Maryam Rahaman

A small piece of Astroturf was all it took for Richard Agudelo to transform Terremoto Coffee into a jazz venue. By moving tables to the sidewalk, he was able to open up space for a drum set, other instruments, and a camera setup. Inspired by other eateries, Agudelo wanted to give back to the New York City music community, which has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

With his baritone saxophone still in New York, Riley Swain, CC ’21, started to learn guitar during quarantine. Playing guitar allowed him to experiment musically, and in a loud household of five, it was a quieter alternative to the alto saxophone he had at home. Still, stuck inside without any opportunities to get onstage, the part-time jazz musician found it difficult to feel creative.