Jaap Blonk was born in 1953 in Woerden, The Netherlands. His work is fascinatingly unclassifiable: straddling poetry, electronica, jazz and contemporary classical music, as well as the visual arts.
Beginning as a musician and composer in the 1970s, he soon discovered his potential as a vocal performer, reciting poetry, composing and improvising sound works. For the last decade he has also worked with electronic samples and synthesisers.
He has performed all over the world, and collaborated with many musicians and ensembles in the field of contemporary and improvised music, such as Maja Ratkje, Mats Gustafsson, Nicolas Collins, Joan La Barbara, The Ex, the Netherlands Wind Ensemble and the Ebony Band. His work also includes plays for radio and visual art. He was the founder and leader of the modern jazz group Splinks and the avant-rock band BRAAXTAAL. He also has his own record label, Kontrans, which has so far released 15 recordings.
More information can be found at his website:
We would like to thank The Foundation for the Production and Translation of Dutch Literature for helping fund this event.