Street Music from William Hartz on Vimeo.

One thing I love about living so close to New York is all the interesting people you meet on the street when going into the City. I remember seeing homeless men dressed up like Big Bird laying on the side of the road, people selling pick-up lines for a dollar, so many different people who want to tell you their stories, and street artists. I particularly enjoy these street musicians who share their talent on the corners and alleyways for all to hear. I usually stop and give these artist a dollar or two, as is customary, in their open instrument cases on the ground next to them.

Recently, a friendly man named Kevin has been hanging out in front of or near the Liberty Theater on Elizabeth Ave in Elizabeth, playing his sax throughout the evening. He comes and goes as he pleases, but I’ve noticed that you can most regularly hear him on Wednesday nights starting around 9 or 10 pm. He shows up and the Avenue, whose concrete and brick-lined buildings act like a sort of a channel for the sound of his horn to reverberate down, is filled with a variety of songs ranging from R&B tunes of old to hymns to patriotic themes.

I recently found out that, at one point, he used to go to our church and, one thing leading to another, he now finds himself doing this. He seems to enjoy himself, though. He stands on the corners and sidewalks, playing his saxophone for anyone who is interested in stopping and hearing and perhaps chatting a bit.

Some people see it just as noise, but I really enjoy his presence in our city and think his music really adds some nice ambiance to our home. We need more street artists like him.