Home » Jazz Musicians » Ted Piltzecker

Ted Piltzecker

Ted Piltzecker has performed at festivals throughout the US and around the globe. His five albums as a leader have been critically acclaimed and influential in both the percussion and jazz worlds. The current release “Brindica” reflects his recent four-month venture around the world. It was recorded in New York and in Buenos Aires, and evokes musical encounters in Iceland, India, Nepal, and Bali. "Piltzecker writes and arranges tunes that draw on tango, second-line, Afro-Cuban, South African, and even carnatic influences, always in an organic, fun, and respectful way. The result is a stylistic kaleidoscope of an album that reveals new combinations of rhythm and harmony at every turn and always sparkes with wit and good humor." CD HotList

Ted Piltzecker has received awards from the National Endowment, NY State Council, NJ State Council, Lincoln Center Institute, and the ASCAP Foundation. He is a professor of music composition at the Purchase Conservatory of Music, SUNY and also teaches vibraphone at the Hartt School in CT.

A graduate of the Eastman and Manhattan Schools, he performs using Musser vibraphones and his signature Mike Balter mallets. Additional information: TedVibes.com.

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

Gear

Ted Plays a Musser Pro-Vibe M-55. His artistic and educational activities are endorsed by the Conn-Selmer Company and Mike Balter Mallets and the Vic Firth education team


Tags

38
Album Review

Ted Piltzecker: Vibes on a Breath

Read "Vibes on a Breath" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Even though Ted Piltzecker is a splendid vibraphonist and ushers a group of Colorado's leading jazz musicians through its paces on Vibes on a Breath, it is his sparkling arrangements that carry the day on this delightful new album. Several members of Piltzecker's septet double, and he makes the most of that versatility, writing charts that bring to the fore John Gunther's bass clarinet, Wil Swindler's baritone sax and (on the closing number) Judith Leclair's bassoon and Javier Diaz's percussion. ...

31
Album Review

Dave Askren/Jeff Benedict: Denver Sessions

Read "Denver Sessions" reviewed by Jack Bowers


There are times when a little extra effort goes a long way. To record the Denver Sessions, guitarist Dave Askren and saxophonist Jeff Benedict flew from the Los Angeles area, vibraphonist Ted Piltzecker from New York City to team with the Mile High city's Patrick McDevitt (bass) and Paul Romaine (drums) for Askren and Benedict's twelfth album together and fourth as co-leaders. Was it worth the trip? In one listener's opinion, first-class tickets, no matter the price, would be cheap ...

6
Album Review

Dave Askren / Jeff Benedict: Denver Sessions

Read "Denver Sessions" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Los Angeles-based guitarist Dave Askren and saxophonist Jeff Benedict collaborate on their fourth album as co-leaders on the Denver Sessions, an exquisite ten-piece set of primarily original music recorded in Denver, Colorado. The leaders have been playing together for around thirty years in the LA area but, for some time, had wanted to perform with New York-based vibraphonist Ted Piltzecker and decided to make it happen with the help of drummer Paul Romaine who encouraged the move to Denver for ...

175
Album Review

Ted Piltzecker: Steppe Forward

Read "Steppe Forward" reviewed by Bruce Lindsay


From the opening notes of “Steppe Forward" itself, Ted Piltzecker and his sextet give a clear statement of intent: Steppe Forward is going to be an upbeat, joyous and uplifting album, from beginning to end. As the closing bars of “Reunion Blues" fade away, it's clear that the band has achieved this intention, with a lively, inventive and engaging set of tunes and some exceptional playing. A former member of pianist George Shearing's Quintet, Piltzecker leads a ...

94
Album Review

Ted Piltzecker: Standing Alone

Read "Standing Alone" reviewed by Craig W. Hurst


After listening multiple times to Ted Piltzecker’s newest release Standing Alone, a listener may easily conclude that this CD should be required listening for any aspiring vibraphonist. While Piltzecker’s work should not relegated to merely a pedagogical model of technique, it would however, be impossible to overlook the incredible sound Piltzecker draws from his instrument, his dynamic rhythmic sense and impeccably consistent time—certainly qualities worth modeling.

When first confronting Standing Alone which consists of Piltzecker performing thirteen tried ...

93
Album Review

Ted Piltzecker: Standing Alone

Read "Standing Alone" reviewed by Mark Corroto


Like solo piano sessions, solo vibraphone recordings are extremely personal, solitary events. They tend to relate to their listeners on an individual basis. Vibes-man Ted Piltzecker a member of George Shearing’s quintet releases this solo session as a follow up to his 1996 excellent quintet date Unicycle Man with Bob Mintzer, James Williams and Harvie Swartz.

By choosing mostly jazz standards, Piltzecker begins halfway inside the listeners comfort zone. He takes you the rest of the way by his quiet ...

Read more articles
“The melodies are superb! The vibes work is exceptional.” - JAZZ REVIEW

"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." - REAL JAZ

“Ted Piltzecker marries engaging rhythmic interplay to crisp original compositions that ring true for their melodic inventiveness and accessibility. This is feel-good music with bite.” - JAZZ IN SPACE

"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

Read more

Primary Instrument

Vibraphone

Location

New York City

Willing to teach

Intermediate to advanced

Credentials/Background

• Ted is an tenured associate professor at the Purchase Conservatory of Music, State University of New York. He is the former chair 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 is also on the percussion faculty at the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford where he concertizes and teaches vibraphone.

Clinic/Workshop Information

Read more

Photos

Concerts

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Denver Sessions

Tapestry Records
2023

buy

Vibes on a Breath

OA2 Records
2023

buy

Brindica

Zoho Music
2018

buy

Brindica

Zoho Music
2018

buy

Steppe Forward

Corner Mushroom
2010

buy

Standing Alone

Equilibrium
2001

buy
"UNCLE PECK" by Ted Piltzecker https://soundcloud.com/tedvibes/master- 02-mp3-uncle-peck-1/s-khh1Q "GREAT IDEA! WHO PAYS? by Ted Piltzecker https://soundcloud.com/tedvibes/master-01-great-ideamp3-use-this- one/s-fLq0z

If I Only Had a Brain

From: Vibes on a Breath
By Ted Piltzecker

Jackie's Idea

From: Denver Sessions
By Ted Piltzecker

Uncle Peck

From: Brindica
By Ted Piltzecker

Videos

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.