Jeff Ballard
Coaches 17/18
Photo by Amanda Stockwell
Theo Bleckmann
Bleckmann, who has been residing in New York City since 1989, has released a series of gorgeous and irreverent albums on Winter & Winter, including recordings of Las Vegas standards, of Weimar art songs, and of popular ?bar songs? (all with pianist Fumio Yasuda); a recording of newly-arranged songs by Charles Ives (with jazz/rock collective Kneebody); his acoustic Solos for Voice ?I dwell in possibility?, and his highly acclaimed "Hello Earth ? the Music of Kate Bush." 2014 finds Bleckmann touring Europe with Ambrose Akinmusire and recording with Julia H?lsmann?s trio, for a 2015 release on ECM and the touring that will follow.
Bleckmann has additionally collaborated with musicians, artists, actors and composers, including Ambrose Akinmusire, Laurie Anderson, Uri Caine, Philip Glass, Ann Hamilton, John Hollenbeck, Sheila Jordan, Phil Kline, David Lang, Kirk Nurock, Frances MacDormand, Ben Monder, Michael Tilson Thomas, Kenny Wheeler, John Zorn, the Bang on a Can All-Stars, and, most prominently, Meredith Monk, with whom Bleckmann worked as a core ensemble member for over fifteen years. He has been interview by Terry Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air and appeared on the David Letterman show with Laurie Anderson. Bleckmann will premiere his commission for the American Composers Orchestra on November 21st at Carnegie Hall.
Bleckmann's recent accolades include NPR's 2012 Top 10 Jazz Albums of the Year for Hello Earth! The Songs of Kate Bush, top-five spots in the 2013 and 2014 DownBeat Critics’ Polls for Best Male Vocalist, Bleckmann received the prestigious JAZZ ECHO award from the Deutsche Phono-Akademie in his native Germany.
