Bleckmann, Theo

Called by The New York Times “a vocalist of inventive instinct and assiduous musicality,” jazz singer and New Music composer Theo Bleckmann has 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. Bleckmann's recent accolades include NPR's 2012 Top 10 Jazz Albums of the Year (Hello Earth! The Songs of Kate Bush) and top-five spots in the 2013 and 2014 DownBeat Critics’ Polls for Best Male Vocalist. He also received the prestigious JAZZ ECHO award from the Deutsche Phono-Akademie in his native Germany. Bleckmann recently recorded his first CD for ECM Records, to be released in early 2017.

Photo: Jörg Grosse Gelderman/NEXT