Born: May 22 Primary Instrument: Vibraphone
Vibraphonist/Composer Ted Piltzecker has performed at jazz and percussion festivals and in clubs throughout the United States and around the globe (Germany, Austria, England, Brazil, The Netherlands, Argentina, Sweden, Mexico, Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan, and Finland). His albums have been critically acclaimed and influential in both the percussion and jazz worlds. He toured extensively George Shearing Quintet, and directed the jazz program at the Aspen Music Festival where he regularly performed with many of the great names in jazz (Jimmy Heath, Joe Williams, Clark Terry, Mel Torme, Ernie Watts, Hubert Laws, Slide Hampton, Bob Mintzer, Toshiko Akiyoshi, and many more). Ted's diverse musical interests have included tours with the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble, TV shows with the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's John McEuen, appearances at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York with organist Dorothy Papadakos, and chamber music concerts with classical cellist Yehuda Hanani, violinist Ruben Gonzales, bandoneónist Hector Del Curto, and gadulka (Bulgarian violin) player Nikolay Kolev. As a composer, Ted has received awards from the NEA, the NY State Council on the Arts, the NJ State Council on the Arts, and the ASCAP Foundation. His works have been aired on National Public Radio's “Performance Today” and the Canadian Broadcasting Company's “Arts National.” Ted is a graduate of the Eastman and Manhattan Schools of Music. He is also a pilot and unicyclist.
Awards:
• National Endowment for the Arts, performance fellowship• National Endowment for the Arts, composition fellowship
• New Jersey State Council on the Arts, fellowship
• New York State Arts Council, composition fellowship
• International Association of Jazz Educators, resource team, mallet instruments
• Lincoln Center Institute composer-in-residence
• National Endowment for the Arts, fellowship to premiere new work
• American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, composer's awards
• MacDowell Colony and Millay Colony residencies
• Commissioned composer
• State University of New York Faculty Development Award
“Yet further proof that some of the most original and interesting jazz out there lies somewhere beyond the confines of the big city club circuit.” - LUCID CULTURE
“...superb taste, time, sensitivity and swing - all of it evident in this thoroughly enjoyable collection of thirteen tracks” - ALL MUSIC GUIDE
'Standing Alone' is both sparse and fruitful, and Piltzecker has an innate sense to celebrate either virtue.”- WBGO
“The combined physical skills of a drummer and pianist are needed to master the vibraphone. Ted Piltzecker has an abundance of both, along with superb compositional abilities.” - Fritz the Night Owl - REAL JAZZ
Steppe Forward
Corner Mushroom
2010
1. Steppe Forward (T. Piltzecker) 3:54
2. Flight Following (T. Piltzecker) 6:12
3. He Sent An Angel (T. Piltzecker) 5:06
4. Nica’s Dream (H. Silver) 6:10
5. Kalunga (T. Piltzecker) 5:15
6. Why So Long? (T. Piltzecker) 6:45
7. Reunion Blues (T. Piltzecker) 3:59
Ted Piltzecker - vibes, piano, percussion
Rogerio Boccato - percussion
Sam Dillon - saxophones
Nick Llerandi - guitars
Jerad Lippi - drums
Mike Kujawsi - bass
(Harvie S. bass, track 3) As a Leader
Standing Alone
Equilibrium
2001
1. My Romance 3:20
2. My One And Only Love 3:53
3. In Your Own Sweet Way 4:05
4. In A Sentimental Mood 2:36
5. Trieste 3;32
6. God Bless The Child 3:44
7. Body And Soul 3:43
8. Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans? 3:37
9. Blue In Green 2:28
10. InvitationI 2:29
11. Like Someone In Love 3:32
12. Naima 3:40
13. La Malanga 1:55
Ted Piltzecker - solo vibes As a Leader
Unicycle Man
Equilibrium
1993
1. Buffalo Dance (5:00)
2. Thea (5:59)
3. Tango For An Elegant Man (6:01)
4. Unicycle Man (5:41)
5. Ouray (6:12)
6. Conundrum (7:34)
7. Take A Moment (5:28)
8. There Is No Greater Love (6:22)
9. Hometown (4:55)
Ted Piltzecker, vibraphone
Bob Mintzer, saxophones
James Williams, piano
Dave Meade, drums
Harvie Swartz, bass
As a Leader
Destinations
Sea Breeze/Equilibrium
1988
1. Anymore Nectar? (Piltzecker) 6:14
2. Pesos, Besos (Piltzecker) 3:17
3. Toys (Piltzecker) 5:40
4. Stepping Out (Piltzecker) 4:39
5. Ashcroft (Piltzecker) 4:54
6. Homesick (Piltzecker) 5:10
7. Columbus Avenue Strut (Piltzecker) 4:34
8 Here's That Rainy Day (Van Heusen) 5:15
Ted Piltzecker - vibes
Andy Simpkins - bass
Jack Wilkins - guitar
Ted Moore - drums
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Primary Instrument:
Vibraphone
Willing to teach:
Intermediate to advanced students
Credentials/Background:
• Ted is an tenured associate professor at the Purchase
Conservatory of Music, State University of New York. He is
the chairman of the innovative Studio Composition department
where both his writing and performing skills contribute to the
education of students aspiring to compose, perform and
produce music. Ted also serves on the jazz faculty.
• Ted has accepted an invitation as a visiting guest artist in
percussion at the Hartt School of Music, University of
Hartford, where he will teach during the spring and fall
semesters of 2010.
• After graduating from the Eastman School, Ted's college
teaching career started as a graduate assistant in jazz at the
Ohio State University where he taught arranging, conducted
and wrote for the big band at OSU. (Winner of best composer
award at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival)
• At the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Ted has taught
improvisation, coached ensembles, and most recently has
been engaged as a special Guest Teaching Artist
concentrating on his specialty, the vibraphone. He has also
been a guest composer and performer at the school.
• As a teacher of arranging/composition and a small group
coach, Ted served as adjunct faculty in the active jazz
department at William Paterson University in New Jersey.
• The Aspen Music Festival, where Ted taught arranging and
improvisation, directed small and large ensembles, and
headed the jazz program, offered college credit for his
courses through the University of Colorado. During his eight
year tenure as jazz director, the program grew substantiall
Clinic/Workshop Information:
Ted has appeared as a clinician in colleges throughout the
United States and Canada, and at the Royal Conservatory in
London, the Percussive Arts Society European Convention at
Wellington College in Crowthorne, England, The Deutsches
Percussion Symposium in Hannover, Germany, the
Fachakademie Fur Musik in Tübingen, Germany, the Puerto
Rico Conservatory, The Fundación Cultural Patagonia,
Argentina, La Escuela Superior De Musica in Monterrey,
Mexico, the Conservatório De Tatui and the Conservatório De
Campinas in Brazil, and has made frequent presentations at
the Percussive Arts Society and the International Association
of Jazz Educators conventions. Most frequently the subject is
vibraphone technique with particular emphasis on expressive
pedaling and dampening. However, jazz harmony, ensemble
performance, composition, and general musicianship and
artistry are also discussed.
"In every case, Ted was the consummate educator and
professional musician."
(see: http://tedvibes.com/clinicsandresidencies.html)
