PBeyond 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 “Little Elegy” and achingly poetic “To Be Shown to Monks at a Certain Temple.”

1. SEMBLANCE 01:31
2. COMEDY TONIGHT 04:16
3. FIELDS 05:07
4. THE MISSION 07:44
5. LITTLEFIELDS 01:58
6. ELEGY 06:44
7. TO BE SHOWN TO MONKS AT A CERTAIN TEMPLE 04:32
8. CORTÈGE 02:04
9. ELEGY (VAR.) >00:57
10. TAKE MY LIFE 05:27
11. WITHER 05:33
12. ALATE 01:07