BIO/PRESS  MUSIC  VIDEOS  IMAGES  SHOWS  CONTACT 

Last night at Jamey's House Of Music in Lansdowne, PA, the rain came down and you would have thought Lili would be singing to the chairs. But, there was in fact a sizable audience in attendence! The food was great, the drinks were flowing and the music was spectaular! Lili was in a trio setting with the incredible Sam Nobles on upright bass and the man who always keeps good time, the one and only Mr. Jonathan W. Whitney on percussion. Lili performed some favorites like "Something To Do", "Blindsided", "Another Place, Another Time", "Supposed To Be" and "The Wrong Time". She also premiered some new material, songs she had been working on since the pandemic. "Swim At Your Own Risk" the Steely Dan inspired song was one of the premiere highlights. In addition, Lili pulled out an old favorite from her first album, the timeless date night song "Tonight." Jamey's sound system brought out the best in Lili's music and Lili and the guys just gave their all. Lili's witty stortelling never fails to engage the audience with a feel-good laugh. Needless to say, a good time was had by all. Lili will be returning to Jamey's in the near future. Check Instagram, Facebook and here on Lili's website for performance updates.

JAZZWAX REVIEW!
April 8, 2023

Just in, an excellent review of Better Days (remastered) by Marc Myers from JazzWax! Marc Myers writes regularly for The Wall Street Journal and is author of "Rock Concert: An Oral History" (Grove), "Anatomy of a Song" (Grove) and "Why Jazz Happened." Founded in 2007, JazzWax has won three Jazz Journalists Association awards. Very cool that the album is still being heard and recommended! Click on the image above for the full review!

DREAM AGAIN IN "THE CENTER OF DISTANCE"
January 1, 2023

Lili's song "Dream Again", from her 2007 album has found a new home as a feature song in multi-award winning filmmaker Rock Wilk's latest project,"The Center Of Distance."

(Click on player to hear "Dream Again")

Born of a play-opening that was canceled due to the pandemic, The Center of Distance is the story of a woman who only knew her son for less than an hour, as he was placed in foster care immediately after she gave birth to him. Also a story of mental illness, family, adoption, difficult and sometimes life altering, irrevocable decisions, and the often-incredible resilience of the human spirit. The Center of Distance, in addition to the central theme of the story, was also created with the intention of being a veritable love-letter to the Bronx and New York City in general and was shot completely on an LG V40 smartphone. Rock WILK directs and is the sole actor in the film. Steve Peckman created the score, which is a collaboration of amazing musicians, who all recorded their work in their personal home studios. There is also a collection of gifted and accomplished singer-songwriters who contributed songs to the soundtrack of the story, and together, The Center of Distance is a true coming-together of great artists during a difficult time. Watch the trailer below

See The Film!

VIDEO ON DEMAND

MAIDEN VOYAGE!
November 18, 2022

After a 2 year plus COVID drought Lili began performing again in 2022 and these were fun, energic performances with her band. The Godfrey Daniels show in Bethlehem, PA tonight began a new chapter. This is her maiden voyage with upright bassist Sam Nobles. With Sam playing upright and Lili playing acoustic guitar the music totally opens up in a way that brings her closer to the audience than ever before. In other words it's an intimate affair in the purest form. The two acoustic instruments compliment each other and Lili's singing is lifted up so that you can connect to it without any other distractions. This minimalist approach of expressing her music is in many ways moving it forward and allows Lili to express herself in a new and exciting way. For instance take the song "Bésos" that she recorded with her voice, guitar and the incredible David Pulkingham on lead acoustic guitar. It was released as a single and was well received with amazing positive feedback. While the show at Godfrey Daniels is the last performance for 2022, stay tuned for the 2023 calendar. Good stuff coming your way!

UPTOWN!
October 20, 2022

Lili and the band: Dale Melton, Chico Huff and Jonathan Whitney played to a packed house at UPTOWN! KNAUER PERFORMING ARTS CENTER in West Chester, PA. Wow!!! The energy was electric!

What a great turnout for a Thursday night where Lili and the band played 2 sets! The first set was Lili & the band kicking things off with "Something To Do" and ending with the New Orleans flavored "Thin Line." Lili kicked off the second set solo, pulling out some favorites and the title track from her 2007 release "Dream Again." Chills! Just Lili and her guitar! Nice to hear that one again. After Lili completed her mini-solo set the band returned to the stage and rocked out the night! They finished the set with the one-two punch of the mesmerizing "Out Of Control" and Lili's scorching rendition of the Ray LaMontagne song "This Love Is Over." Lili and the band received a roaring applause with a standing ovation. After a rough 2 years plus of COVID, venues are opening up with fans coming out and Lili is on a roll! Better Days are back for sure! So don't miss the next show November 18th "An Evening With Lili" at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem. An intimate solo show that's sure to be another memorable night of music! Buy Tickets

SONGWRITERS IN THE ROUND
September 8, 2022

 

Lili had a great time sharing the stage in the round with two popular area singer/songwriters Jesse Terry, and Michael Braunfeld. The audience who attended 118 North in Wayne, PA were treated to a fabulous night of good food, drinks and music! Lili had participated in the same format back in July and it's always a blast to perform totally acoustic with just her voice and instrument. It's a special experience where Lili gets to share the stories behind the music in a more direct fashion than when she's playing with the band. Then there's the diversity of 3 performers on the stage with distinct songwriting and singing styles taking turns one song at a time. It makes for an interesting evening as maybe a fan of one of the artists get to enjoy the other two performers and to their delight find a new artist to follow. Lili will be returning with her band in October at the Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center In West Chester, PA. You don't want to miss that one!

PHILADEPHIA FOLKSONG SOCIETY
July 7, 2022


(Pictured above from left to right: Kyle Swartzwelder, Lili, Phil Henry, Aaron Nathans, Avi Wisnia)

The Philadelphia Folksong Society was founded in 1957 by a small group of folk artists and enthusiasts. The organization offers programs of presentation, participation, and education throughout Greater Philadelphia and the nation. These programs present a cultural history of society and provide enjoyment to thousands of people of all ages. The Philadelphia Folksong Society contributes to the preservation of a vast variety of musical styles and historical perspectives. PFS has garnered international recognition and local acclaim through popular programs such as The Philadelphia Folk Festival, Fall Fling, and Spring Thing. This was a fun night of songwriters in the round presenting acoustic music with diverse musical styles and songwriting. Lili was very happy to share the stage with 3 distinct artists. Avi Wisnia was actually the host and performed a few songs as well. The venue was strictly a listening room without food or dinks. It was a wonderful event run by an organization that has a rich history in the music business.

WORLD CAFE LIVE MAIN STAGE!
June 30, 2022

Lili was thrilled to be the support act for Rodrigo Amarante! If you're not familair with Rodrigo's name, you would definitely know his music if you heard it. Rodrigo Amarante is a Brazilian singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer and arranger. He is part of the bands Los Hermanos, Orquestra Imperial, and Little Joy, and released his first solo record, Cavalo, in Brazil in late 2013 and worldwide in May 2014. He also wrote and performed the (bolero style) narcocorrido "Tuyo", the theme song for the Netflix Original Series Narcos (2015) and Narcos: Mexico (2018), and wrote the score for the film Entebbe (2018).

With all Rodrigo's accolades he is a very humble and grounded person who hit it off with Lili backstage. Lili played to a packed house, whom the majority was Rodrigo's audience. But early in her set it was obvious that Lili had won them over. She performed an acoustic solo set as Rodrigo did as well. Lili was happy to be performing on the main stage which she was no stranger to. Through the years she has been the support act and headliner at World Café Live and it had been a few years since she performed at this venue, especially since COVID. So she was delighted to be back, doing what she does best, connecting with the audience and giving them a very memorable night of music!

THE DEER HEAD INN WELCOMES BACK LILI & THE BAND
March 4, 2022

Lili & the band: Dale Melton, Jeffrey Blount and Jonathan W. Whitney left a very big impression at the Deer Head Inn last year and were warmly welcomed back in March to reignite their firey performance. Indeed that's exactly what happened with an enthusiastic audience feeding their energy to Lili & the band. The Deer Head Inn is the oldest continuously running jazz club in the country and home of jazz in the Pocono Mountains, situated in historic Delaware Water Gap, Pennsylvania.

In 1962 Bob Lehr hired pianist John Coates, Jr., securing the Inn's legendary reputation in the world of jazz. John was the house pianist for the next 30 years and continues to perform here. Some jazz greats who came to the Inn and played with John include saxophonist Al Cohn, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, Phil Woods and George Young. Nelson Hill and pianist Keith Jarrett would frequently sit in. Trombonist Urbie Green often stopped by, along with other greats as guitarist Harry Leahey, bassist Steve Gilmore and drummer Bill Goodwin. Additional performers at the Inn include saxophonist Dave Liebman, pianist/ songwriter Bob Dorough and more. So, Lili was thrilled and honored to be asked back to this historic venue and become part of the Deer Head Inn's lineup of talented artists that have graced their stage.

PACKED HOUSE AT CHELSEA TABLE + STAGE
March 2, 2022

Lili & the band: Dale Melton, Jeffrey Blount and Jonathan W. Whitney had an amazing night performing to a packed house at Chelsea Table + Stage in New York for their first time there. Chelsea Table + Stage, located at the Hilton New York Fashion District, is New York's newest hotspot for intimate dining and music. The 120-seat venue features state-of-the-art sound and lighting, a 10-seat in-theatre bar, and lofted VIP mezzanine for private groups.

EXCITING FIRST 2022 SHOW AT KENNETT FLASH!
February 27, 2022

Lili & the band came out swinging at this exciting first 2022 show at Kennett Flash in Kennett Square, PA! It had been over 4 months since they last played live together and they definitely didn't miss a beat. The show was well attended and the band was ready. The fans were definitely ready, then the music exploded with "Something To Do" from the 2013 critically acclaimed release "I Can See Bliss From Here." This set the tone for the night.

Lili & the band then pushed full steam ahead with "Take It From Me", "Number One" and "Peace of Mind" all from the latest album "Better Days (remastered)." With Lili on vocals & guitar and her bandmates : Jeffrey Blount - bass, Dale Melton - keys and Jonathan W. Whitney - drums, percussion, the audience was in for great night of music. 9 out of the 11 tracks from "Better Days" were performed along with favorites from "Another Place, Another Time" and "I Can See Bliss From Here." The show was a big success and now Lili & the guys were warmed up or I should say they were hot! In a few days, on March 2nd, their next destination is New York's hottest new venue Chelsea Table + Stage at the Hilton Hotel, located in the Fashion District. New York fans await their arrival and word is that tickets are going fast!

FIRST LIVE BAND GIG IN 2021
August 5, 2021

Yesterday Lili and the band kicked off their first live show since before the 2020 pandemic. Great outdoor show at Brandywine Park in Wilmington, DE, presented by Gable Music Ventures. This was a free event and the weather held up as you can see the sun shining through the trees. After a year and a half of not playing together, the band picked up right where they left off and with no stage rust. More shows have been added to the fall schedule beginning in October and more are pending. Keep checking back for updates!

The PBS WESTERN RESERVE SONG OF THE DAY
August 3, 2021

Lili's recent WRTI's @Home video series on NPR Livesessions for "Climb The Wall" was selected by PBS for Song Of The Day!

GREENWICH VILLAGE FOLK FESTIVAL
August 2, 2021

Last night Lili performed an incredible live stream 3 song set as a participant in the Greenwich Village Folk Festival. A powerful new song was premiered titled "Meanman/Meanwoman". If you missed it you can hear it by clicking on the image above, which links to YouTube. Lili's set is 2:44:09 into the video.

NPR LIVE SESSIONS
April 20, 2021

During Jazz Appreciation Month 2021 WRTI 90.1 is excited to debut a new initiative that expands our race to the global artists community. Welcome to the inaugural rollout of 14 videos performed and produced by artists in their intimate spaces. Lili Añel has been asked to take part and be included in WRTI’s @Home video series on NPR Livesessions. Click on the image above to watch Lili's @Home stunning performance of "Climb The Wall."

GREENWICH VILLAGE FOLK FESTIVAL January 3, 2021

Lili's first performance for 2021 was a live stream with the Greenwich Village Folk Festival Sunday January 3rd. Lili performed 3 songs as part of a 3 hour event. A very fun show! If you missed the live stream you can catch it on YouTube by clicking on the image above. If you just wish to see Lili, she performed around 9:15 which is at 228:33 on the video. Lili has been working on a lot of new music and there are some special events lined up for 2021. Stay tuned!

Magnet Magazine did an interview with Lili and today it was posted on their website. Click on the image above to read the full article. Enjoy!

Another great review for Better Days from All About Jazz! Click on the image to read the full article.

Another video from Better Days as Lili and the band go to work on Joni Mitchell's "Number One." Excellent live and studio footage!

Wonderful in-depth interview posted today on the Pure Grain Audio website! A whole lot of ground is covered on this one. Click on the image above to read the full article and enjoy!

Lili's video for the single "Take It From Me" was selected by WRTI to the NPR page Station Breaks, which spotlights the best new songs from NPR Stations for emerging artists. Her new album "Better Days" has been enthusiastically embraced by fans and radio stations alike and receiving heavy rotation which in turn is reaching a larger audience. "Take It From Me" delivers a catchy, head bobbin', funky and heartfelt anthem. —J. Michael Harrison, WRTI. Lili currently has 4 videos also featured on NPR Music Live Sessions. Click on the image above to visit the Station Breaks page.

Last night Lili and her band (Dale Melton -keys, Jeffrey Blount- bass, Jonathan Whitney- drums, percussion) electrified fans with 2 sold out shows at the legendary Café Bohemia! The first show had sold out quickly days after tickets went on sale. The second show had the same result the day of the show as a few remaining tickets were sold. Café Bohemia was initially opened in 1955 by Jimmy Garofolo. He had owned and operated it as a restaurant, bar, and stage at various times since 1949. Miles Davis, Kenny Dorham, Art Blakey among others had performed at this lengndary club. Michael Zieleniewski has reopened this club by keeping the integrity of the original masterpiece. Café Bohemia is located in New York's West Village. Great, great night of music with Lili and the band at the top of their game!

Posted today music reviewer TAKE EFFECT gives Better Days 8 out of 10. Click on the image below to read the full review.

Just posted today a new article by Angry Baby, a music reviewer out of the UK. They got wind of Better Days and decided to post some kind words about Lili's music. Click on the image below to read the full review.