Over Two-Dozen Area Musicians Virtually Unite for “The Acoustic Engagement” – Friday, June 5 @ 9 p.m.

This Friday, June 5 at 9 p.m., ALEO-music & The Latest Noise team up to present a virtual performance from 25 musicians, playing music that’s sure to resonate.

“The Acoustic Engagement‘s purpose is for us to gather and create music with each other,” said Jaime DeJesus, of ALEO-music. “The same as usual, except…different.”

The COVID-19 lockdown has certainly made live music difficult, but dedicated artists are showing their willingness and ability to adapt.

“I have been working remotely with a handful of musicians who have found themselves without work—myself included,” said DeJesus. “All theaters have been shut down, all of the schools, all of the venues. We have been teaching remotely, via video chat, and performing live shows on various internet platforms.”

The established collaborative nature of the Hudson County music scene has helped keep the light shining in these gloomy times.

“I couldn’t have put anything together like this without the help of Mike Kuzan of The Latest Noise,” says DeJesus. “Among other things, his skill at organizing and knowledge of all aspects of creating an event like this is invaluable.”

Playing music is a team sport—and while the arena is a lot different, these folks know the drill.

“These musicians are friends, as well as some of the most creative and skilled players of their instruments,” said DeJesus, “and in our conversations while sheltered-in-place, came to a decision to organize and create a show, ALEOproductions-style. All of these performances are done from the safety of our homes.”

As for the gig itself, the setlist is bound to strike a chord.

“I chose to base the show on acoustically driven songs. There are electric instruments involved in a large way, but the core of each tune is based on an acoustic sensibility. It is not often that any of us or any of our audience has the opportunity to enjoy an entire set of acoustic music, so the crafting began there,” said DeJesus. “The result is a set of gorgeous music played by skilled musicians.”

The presentation will be on a live WatchShow on Facebook, where the audience can interact with each other and the musicians in a live chat.

“In our recordings, you hear our mistakes and triumphs and how we react to both, as in our live performances,” says DeJesus. “It’s beautiful.”

The show is this Friday at 9 p.m., at the end of what has been a pretty long week in America…

“On a personal note, I tend to observe the turmoils that smolder and erupt in our society, rather than share my opinions beyond my close friends. And, like many, I often feel overwhelmed,” says DeJesus. “Instead, I make it my singular goal and responsibility to bring pockets of joy and positivity. While I cannot change peoples’ minds or solve the pollution problem or lead a revolution, I am confident in our ability to create those pockets of joy and elation through our art and our craft. And we continue to counter those negative tragedies with equal or greater amounts of positivity.”

He adds, “I hope for the audience to feel better about themselves and the world as a result of our work.”

There will be a Venmo set up so that the listeners can contribute to these musicians—all of whom have been negatively impacted by the crises at hand.

“These musicians need to pay their bills, and they continue to do the thankless work of bringing joy and beauty to our society,” says DeJesus. “It’s not easy to do this!”

UPDATE from Jamie DeJesus:

“I received quite a few emails yesterday from the crew involved in this event, adamantly saying they want to find a charity to donate their share of the proceeds. 

Things have drastically changed since I sent you that original email a week or so ago and I believe it is responsible to use the platform of the number of voices we have to show support and encourage our listeners to do the same. Saying nothing would be irresponsible. We were searching to give to a bail fund for the protesters on the ground, but happily every site I looked at had met their needs by donations already!

We are choosing to donate to blacklivesmatter.com. Help is needed in urgent ways and we are encouraging our audience to show their support along with us by donating. There will be a link in the chatroom during the event tonight.”

The Latest Noise presents an ALEOproduction of:
THE ACOUSTIC ENGAGEMENT

Wildflowers – Tom Petty
Vox/Acoustic guitar    Tommy Strazza
BX            Jaime DeJesus
Piano            Frank Ippolito
Bass/BX        Jon Andrew
Drums/triangle    Dave DeRiso
EWI            Frank Ippolito
Flute            Matthew Schoenebaum
MIXED BY:        Mike Kuzan
EDITED BY:        Frank Ippolito
Jaime’s Tshirt design:    ChiFlo

Hard Travelin’ – Mandolin Orange
Vox            Jaime DeJesus
Vox            Casey Solomon
Electric guitar        Tommy Strazza
Mandolin        Ryan Freid
Lap Steel        Carlos Haase
Acoustic guitar    James    Calleo
Bass            Declan O’Connell
Drums            Jeremy Sauber
MIXED BY:        Mike Kuzan
EDITED BY:        Jeff Fernandes

Things Have Changed – Bob Dylan
Vox/Acoustic        Mike Kuzan
Acoustic guitar    Corey Zack
Piano            Martin Schmid
Harmonica        Ryan Freid
Tenor Sax        Matthew Schoenebaum
Electric guitar        Max Feinstein
Bass            Jeff Fernandes
Drums            Johnny Roccessano
Shaker            Dave DeRiso
MIXED BY:        Mike Kuzan

Guinevere – Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young
Acoustic guitar    Carlos Haase
Vox            Carolyn Light
Vox            Jeff Fernandes
Vox            Jaime DeJesus
Vox            James Calleo
MIXED BY:        Mike Kuzan
EDITED BY:        Darryl Joo

Ventura Highway – America
BX            Eden Mendez
Acoustic guitar/BX    Jeff Greenspan
Electric guitar        Max Feinstein
Electric guitar        Darryl Joo
Bass/vox        Jaime DeJesus
Drums            Jeff Fernandes
Congas        Dave DeRiso
MIXED BY:        Darryl Joo
EDITED BY:        Darryl Joo
Jaime’s Tshirt design:    Frank Ippolito
Max’s tshirt design:    ChiFlo

Give Me Love – George Harrison
Vox            Jaime DeJesus
BX            Eden Mendez
Acoustic guitar    Jeff Greenspan
Slide guitars        Bilgehan Tuncer
Piano            Martin Schmid
Bass            Declan O’Connell
Drums            Johnny Roccessano
MIXED BY:        Mike Kuzan
EDITED BY:        Johnny Roccessano

Goin Up the Country – Canned Heat
Vox/Acoustic    guitar    James Calleo
Wurli            Martin Schmid
Acoustic guitar    Dave Entwistle
Bass            Jon Andrew
Drums            Jeff Fernandes
Flute            Frank Ippolito
MIXED BY:        Mike Kuzan
EDITED BY:        Dave DeRiso

Hearts and Bones – Paul Simon
Vox            Jaime DeJesus
BX            Casey Solomon
Acoustic guitar    Carlos Haase
Acoustic guitar    Darryl Joo
Bass/BX        Declan O’Connell
Drums/Congas/Triangle/Djembe  Dave DeRiso
Bongos/BX        Jeff Fernandes
MIXED BY:        Mike Kuzan
EDITED BY:        Matt Golub

Anyhow – Tedeschi-Trucks Band
Vox            Casey Solomon
BX            Rob Nicholas, Dave Entwistle
Slide guitars        Jeff Greenspan
Electric guitar        Darryl Joo
Keys/Trumpet    Aaron Kotler
Bass/Trombone    Chris Kelly
Drums            Jeremy Sauber
Congas        Dave DeRiso
Shaker            Jeff Fernandes
Tambo            Dave Entwistle
EWI            Frank Ippolito
Tenor Sax        Matthew Schoenebaum
MIXED BY:        Aaron Kotler
EDITED BY:        Dave DeRiso