I only had the chance to play the piano in Battery Park once. Its was a little beat up, the sustain pedal didn’t work, but it was in tune! While I was there I met some great musicians and heard some wonderful music. All of us patiently took turns playing and listening, which in busy NYC is a rarity. I was able to play a few songs, some originals and a couple of Beatle songs but I was almost moved to tears while listing to a guy who played a stunningly beautiful version of “Here, There and Anywhere.”

Please, please bring these pianos back next summer, and every summer !

In the beginning, I set out to play all five boroughs, but soon realized my day job wouldn’t easily accommodate all the travel and logistics involved. So I reset my sights instead on playing every available Manhattan piano (and a few in Brooklyn and Queens). By the end of two weeks I had achieved my goal.

My pieces are all improvisations, so playing on the streets of New York allowed me to share my spontaneous, energetic music with a city whose rhythms and tones have informed and influenced my music for years. The chance to publicly give back to a city whose people, music, and spirit have brought me joy for decades was the opportunity of a lifetime. Thanks for watching and listening.

From the heart,

Sandy Santra