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Jaap Blonk (born 1953 in Woerden, Holland) is a self-taught composer, voice performer and sound poet. His unfinished studies in physics, mathematics and musicology mainly created a penchant for activities in a Dada vein, as did several unsuccessful jobs in offices and other well-organized systems.

In the late 1970s he took up saxophone and started to compose music, and a few years later a real breakthrough occurred: he discovered the power and flexibility of his voice. At present, he has developed into a prolific writer/composer and a specialist in the performance of sound poetry, supported by a powerful stage presence and an almost childlike freedom in improvisation. He performed in many European countries, as well as in the U.S., Canada, Indonesia, South Africa and Latin America.

Besides working as a soloist, he collaborated with many musicians and ensembles in the field of contemporary and improvised music, like Paul Lytton, Mats Gustafsson, Michael Zerang, Fred Lonberg-Holm, Melvyn Poore, Paul Dutton, Nicolas Collins, the Netherlands Wind Ensemble and the Ebony Band. He performed in several compositions by the German composer Carola Bauckholt, including a piece for voice and orchestra. A solo voice piece was commissioned by the Donaueschinger Musiktage 2002.

Blonk is the founder and leader of Splinks, a 15-piece orchestra playing his compositions, and Braaxtaal, an avant-rock trio with synthesizer and drums. He also has his own record label, Kontrans.

His work for radio and television includes several commissioned radio plays.
He also makes larger-scale drawings of his scores, which have been exhibited.
Blonk is an energetic workshop leader too, who taught in many different countries, including a lot of work with children.
A recent development is his involvement with electronics, in the form of work created by sampling and processing the sounds of his voice.
Jaap Blonk keeps on searching the rich common ground between poetry and music. He is always after new sounds and combinations of sounds, without abandoning completely the semantics of language. His live performances are music, poetry and performance art all at the same time.

ALBUMS


Udo Schindler / Sandy Ewen / Damon Smith + Karina Erhard, Jaap Blonk & Sebi Tramontana
Munich Sound Studies Vols. 4, 5 & 6
2025, 3xCD, Album, Balance Point Acoustics
Jaap Blonk / Damon Smith / Ra Kalam Bob Moses*
Rune Kitchen
2023, CD, Album, Balance Point Acoustics, ,
Free Improvisation
Jaap Blonk & Monteclava
Fake Air
2023, Cass, Album, Ltd, Music 'A La Coque
Jaap Blonk
Soliloquies Selbstgespräche
2023, CDr, Album, Ltd, Num, Hybriden-Verlag
Elisabeth Harnik & Didi Kern* Special Guest Jaap Blonk
Steamology
2022, CD, Album, Klanggalerie, ,
Free Improvisation
Udo Schindler, Damon Smith, Jaap Blonk
The MunichSoundStudies Vol. 2&3
2021, CD, Album, FMR Records (2)
Jaap Blonk / Bart Van Der Putten / Pieter Meurs / Damon Smith
Hugo Ball: Six Sound Poems, 1989 & 2013
2021, CD, Album, RE + CD, Album, RE, Balance Point Acoustics, Kontrans
Sharp* / Schindler* / Blonk*
arToxin_08062018
2021, File, WAV, Arch-Musik, ,
Avant-garde Jazz
Terrie Ex & Jaap Blonk
OZO BONN
2021, Cass, Album, Ltd, Lim, Eh?, ,
Free Improvisation/Avant-garde Jazz/Contemporary Jazz
Udo Schindler, Jaap Blonk
Lakefront Discussions
2021
Jaap Blonk
Antonin Artaud
2020, CD, Album, Ltd, Num, Hybriden-Verlag, mimas atlas
Antonin Artaud Performed By Jaap Blonk
To Have Done With The Judgment Of God
2020, CD, Album, Kontrans
Jaap Blonk, Lou Mallozzi & Ken Vandermark
Blonk, Mallozzi & Vandermark
2020, CD, Album, Kontrans, ,
Free Improvisation
Jaap Blonk & Lou Mallozzi with Ken Vandermark
Consequent Duos: Series 2f
2020, 4xFile, WAV, EP, Audiographic Records,
Jaap Blonk / Mama Bär
Geräusche
2020
Jaap Blonk
Joyous Junctures
2019, Cass, Album, Eh?
Udo Schindler / Jaap Blonk
Hillside Talks
2019, CD, Album, Relative Pitch Records
Ute Wassermann, Jaap Blonk & Michael Vorfeld
Wassermann, Blonk & Vorfeld
2019, CD, Album, Kontrans
Tomomi Adachi & Jaap Blonk
Asemic Dialogues
2019, CD, Album, Kontrans
Monopiece + Jaap Blonk
Monopiece & Jaap Blonk
2019, CD, Album, Shhpuma
JeJaWeDa / Jeb Bishop / Jaap Blonk / Weasel Walter / Damon Smith
Pioneer Works Vol. 1
2019, CD, Balance Point Acoustics, ,
Avant-garde Jazz/Free Improvisation/Sound Poetry
JeJaWeDa / Jeb Bishop, Jaap Blonk, Weasel Walter, Damon Smith
Pioneer Works Vol. 2
2019, Cass, C38, Balance Point Acoustics
Jaap Blonk
Kochspuren / Traces Of Cookery
2018, CDr, Album, Ltd, Num, Hybriden-Verlag, mimas atlas
Jaap Blonk & Terrie Ex
Thirsty Ears
2018
Jaap Blonk
Fehlberliner U-Wirr
2017, CDr, Ltd, Num, Hybriden-Verlag
Jaap Blonk
Irrelevant Comments
2017, CD, Album, Kontrans
Kommissar Hjuler Und Frau & Jaap Blonk w/ BRAAXTAAL & Jürgen O. Olbrich
Das Kapital
2017
Jaap Blonk Leest Theo Van Doesburg
Jaap Blonk Leest Theo Van Doesburg
2016, 7", Ltd, Num, het balanseer, Bozar, Brussels, ,
Poetry/Experimental
Jaap Blonk • Sandy Ewen • Damon Smith • Chris Cogburn
North Of Blanco
2014, CD, Album, Ltd, Balance Point Acoustics, ,
Free Improvisation/Experimental
Jaap Blonk
August Ananke
2014, CD, Album, Kontrans
Jaap Blonk + Damon Smith
Hugo Ball: Sechs Laut-Und Klanggedichte, 1916 [Six Sound Poems, 1916]
2014, ,
Free Improvisation/Poetry/Avant-garde Jazz
Jaap Blonk, Chris Cogburn, Fernando Vigueras
Tiny Swarm
2014
Jaap Blonk
Klinkt
2013, 2xCD, Comp, Ltd, Boo, het balanseer, het balanseer
Jaap Blonk
Mixed From Heaven
2013, LP, Plant Migration
Jaap Blonk
Polyphtong
2013
Jaap Blonk
Lifespans
2013
Jaap Blonk
Songs Of Little Sleep
2013, ,
Experimental/Abstract
Jaap Blonk & Machinefabriek
Deep Fried
2012, CD, Album, Kontrans
Jaap Blonk
Keynote Dialogues
2012, CD, Album, Monotype Records
Jeb Bishop, Jaap Blonk, Lou Mallozzi & Frank Rosaly
At The Hideout
2012, CD, Album, Kontrans
Jaap Blonk
Voice Studies 07
2012, Cass, Ltd, Num, C20, My Dance The Skull, My Dance The Skull
Jaap Blonk
Traces Of Speech / Sprachspuren
2012
Jaap Blonk
The Splinks And BRAAXTAAL Recordings / 1993
2011
Jaap Blonk & Dylan Nyoukis
Dubbletwee
2008, LP, Ltd, Ecstatic Peace!
Maja Ratkje* & Jaap Blonk
Post-Human Identities
2005, ,
Noise/Spoken Word/Experimental/Musique Concrète
Jaap Blonk & Cor Fuhler
Pre-Zoic Cellways
2005
Jaap Blonk & Bart Van Der Putten & Paul Pallesen
Off Shore
2004, 2xCD, Album, Gat, Kontrans
Jaap Blonk & Koichi Makigami* & Paul Dutton & Phil Minton & David Moss
Five Men Singing
2004, CD, Album, Les Disques Victo, ,
Experimental/Avantgarde/Free Improvisation/Spoken Word/Vocal/Speech
Ratkje* & Blonk*
Majaap
2004, ,
Experimental
Jaap Blonk, Ingar Zach & Ivar Grydeland
Blonk, Zach & Grydeland
2004
Carl Ludwig Hübsch, Claus Van Bebber & Jaap Blonk
Hübsch, Van Bebber & Blonk
2003
Radboud Mens & Jaap Blonk
Bek
2002
Vogelkwartet & Jaap Blonk
Come To Catch Your Voice
2001, CD, Album, Loplop
Jaap Blonk
Averschuw
2001
People In Motion (3) Featuring Jaap Blonk
"Piccolo Teatro" - Live In Palermo
2000, CDr, Album, Not On Label (People In Motion (3) self-released)
Reverof Zrem*
Ursonate
1999, Cass, S/Sided, Album, Ltd, Num, Not On Label (Jaap Blonk Self-released), ,
Avantgarde/Spoken Word/Experimental/Poetry
Jaap Blonk
Vocalor
1998, CD, Album, Staalplaat
Jaap Blonk / Fred Lonberg-Holm* / Michael Zerang
First Meetings
1998, CD, Album, Buzz-Records, ,
Free Improvisation/Spoken Word/Experimental
Jaap Blonk, Jan Nijdam & Bart Van Der Putten
Blonk, Nijdam & Van Der Putten
1996, CD, Album, Kontrans
Jaap Blonk, Mats Gustafsson & Michael Zerang
Blonk, Gustafsson & Zerang
1996, ,
Experimental/Free Improvisation
Jaap Blonk
Liederen Uit De Hemel
1993, CD, Poëzie Perdu
Jaap Blonk
Flux De Bouche
1993
Jaap Blonk
Hangaar 4
1989, Cass, Album, Hangaar, ,
Sound Poetry/Sound Art
Kurt Schwitters - Jaap Blonk
Ursonate
1986, ,
Sound Poetry
BRAAXTAAL
Dworr Buun
2021
Braaxtaal
Speechlos
2021
Jaap Blonk's Retirement Overdue
New Start
2020, CD, Album, Kontrans, ,
Experimental
The Houdini's
Cooee
1997, CD, Album, Challenge Records (3)
Splinks
Consensus
1999, 2xCD, Kontrans
Hübeblo
Geneva
2014, Cass, Album, Hidden Temple Tapes
BABA-OEMF
Six Sound Poems Of Hugo Ball
2003, CD, Album, Kontrans
Ex Orkest
Een Rondje Holland
2001, CD, Album, Ex Records, ,
Contemporary/Free Improvisation/Punk
BRAAXTAAL
Dworr Buun
2001
Braaxtaal
Speechlos
1997, ,
Free Improvisation/Spoken Word/Experimental
Splinks
Splinks
1993, CD, Album, Kontrans
Braaxtaal
Braaxtaal
1993
Baba-Oemf
Sechs Laut- Und Klanggedichte
1989, Cass, Album, Hangaar

APPEARANCES +


Jaap Blonk
Ingletwist Fragments
2021, 9xFile, WAV, Album, Catalytic Artist Album
Jaap Blonk
Ten Chosen Pieces
2020, 10xFile, WAV, Comp, Jaap Blonk Recordings
Edith Steyer
Tales From A Sonic Forest
2023, 7xFile, WAV, Album, Not On Label (Edith Steyer Self-released)
Various
Horsey Can​’​t Swim - A Love Letter To Brett Underwood
2021, 43xFile, FLAC, Comp, Not On Label
Simon Nabatov
Readings - Gileya Revisited
2019, CD, Album, Leo Records, ,
Avant-garde Jazz
Frank Rosaly's ¡Todos de Pie!
Frank Rosaly's ¡Todos de Pie!
2019, CD, Album, Kontrans
Achim Zepezauer
Slotmachine
2019
HüBeBlo
Wovon Man Nicht Sprechen Kann. . .
2017, File, FLAC, Jaap Blonk Recordings
Various
4 Contemporary Sound Poets
2016, DVD-D, Multichannel, Pogus Productions
The Ex
At Bimhuis (1991-2015)
2015, 2xCD, Comp, Ex Records, Bimhuis Records, ,
Punk/Art Rock/Avant-garde Jazz
Alog
Unemployed
2011, ,
Abstract/Experimental
The Ex
30
2009, ,
Punk/Avantgarde/Experimental/Noise Rock/Post-Punk/Free Improvisation
Kurt Schwitters
Urwerk
2007, CD, MP3, Zweitausendeins, ,
Sound Poetry
Various
Konzertmusik - Vokalmusik Mit Orchester - Sologesang Mit Orchester
2006, 5xCD, Comp + Box, RCA Red Seal, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Deutscher Musikrat, ,
Contemporary
Fortner* / Dittrich* / Kyburz* / Bauckholt* / Richter de Vroe*
Sprachexperimente
2006, CD, Comp, RCA Red Seal, Sony BMG Music Entertainment, Deutscher Musikrat, ,
Choral/Contemporary
Various
HörenSagen - Erzählende Musik
2005, 2xCD, Comp, Nur/Nicht/Nur, ,
Spoken Word/Modern Classical/Drone/Dark Ambient/Radioplay/Abstract/Experimental/Post-Modern
London Improvisers Orchestra
Responses, Reproduction & Reality: Freedom Of The City 2003-4
2005, CD, Album, Emanem
Various
Vox Ex Machina
2005, CD, Comp, Leonardo Music Journal
Michael Edward Edgerton
The 21st-Century Voice: Contemporary And Extra-Normal Voice
2004, Pap + CD, Comp, The Scarecrow Press, Inc., ,
Education
Various
Kraakgeluiden
2003, CD, Comp, Unsounds, ,
Noise/Experimental
Various
Vijftig-En-Een-Half
2003, 2xCD, Comp, Kontrans, ,
Free Improvisation/Vocal/Avantgarde/Experimental/Spoken Word
Various
November Music 2003
2003, CD, Comp, Dig, November Music, ,
Abstract/Experimental
Various
Donaueschinger Musiktage 2002
2003, 3xCD, Col Legno
Various
Whitechapel: A Selection Of Readings From The 2003 Into Words Poetry Programme At The Whitechapel Gallery
2003, CD, Not On Label
Henri Chopin, Bernard Heidsieck, Gerhard Rühm, Ernst Jandl, Carlfriedrich Claus, Hartmut Geerken
Aussicht - Absicht - Einsicht: 25 Jahre Bielefelder Colloquium Neue Poesie
2002, 2xCD, Album, Aisthesis Verlag, ,
Sound Poetry/Experimental
Various
Musicworks 79: Ongoing Explorations In Sound
2001, CD, Album, Comp, Musicworks
Kölner Saxophon Mafia
20 Jahre Saxuelle Befreiung
2001, CD, Album, Jazz Haus Musik, ,
Avant-garde Jazz/Contemporary Jazz
Paul Termos
Works
2000, CD, Album, X-OR, ,
Contemporary
Various
Wittener Tage Für Neue Kammermusik 2000
2000, 2xCD, Comp, Kulturforum Witten, ,
Contemporary/Experimental/Chamber Music
Various
10 X Humannoise Congress
1999, CDr, Comp, Kooperative New Jazz Wiesbaden E.V.
Various
Rumori (De Organisatie van Geluid... 1995/1996)
1996, CD, Not On Label, ,
Modern/Experimental/Contemporary
Various
De Suite Muziekweek 1996 (Taal Als Instrument)
1996
Various
Montage #09 / #10
1988, Cass, Num, C60, Art & Noise Editions, ,
Experimental
Various
All Around Death, The Horizon
2021, Cass, Comp, Ltd, w/ , Rekem Records
Various
You Have Three Seconds
2021, 65x File, ,
Experimental/Sound Collage/Noise/Ambient/Glitch/Drone
Various
Tr/Apt
2021, CDr, ,
Experimental/Noise
Various
Friends Of Sounds & Noises, Vol​.​2
2019, CDr, Comp, Not On Label, ,
Experimental
Various
Astral Ascending: Celebrating 5 Years Of Astral Spirits Records
2019, ,
Free Improvisation/Experimental/Abstract/Drone/Musique Concrète
Various
Speak Unless Spoken To
2017, CD, Comp, WFMU, ,
Ambient/Experimental/Field Recording/Spoken Word
Various
Two Halves : Volume Two
2017, 10xFile, MP3, Comp, 320, Not On Label ({ AN } EeL Self-released)
Various
Friends Of Sounds & Noises Vol. 1
2016, CDr, Comp, Not On Label, ,
Experimental/Noise
Various
Voiceprints 15
2015, CDr, Comp, F..loose Productions
Various
FLUXblonk LUFTessl Weibel Weibel (In Nine Parts)
2015
Various
SOS Save Ms Stubnitz
2014, 33xFile, FLAC, Album, Comp, Ms Stubnitz, ,
Abstract/Ambient/Dark Ambient/Drone/Electro/Experimental/IDM/Musique Concrète/Noise
Various
1 Minute Autohypnosis Sex War Noise Faith White Truth Light Europe Death Seed Red Net Jung Dollar Neo Time Love-In City Twenty New Cage Zen
2014, CDr, Comp, Mute Sound
Various
Sasquatch
2013, CD, Comp, Ltd, An {EeL} Records, ,
Noise
Various
Sasquatch II
2013, CDr, Comp, An {EeL} Records, ,
Experimental/Noise
Various
Classwar Karaoke - 0017 Survey
2012, 86xFile, MP3, Comp, 320, Classwar Karaoke, ,
Noise/Freestyle/Abstract/Avantgarde/Drone/Musique Concrète/Field Recording/Experimental
Various
Yokomono 03.5
2012, ,
Technical/Noise/Experimental
Various
Sound Art @ Het Apollohuis
2011, 2xCD, Comp, WERGO, ,
Experimental/Drone/Ambient/Noise/Sound Poetry
Various
Art's Birthday 2005-2010
2010, 2xCD, Comp, European Broadcast Union, Ars Acoustica, ,
Spoken Word/Abstract/Avantgarde/Contemporary Jazz/Art Rock/Avant-garde Jazz/Radioplay/Electro/Experimental
Various
#001/Hugo Ball
2010, 5xFile, MP3, Karawa, ,
Experimental
Various
SNO Catalogue 2010
2010, CD, Comp, Sydney Non Objective
Various
Playing With Words: An Audio Compilation
2010, ,
Musique Concrète/Poetry/Spoken Word/Abstract
Various
Sonic Vigil 4
2009, 4xCD, Comp, Ltd, Farpoint Recordings, Gruenrekorder
Various
La Voce Performante - Vocoralità Del Novecento
2009, CD, Comp, 3Vitre, ,
Poetry/Experimental
Various
Running In Place: Locked Grooves From WFMU
2009
Various
Blood, Muscle & Air: The Intimate Voice
2008, CD, Album, Comp, Sonic Arts Network
Various
Suoni Per Il Popolo 2008
2008, CDr, Comp, Suoni Per Il Popolo, ,
Folk Rock/Garage Rock/Jazz-Rock/Experimental
Various
Kelly Writers House: The First 10 Years, 1995/96 - 2005/06
2006, CD, Comp, The Trustees Of The University Of Pennsylvania
Various
SonicActsXI - The Anthology Of Computer Art
2006, ,
IDM/Experimental/Ambient
Various
Homenaje
2005, 2xCD, Comp, Rackham Records, ,
Abstract/Noise/Breakcore/Experimental
Various
NEW Nijmeegsche Electronische Waar 1.0 Een Punt Nul
2005, CD, Comp, Not On Label, ,
Breakcore/Techno/House/IDM/Electro/Drum n Bass/Minimal
Various
The Agents Of Impurity
2004, CD, Comp, Sonic Arts Network
Various
Revista De Arte Sonoro 7
2004, 2xCD, Comp, Centro De Creación Experimental, ,
Interview/Abstract/Musique Concrète/Field Recording/Experimental
Various
Intersection Radio - Session #1 - 2004
2004, M/Stick, MP3, WAV, Comp, Fibrr Records
Various
Windpipe Moods
2004
Various
Festival Voor Nieuwe Muziek Happy New Ears 2003 > Kortrijk > Lille
2003, CD, Comp, Happy New Ears
Various
Ice Sculpture Theater
2003, CD, Comp, Enh, Tedium House Publications, ,
Noise/Experimental
Hörner* & Kapfer*
Alles Lalula 2 (Songs & Poeme - Von Der Beat-Generation Bis Heute)
2003, 2xCD, Comp, LIDO., ,
Poetry/Sound Poetry
Various
Dutch Jazz 2003
2003, CD, Comp, Smplr, Conamus
Various
Krikri 2003
2003, CD, Comp, Krikri vzw
Various
Fümms Bö Wö Tää Zää Uu: Stimmen Und Klänge Der Lautpoesie
2002, CD, Comp, Urs Engeler Editor, ,
Musique Concrète/Spoken Word/Experimental
Various
Don’t Shoot The Toy Piano Player
2002, 2xCD, Comp, WFMU, ,
Alternative Rock/Folk Rock/Indie Rock/Prog Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Experimental/Punk
Various
The Horror
2001, CDr, Comp, Mixed, Promo, WFMU, ,
Ambient/Modern Classical/Heavy Metal/Art Rock
Various
The Cocktail Event
1998, CD, Comp, Staalplaat
Various
Musik Sprechen
1998, CD, Album, Comp, WERGO, ,
Musique Concrète/Avantgarde/Experimental
Various
Poesia Sonora Hoje - Sound Poetry Today
1998, CD, Comp, Laboratório De Linguagens Sonoras
Various
Staalplaat Cocktail
1997, ,
Experimental
Various
Sonderangebot
1996, CD, Comp, Staalplaat, ,
Experimental
Various
Unknown Public 07: The Netherlands Connection
1996, CD, Album, Comp, Unknown Public, ,
Contemporary/Experimental/Contemporary Jazz
Various
Nardwuar The Human Serviette Presents: Skookum Chief Powered Teenage Zit Rock Angst
1995, ,
Garage Rock/Punk
Various
Ferrara's Enchanted Jukebox
2020, CDr, Comp, Mixtape, Unofficial, Not On Label