"ALICE TAN RIDLEY IN JAZZ" NEW YORK

canon D30,lense 70-200mm, flash ,.................... The 40-year-old Harlem singer has been a street musician for about 15 years, full time for only the past two or three, after leaving a job as a teacher's aide. Now she and her two kids get by on what she makes singing along to karaoke tapes in the subway, other singing engagements (such as one she had last week at a UN function),"and a little help from somewhere else." What does it take to be a good subway performer? "It takes a lot of courage to open up and try and entertain somebody in that situation... When I'm performing, not only am I performing for the people out there, I'm performing for myself also. For me it's an outlet as well as a job." Sometimes people ask her,"`Why are you singing in the subway system?" Ridley answers:"If I was in a club, would you have heard me? Just be thankful I'm not in a club."