking is a great way to share a little music education...

After awhile it was getting hot in the sun and before I could think about it the hot dog stand owner had brought me a nice cold bottle of water and put $5 on my stand. 'Wow! These people are so nice!' I thought.
$62 later I was packing up and at the stand for my own hot dog. "NO CHARGE, no charge" the owner told the counter worker. "How's business today?" I asked. I already knew the answer. "Business is good" he said. "Business is good." I nodded knowingly. Whatever they said on the radio this week, business is good and the arts are alive.


http://www.cityofrochester.gov/publicmarket/

Yesterday I performed at the Bread and Water Theatre Music and Arts Fair in Rochester, NY.

I used the small almost rained out event as a chance to try performing in mask for the first time. In London I took some mask classes with Wendy Allnut at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and a one-on-one tutorial with Niamh McKernan. Many Saturday mornings found me in a studio experimenting with masks and exploring the topic of composition with mask, instrument, and performer in mind. I composed two short pieces for solo cello (one performer as cellist and actor) and mask.

At the fair last night I performed the second of these works, one I wrote  for a mask I call 'Green Joker Man'. I also performed the third Bach Suite in an unrelated mask.