Blonk, Jaap

Keynote Dialogues

Label: Monotype Country: Poland

"[...] As with all of his work, the voice plays a central in the work of Jaap Blonk, and sometimes hard to believe, nothing else. Sometimes he uses electronics too, but it's never easy to know which they are, or where we find them. And then sometimes, such as in 'Featherwater River', there seems to be no voice material. That is a nice strange, introspective piece of piano and a drone. Odd for Blonk. I am not sure if Blonk's older solo works are still available, but if you need an introduction into his music, this is a great place to start. It seems to have everything. A piece of noise music, 'Yapp Yapp' or 'AA60', modern classical music 'Lone Sphere', sound poetry/poems such as 'Cimbrod King' or 'Gramm', electronic pieces for voice in 'Rage Rage' or pure computer processing of voices in 'Sympa Cri' (also not the most strongest pieces). Something for everybody and a fine overview of all the techniques Blonk has mastered over the years to use his voices, as well, and this might be new, his other musical interests in composing music for other instruments. Excellent showcase!"-Frans de Waard, Vital Weekly #850

"Jaap Blonk (born 1953 in Woerden, Holland) is a self-taught composer, performer and poet. He went to university for mathematics and musicology but did not finish those studies. In the late 1970s he took up saxophone and started to compose music. A few years later he discovered his potential as a vocal performer, at first in reciting poetry and later on in improvisations and his own compositions.

For almost two decades the voice was his main means for the discovery and development of new sounds. From around the year 2000 on Blonk started work with electronics, at first using samples of his own voice, then extending the field to include pure sound synthesis as well. He took a year off of performing in 2006. As a result, his renewed interest in mathematics made him start a research of the possibilities of algorithmic composition for the creation of music, visual animation and poetry. As a vocalist, Jaap Blonk is unique for his powerful stage presence and almost childlike freedom in improvisation, combined with a keen grasp of structure.

He performed in many European countries, as well as in the U.S. and Canada, Indonesia, Japan, South Africa and Latin America. With the use of live electronics the scope and range of his concerts has acquired a considerable extension. Besides working as a soloist, he collaborated with many musicians and ensembles in the field of contemporary and improvised music, like Maja Ratkje, Mats Gustafsson, Nicolas Collins, Joan La Barbara, The Ex, the Netherlands Wind Ensemble and the Ebony Band. He premiered several compositions by the German composer Carola Bauckholt, including a piece for voice and orchestra. A solo voice piece was commissioned by the Donaueschinger Musiktage 2002. On several occasions he collaborated with visual computer artist Golan Levin.

Blonk's work for radio and television includes several commissioned radio plays. He also makes larger-scale drawings of his scores, which are being exhibited. He was the founder and leader of the long-standing bands Splinks (modern jazz, 1983-1999) and BRAAXTAAL (avant-rock, 1987-2005). He also has his own record label, Kontrans, featuring a total of 15 releases so far. Other Blonk recordings appeared on Staalplaat, Basta and VICTO. "Keynote Dialogues" is first Jaap Blonk solo album since 2000."-Monotype