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On Sunday I took a bike ride from Providence out to Coventry on the Washington Secondary Bike Path. The sky was gray and it was about 50 degrees outside, but the path was much more crowded than you’d see on even a summer day. As one of the few public spaces available, it was full of people, young and old, families and friends taking a walk or a bike ride. [ukulele plays “Carmen” underneath] As I passed Laurel Ave, I noticed a man sitting alone at a park bench, playing his Ukulele. He said his name is Lorenzo. Just one name, he said just like Madonna or Cher use just one name. I asked him why he was playing his ukulele there.
LORENZO: I had gigs at the Coventry senior center, then they closed down. [laughs] So I didn’t have any gigs.So I said well, I have to practice every time. I practice at home, but well, see when you perform, you have to practice before an audience just to get the nervousness out. So here I am.
JAMES: So this is your audience, the people going by on the bike path?
LORENZO: Yeah, well this is a little cove here.
JAMES NARRATION: We chatted a little more, I was sure to keep my distance and I kept my face covering on. All I had to record was my smart phone.
JAMES: Can I set this here and let you play a little bit?
LORENZO: This is Carmen, this is from the Opera Carmen.
JAMES NARRATION: For The Public’s Radio, I’m James Baumgartner
