By: Katie Gibas
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A jazz band performing on a city bus isn't something you see every day.
"Like all jazz bands, we were constantly running around looking for gigs and I went down to the office of Community and Economic Development and talked to Robbi Farschman (The director of the Connective Corridor) down there and she said, 'well, we typically don't do gigs down here at the warehouse, but would you like to play on one of the Centro buses,'" said Bill Horrace, a musician and Syracuse University Professor.
And Friday, the trio that makes up the Bill Horrace band performed on a Connective Corridor bus throughout downtown Syracuse.
"It brightened my day. I thought it was cool. We just walked in and they're playing. A band. And it was interesting," said Amanda Lurie, a Syracuse University sophomore.
Christa Guzewski, a Syracuse University freshman, added, "It brings out the culture of Syracuse and I think the city has a lot to offer with the arts and stuff that maybe people don't recognize on a daily basis and this is just a way to integrate it into people's daily lives."
And connecting the university with downtown and residents with the Syracuse culture and arts scene is one of the founding principles of the Connective Corridor Project.
"It makes us feel really good. We feel fortunate that we had this opportunity to do something cool for the community. And we were kind of kicking it on a Friday afternoon. We had just had rehearsal and it was perfect," said Horrace.
After years of planning, construction on the Connective Corridor project began last year. And the city just secured a $10 million federal TIGER Grant to continue financing the project to create new sidewalks, bike lanes and a distinct streetscape. With the continued funding and expansion of the project, those in the arts scene hope it will bring more recognition to all Syracuse has to offer.
"There's a very, very vibrant jazz scene in the City of Syracuse and it would be really great if people could come out and start patronizing the arts and the jazz scene here," said Horrace.
"There's a very, very vibrant jazz scene in the City of Syracuse and it would be really great if people could come out and start patronizing the arts and the jazz scene here," said Horrace.
Those who experienced the performance on the bus say they hope this isn't the last of the Music in Motion.
The Bill Horrace band hasn't been the only entertainment on the city busss. There have also been performances by hip hop poets on the Centro routes.
0 Comments:
Post a Comment