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Ted Piltzecker
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
Ted Piltzecker: Vibes on a Breath
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. ...
read moreDave Askren/Jeff Benedict: Denver Sessions
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 ...
read moreDave Askren / Jeff Benedict: Denver Sessions
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 ...
read moreTed Piltzecker: Steppe Forward
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 ...
read moreTed Piltzecker: Standing Alone
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 ...
read moreTed Piltzecker: Standing Alone
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"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
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
Photos
Music
If I Only Had a Brain
From: Vibes on a BreathBy Ted Piltzecker
Jackie's Idea
From: Denver SessionsBy Ted Piltzecker
Uncle Peck
From: BrindicaBy Ted Piltzecker