by nerissa campbell
The Jazz Gallery X NoMad Jazz Festival: First Friday! Concert Series Jen Shyu - voice, gayageum, Taiwanese moon lute, piano, movement Layale Chaker - violin, voice, movement Alexandria DeWalt - flute, voice, movement Melanie Dyer - viola, voice, movement Elizabeth Kate - cello, voice, movement Lesley Mok - drums, voice, movement Fertile Land, Fertile Body Fresh off her Rome Prize fellowship in 2025, Jen Shyu returns to TJG after 2 years to present an in-progress edition of her epic project Fertile Land, Fertile Body, a multilingual ritual opera comprising ancient and original music, dance, and projection, exploring the loss of mother, loss of motherhood, and human-caused environmental toxicity and genocide’s effects on climate change and our fertility. This chamber ensemble, including Shyu as composer/librettist/vocalist/multi-instrumentalist plus women and nonbinary vocalist-instrumentalists who double as choir, will use choreographed movements to express how overcoming barrenness in both land and bodies are intertwined. Guggenheim Fellow, Rome Prize Fellow, USA Fellow, Doris Duke Artist, Fulbright scholar, vocalist-composer-multiinstrumentalist-dancer Jen Shyu was born in Peoria, Illinois, from Taiwanese and East Timorese immigrants. She’s performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and speaks 11 languages. She has performed with Sumi Tonooka, Terri Lyne Carrington, Nicole Mitchell, Reggie Workman, Kenny Barron, Bill Frisell, and produced 8 albums and single as leader, on NY Times, Nation, NPR, etc. best-of lists. She's produced 3 solo shows, including Solo Rites: Seven Breaths directed by Garin Nugroho; and Nine Doors and Zero Grasses commissioned by John Zorn. A Steinway Artist, Jen is Co-Founder-President-CEO with Sara Serpa of Mutual Mentorship for Musicians (M³). 7pm Set (FRI) 7pm Set (SAT) 9pm Set (FRI) 9pm Set (SAT) LIVESTREAM TICKETS COMING SOON! 7pm Livestream 9pm Livestream SPONSORSHIP The Jazz Gallery is a not-for-profit arts organization presenting emerging artists who challenge convention, take creative risks, and lead their field as performers, composers and thinkers. We provide a platform for artists to discover their unique voice and a home for established musicians to continue to experiment and grow. At The Jazz Gallery, artists and audiences come together from around the world to explore new creative ideas, collaborate and celebrate jazz as a dynamic art form that reflects our ever-changing world. We rely on the generosity of our members and community to keep the music playing, thank you for your continued and much appreciated support! If you would like to sponsor a Livestream Concert, please use the links above or be in touch with our Executive Director, Janet Luhrs, here. Silver Sponsorship $500 Gold Sponsorship $1000
Performance venue for artists who challenge convention & take creative risks.
