Theo Bleckmann
Dan Tepher, pianist-composer
Wednesday, January 29, 2020, 7:30 p.m., Hudson Hall
“Theo Bleckmann is one of the most respected jazz singers in the country,” said Jean-David Coen, artist-in-residence and co-director of the Grace Goudy Distinguished Artists Series. “Deprived of his creativity because of illness during his last visit, we’re thrilled to have him back at Willamette to perform and instruct,” said Coen.
“Theo Bleckmann is a singer who often sounds like he’s only recently fallen to earth. Using his three-and-a-half-octave range, Bleckmann is as adept at exploring new possibilities for wordless sounds as he is at delivering a sparely elegant rendition of Cole Porter’s “Every Time We Say Goodbye.” His utterances can seem like an aural Rorschach of Arabic tongue clicking, Japanese, machinery noise, and bird chirping, while still remaining unaffected and accessible.” — OUT Magazine / USA / Andrew Velez
Bleckmann and pianist Dan Tepfer performed a mix of dark and political songs from the Weimar period — pre-World War II — penned by Kurt Weill and Hanns Eisler to poetry by Bertold Brecht along with selections from their own esoteric jazz song books.
“This will be an evening of perhaps the most diverse group of songs you will ever have heard in a vocal recital,” said Coen.
Master Class (free and open to the public)
- Tuesday, January 28th, 5:00 - 6:30 pm, Rogers Rehearsal Hall
Further information:
Willamette University Music Department
Rogers Music Center
Mon-Fri 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
503-370-6255
music-info@willamette.edu
