JARED ENGEL’S EXPANSIVE IMAGINATION (October 30, 2021)

Today, Facebook tells me, is Jared Engel’s birthday. As Milt Hinton used to say, “I have shoes older than you,” meaning that Jared is an inspiring Youngblood who has decades to go, bringing joy through music. He did just that about six weeks ago (I’ve already posted music from this concert, but here’s more).

It was a wonderful concert by Jared, string bass, composer, arranger; Vanisha-Arleen Gould, vocal; Gordon Au. trumpet; Sam Chess, trombone; Jonathan Beshay, reeds; Josh Dunn, guitar; Andrew Millar, drums — held in the Flamboyan Theatre of the Soto Cultural Center, Essex Street, New York City, on October 30, 2021, under the aegis of the City Artist Corps Program, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Here are four more selections, showing Jared’s and the band’s wide-ranging approach to sharing music, creating pleasure, creating thought.

Featuring Sam Chess, RED WING (or THE UNION MAID):

A gorgeous version of WARM VALLEY, a showcase for Jared:

LIMEHOUSE BLUES, showing off Jonathan Beshay:

and finally, a song that could be the concert’s theme, HYMN TO FREEDOM:

Happy birthday, Mr. Jared, Sir. We salute you and your friends (there’s more from this concert to come) and we are happy to share the planet with you.

May your happiness increase!

EXTRA HELPINGS OF JOY: JARED ENGEL’S NEW ANGLES (Part One) October 30, 2021

Thanks again to New York City Department of Cultural Affairs for the #CityArtistCorps program, making this concert possible. But first, thanks to the surging creative playful musicians who shared their art with us.

A wonderful concert by Jared Engel, string bass, composer, arranger; Vanisha-Arleen Gould, vocal; Gordon Au. trumpet; Sam Chess, trombone; Jonathan Beshay, reeds; Josh Dunn, guitar; Andrew Millar, drums — held in the Flamboyan Theatre of the Soto Cultural Center, Essex Street, New York City, on October 30, 2021, under the aegis of the City Artist Corps Program, New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.

Here’s the first part of three. Let joy be unconfined!

For Hoagy, for Louis, in the name of jubilation, JUBILEE:

Then, a lunar pairing featuring the wonderful singer Vanisha-Arleen Gould, NO MOON AT ALL:

and THAT OLD DEVIL MOON:

Inventive music, played with skill and spice in a lively space for an appreciative audience: if you know of a better universe . . .

More to come.

May your happiness increase!