JEN SHYU'S FERTILE LAND, FERTILE BODY
Close Up154 Orchard St, New York 10002
Jen Shyu brings Fertile Land, Fertile Body to Close Up for a staged, multilingual ritual opera shaped from ancient and original music, dance and projection. The listing identifies Shyu as the work’s composer and librettist, performing voice, gayageum, Taiwanese moon lute and piano, alongside movement and raw video footage. It is a solo-billed presentation, with no additional performers named for this engagement; the project has taken different ensemble forms elsewhere.
East Timorese-Taiwanese-American artist Jen Shyu is a vocalist, composer and multi-instrumentalist whose work joins music, movement and narrative. Fertile Land, Fertile Body addresses motherhood and loss, environmental toxicity, and “genocide’s effects on climate change and our fertility.” Shyu has performed with Terri Lyne Carrington, Reggie Workman, Kenny Barron and Bill Frisell. Writing on a 2024 performance, JazzTrail said the music “transported the audience to ethereal and spiritual realms.” All About Jazz called a 2026 presentation “a diaristic exploration” of memoir and poetry, voice and instrument, with a “volatile” narrative that moves across continents.
Close Up offers a focused jazz experience in a sleek, minimalist space on Manhattan's Lower East Side, where the sound system and acoustics bring every note into sharp relief. The venue features a small back room that invites close connection with the performers, creating a setting where music is the main event and distractions are minimal. Shows run six nights a week with multiple sets, encouraging a deep dive into the music rather than a casual night out. A bar serves Latin American-inspired bites and cocktails, complementing the listening experience without overwhelming it. The crowd tends to be attentive, drawn by the artist-driven programming that blends classic jazz traditions with fresh, innovative sounds. This is a place to settle in, listen closely, and savor the evolving jazz scene in a refined yet approachable environment.