Bronx Jazz Hero
Judith Insell, executive director of the Bronx Arts Ensemble since March 2021 (and formerly its artistic director), has transformed the cultural outreach organization founded in 1972 by employing local composers and bandleaders to create new works drawing from and often combining jazz, classical, Latin, Balkan, Bomba, Afro-Cuban, Afro-jazz, and klezmer styles. As a professional violist with exceptional broad experience – she is the only Jazz Hero ever to have performed and/or recorded with Beyonce, India.Arie and Suzanne Vega as well Lee Konitz, Steve Coleman and Joe Fonda, to tour the world in the Soldier String Quartet backing John Cale, to appear on Saturday Night Live, with play in several symphonies and numerous Broadway orchestras – Judith is well aware of music’s joyous scope and variety, reflected in the diversity of population in her native borough. It’s her vision to extend its pleasures to underserved communities as well as the general public.
BAE provides 100 affordable or free concerts each season at sites including Fordham University, Woodlawn Cemetery and the Riverdale YM-YWHA, which Judith has been instrumental in curating. Other BAE projects she’s initiated have included partnerships with the Lehman Children Theater to present original musicals at Bronx public schools and libraries over the last few years in the Bronx, and performance with trumpeter Ray Vega’s band of selections from the BAE’s 51st season, “Focus on the America,” during the opening weekend open-house at newly renovated David Geffen Hall of Lincoln Center last October.
The Bronx is a beautiful borough, the Bronx Art Ensemble is an invaluable, longstanding institution with a hallowed past and glorious present, and Jazz Hero Judith Insell is devoted to seeing that more music unfold, available to ever more people of her community – which is energized and welcoming – in the immediate and foreseeable future!
By Mary Ann McSweeney
