Jared Engel

Jared Engel

Musician • Filmmaker • Composer

Jared Engel is a Grammy-nominated musician who has been a mainstay of the New York City music scene since 2003. An accomplished multi-instrumentalist, he is often seen on subways, sidewalks, and bike paths hauling some combination of upright bass, bass guitar, tuba, 4-string plectrum banjo, and 5-string banjo.

Many know Jared for his decade-long tenure as the house bassist for the trad-jazz and bluegrass sessions at Mona’s, a beloved East Village institution. Alongside his regular performances around New York City, he has had the pleasure of recording and performing with acclaimed artists including Abigail Washburn, David Grisman, Tony Trischka, Kaia Kater, Béla Fleck, and Steve Martin. His extensive performance history includes appearances at major bluegrass festivals across the country as well as nearly every major jazz venue in New York City.

Jared has also enjoyed a busy career as a touring musician, performing throughout the United States and around the world. In 2025, he made his filmmaking debut with the short silent film Day of the Catch, which tells a true story from baseball lore circa 1915 and features an original score composed by Jared. He is also the creator of The Old Ball Game, a multimedia performance combining baseball stories, silent film, and live music.