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Bell, a gold and platinum award-winning producer, arranger, songwriter, conductor and music educator has produced records by Doug E Fresh, Dave Valentin, New Voices of Freedom, U2 and Touché, among others.
Bell was the 2012 winner of ArtsWestchester's Musical Artist of the Year award and was lauded at their annual ceremony. His albums are available on iTunes, all major digital outlets and the GuavaJamm Entertainment website.
Bell is presently an Adjunct Professor of Music and Music Technology at Mercy College in Westchester County. He says the music business has changed much over the decades, especially for young musicians.
The longtime musician has recorded albums at Arts Westchester and performed at the White Plains Jazz Festival the last four years. Bell has also worked the Jazzmobile Summer series in the New York area and will be on the Jazzmobile this Sunday, July 13 when it visits nearby Riverbank State Park, Riverside Drive in Manhattan from 3:30-5 p.m.
"Younger people are interested in the genre but it takes a lot to get them out to jazz concerts, clubs because it can be expensive," Jazzmobile does well in audience numbers because it’s free. Last year we played to about 1500 people at Grant’s Tomb."
Bell said entertainment attendance and purchasing is a function of discretionary income, which in economic difficult times is always an issue.
"The music business model has changed drastically," he said. "There's increased access and that's good but to try to make a living doing it full time has become difficult. I am glad I’m not beginning my career now."
Bell has played with and/or performed on albums and concerts with Marcus Miller, Buddy Williams, Nick Brignola, Jimmy Owens, Dave Grusin, Buddy Morrow, Sal Salvador, Dave Valentin, Noel Pointer, Steve Jordan, U2, Lenny Kravitz, Celia Cruz and Billy Preston.
For more on Bell, Washington and their summer schedule, check the Facebook page.
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