The Claudia Quintet feat. Theo Bleckmann

John Hollenbeck's Claudia Quintet +1 performs West Coast debuts of songs from What Is The Beautiful?, their acclaimed 2011 Cuneiform Records Release, and tribute to late beat poet Kenneth Patchen, featuring guest vocalist Theo Bleckmann.

Celebrating their 15th anniversary in 2012, The Claudia Quintet embraces the textural freedom of electronic sounds and improvisation, the structural ambition of contemporary classical music, and most importantly, the joy of bodacious grooves and unapologetically gorgeous melodies. Led by drummer and composer John Hollenbeck, this ensemble features some of the foremost innovators of new sounds in “jazz and beyond.” Their beautifully seductive work recasts jazz in shimmering new shapes with inflections of classical minimalism, new music, progressive rock and post-rock.

The Claudia Quintet's latest release, What Is The Beautiful?, featuring special guest vocalists Kurt Elling & Theo Bleckmann, is a tribute to the late beat poet and visual artist Kenneth Patchen, commissioned by the University of Rochester on the occasion of his 100th birthday.