Theo Bleckmann

Genre -bending, -skipping and -skirting vocalist and composer Theo Bleckmann has been a steady force in the music scene in New York for over 15 years. having forged his own sound in jazz and contemporary music today, drawing from jazz, ambient and electronic music, often integrating extended vocal techniques as well as live electronic processing and looping. He has performed worldwide on some of the great stages including Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, the Sydney Opera House, L.A.'s Disney Hall, The Whitney Museum and the new Library in Alexandria, Egypt. The New Yorker called him a “l(fā)ocal cult favorite”, Downbeat a “ “mad” genius”, The New York Times “excellent” and according to OUT Magazine, Bleckmann is “a singer who has only recently fallen to earth“ and indeed Bleckmann's style has something otherworldly and ethereal. In the summer of 2008, Bleckmann was interviewed by Terry Gross for NPR's Fresh Air. A Winter & Winter recording artist, Bleckmann has recorded, "Las Vegas Rhapsody", "Berlin - songs of love and war, peace and exile". "Twelve songs by Charles Ives" (with Kneebody) and "refuge trio" (w/John Hollenbeck and Gary Versace). Other CDs include “Origami” (Songlines), anteroom (Traumton) and "No Boat" and "At Night" w/Ben Monder (Songlines). Together with fellow singers Peter Eldridge, Kate McGarry, Lauren Kinhan and Luciana Souza he makes up Moss, a collective vocal group that develpos new ideas and compositions for voices. Moss released their first self-titled CD for Sunnyside Records, receiving 4 and half stars in Downbeat Magazine. Bleckmann has worked with such artists as Laurie Anderson, Anthony Braxton, Steve Coleman, Dave Douglas, Philip Glass, John Hollenbeck, Phil Kline, Ben Monder, Ikue Mori, Kirk Nurock, Bob Ostertag, Michael Tilson Thomas, John Zorn and the Bang On A Can All-stars as well as Bang on a Can's Can's Michael Gordon, Julia Wolfe and Pulitzer Prize winner David Lang. Bleckmann composer and most prominently multi media artist, Meredith Monk, whose core ensemble Bleckmann has been a member of since 1994. Bleckmann has been a featured soloist with the Albany Symphony, San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Estonian Radio Choir, Merce Cunningham Dance Company and Mark Morris Dance. Bleckmann enjoys particularly performing in duo, including percussionist John Hollenbeck, guitarist Ben Monder, pianists Gary Versace, Fumio Yasuda and Kirk Nurock as well as vocalist Sissel Vera Pettersen. Bleckmann's multi-media work includes “Fidget” for the Whitney Museum (with word artist Kenneth Goldsmith), “Mercuria” at the MCA in Chicago in collaboration with performance artist Lynn Book and a commission to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the German encyclopedia Brockhaus at the International book fair in Frankfurt, which he orchestrated for 31 voices in a surround-sound performance. Furthermore, Bleckmann has sung with such artists as Laurie Anderson, Anthony Braxton, Steve Coleman, Dave Douglas, Philip Glass, John Hollenbeck, Sheila Jordan, John Zorn, Michael Tilson Thomas, and the Bang On A Can All-stars and was a guest vocalist with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, Estonian Radio Choir, Frankfurt Radio Big Band, Merce Cunningham Dance Company and Mark Morris Dance Group and contributed his unique vocal capabilities to the soundtrack to Spielberg's “Men in Black”. Bleckmann has performed at Jazz Festivals world-wide, including North Sea, Yokohma Jazz Promenade, Copenhagen Jazz Festival, Moers and Porto Jazz Festival. His voice can be heard on over 40 recordings found on ECM, Cantaloupe, CRI, High Note, Label Bleu, Naxos, Polygram, Songlines, SoulNote, Sunnyside, Tzadik, Traumton and Winter&Winter