Theo Bleckmann Feb. '17 Elegy tour

[GA Russell]

ECM

Theo Bleckmann – Elegy Release date: January 27             Theo Bleckmann: voice / Shai Maestro: piano / Ben Monder: guitar Chris Tordini: double-bass / John Hollenbeck: drums   Theo Bleckmann Quintet on tour: February 7             New York, NY          Jazz Standard February 9             Santa Cruz, CA       Kuumbwa February 10           Arcata, CA               Redwood Jazz Alliance, February 11&12    Denver, CO             Dazzle February 13           Los Angeles, CA    EDYE Beyond being a vocalist of rare purity and daring, Theo Bleckmann is a sound painter who creates what JazzTimes has described aptly as “luminous webs” in music. The German-born New Yorker – after appearing on two ECM albums by Meredith Monk and another by Julia Hülsmann – makes his striking label debut as a leader with Elegy. This album showcases Bleckmann as a composer as much as a singer, with several instrumental pieces voiced by what he calls his “ambient” band of kindred-spirit guitarist Ben Monder, keyboardist Shai Maestro and the subtle rhythm team of Chris Tordini and John Hollenbeck. Highlights include Bleckmann’s sublime rendition of Stephen Sondheim’s “Comedy Tonight” (“tragedy tomorrow… comedy tonight”), as well as the mellifluous vocalise of “Elegy” and achingly poetic “To Be Shown to Monks at a Certain Temple.”