Dearly Beloved: Jazz Impressions of Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy & VGM x Eternal Wind Music
Dearly Beloved, Eternal Wind Music
The Red Pavilion256 Ingraham Street, New York 11237
Eternal Wind brings its Dearly Beloved program to The Red Pavilion, recasting video-game music through collective modern jazz improvisation. Guitarist Owen Chen leads the New York-based ensemble in material drawn from imaginary worlds, including “Dearly Beloved” from Kingdom Hearts, “To Zanarkand” and the final approach to the ruins from Final Fantasy X, and the “Lost Woods” from The Legend of Zelda. The point is not simply to replay familiar themes, but to use them as a starting place for rebuilding the sense of exploration these games evoke.
Led by Chen, Eternal Wind draws on bebop, post-bop, and contemporary jazz, with classical, world music, pop, and R&B also running through its work. The group’s debut album, The Ghibli Collection, is available on Origin Records. BroadwayWorld called the ensemble’s arrangements “tender, almost aching.” Paris-Move heard “a cinematic quality, painting landscapes and characters through melody,” and said the music offers listeners “not just music but immersive worlds.”
The Red Pavilion offers a striking blend of Asian neo-noir aesthetics and live jazz performances that create a captivating evening. The venue’s interior channels a 1960s Hong Kong vibe with red lanterns, velvet curtains, and smoky lighting that envelop the room in a cinematic glow. Guests can expect a dynamic program featuring jazz, cabaret, aerial performances, and culturally rich events that honor AAPI heritage. The space functions as a teahouse by day and transforms into a sultry nightclub with a full bar serving inventive Asian herbal cocktails by night. Shows often include multiple sets and sometimes late-night DJ sessions, encouraging both attentive listening and socializing. The Red Pavilion’s intimate stage brings performers close to the audience, making every note and movement feel immediate and immersive.