Theo Bleckmann & Ben Monder at Hope Central Church

“...so virtuosic and inventive a pair...the two share a subtle discipline that results in a focused, cohesive whole... Rarely have such individual musicians sounded so single-minded.” Shaun Brady, Downbeat

Since the 1990s, vocalist Theo Bleckmann & guitarist Ben Monder have been touring the U.S., Europe and Asia as a duo, creating a unique approach to what might be called “jazz art song”, blurring the boundaries between jazz, classical, ambient and rock.

Theo Bleckmann is “a vocalist of inventive instinct and assiduous musicality,” wrote Nate Chinen in the NY Times. A jazz singer and new music composer of eclectic tastes and prodigious gifts, the Grammy nominee makes music that is accessibly sophisticated, unsentimentally emotional, and seriously playful, leading his work to be described as “from another planet” (New York Times), as “magical, futuristic,” (AllAboutJazz), “limitless” (Citypaper, Philadelphia) “transcendent” (Village Voice) and “brilliant” (New York Magazine)....

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“...so virtuosic and inventive a pair...the two share a subtle discipline that results in a focused, cohesive whole... Rarely have such individual musicians sounded so single-minded.” Shaun Brady, Downbeat

Since the 1990s, vocalist Theo Bleckmann & guitarist Ben Monder have been touring the U.S., Europe and Asia as a duo, creating a unique approach to what might be called “jazz art song”, blurring the boundaries between jazz, classical, ambient and rock.

Theo Bleckmann is “a vocalist of inventive instinct and assiduous musicality,” wrote Nate Chinen in the NY Times. A jazz singer and new music composer of eclectic tastes and prodigious gifts, the Grammy nominee makes music that is accessibly sophisticated, unsentimentally emotional, and seriously playful, leading his work to be described as “from another planet” (New York Times), as “magical, futuristic,” (AllAboutJazz), “limitless” (Citypaper, Philadelphia) “transcendent” (Village Voice) and “brilliant” (New York Magazine).

Currently most often seen as part of the newly reconfigured The Bad Plus, guitarist Ben Monder has kept a busy and varied schedule since first getting hired by organist Jack McDuff when he was in his twenties. His credits are too many to list here but it's notable that the same guitarist gets the call to play with the lush, intricate Maria Schneider Orchesra, Dan Weiss' metal-inflected Starebaby, and the Donny McCaslin-led band that recorded David Bowie's final album, Black Star. He's a player of impeccable taste and staggeringly broad stylistic reach.

**Note that per church policy, attendees will be asked to remain masked during the concert.**

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