Theo Bleckmann

Theo Bleckmann, jazz singer and composer (New York, NY), has a repertoire of diverse recorded work, including albums of Las Vegas standards, Weimar art songs, popular "bar songs", and a recording of newly-arranged songs by Charles Ives, which was nominated for a Grammy in 2009. Theo has most recently appeared as a special guest on recordings by Ambrose Akinmusire for Blue Note Records and Julia Hülsmann’s trio for ECM Records. 2017 marked Theo's ECM Records debut as a leader, with his quintet record Elegy, produced by legendary label founder Manfred Eicher. Theo's many collaborators include Ambrose Akinmusire, Laurie Anderson, Uri Caine, Philip Glass, Ann Hamilton, Sheila Jordan, Frances MacDormand, Michael Tilson Thomas, Kenny Wheeler, John Zorn, the Bang on a Can All-Stars, and, most prominently, Meredith Monk, with whom Theo worked as a core ensemble member for over fifteen years. He has been interviewed by Terry Gross on NPR’s Fresh Air and appeared on the David Letterman show with Laurie Anderson. Theo, who has consistently appeared in the top spots in DownBeat polls, is a recipient of the prestigious Jazz Echo award from the Deutsche Phono-Akademie in his native Germany.