What is wisdom?

I will talk with Jeff Angell about his spiritual path and professional work.

In 1976, while still a flight attendant, Janet Angell gave birth to a 10 pound, 9 ounce boy – Jeffrey Angell; he had been around the world a couple of times before he was born.  Jeff was baptized at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC.  Jeff’s grandfather was a violinist and music librarian at the Library of Congress.  His grandfather’s violin became his first instrument.  When he was 12, Jeff’s brother gave him an electric guitar and he soon after started a band with friends.

Jeff entered the University of Pittsburgh in 1994 to study Philosophy.  He traveled the world on Semester at Sea in 1996.  In China, he met a Philosophy of Religion professor who told him, “There are many paths to the summit of the mountain, but you must choose one.”  In 1998 he graduated with a degree in Music and a full-time gig as a professional Salsa bass player.  After making his mark on the Pittsburgh music scene, Jeff “set sail” for NYC in 2003, whereupon he met and recorded on tracks with Omar Faruk Tekbilek – the world-renowned Turkish Sufi musician. 

In 2007, Jeff joined the First Corinthian Baptist Church of Harlem as the staff bassist, playing for over 3,000 congregants each week.  It was here that Jeff found his path.  Jeff married the love of his life, Rachel McCullough-Sanden, in 2010.  In 2012 he graduated from New York University with a Masters in Music Therapy.  Jeff is currently employed as a full-time music therapist at King’s County Hospital in Brooklyn, working with an in-patient psychiatric population.