Patrick Zimmerli, Composer, Performer, Producer, Presenter
Awards and Commissions (2010-present)
| Date | Title | Organization |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Children of Bronzeville, Song Cycle for Piano and Voice | Greater Cincinnati Foundation |
| 2019 | Messages | Seattle Commissioning Club |
| 2018 | Concerto for Flute and Orchestra | Jasmine Choi, NY Classical Players |
| 2018 | Anthems, for full Chorus SSAATTBB a cappella (Updating of the European National Anthem, with lyrics in 62 languages) | Mikrokosmos Vocal Ensemble |
| 2017 | Alan Seeger: Instrument of Destiny (Evening-length Oratorio based on the poems, diaries and letters of the WWI poet) | Florence Gould Foundation |
| 2017 | Komm, for full Chorus (Composition based on JS Bach for Jumala, a show for Choir and Taiko drums) | Mikrokosmos Vocal Ensemble |
| 2016 | Waterfall/Gathering Pools, for 12 Percussionists | |
| 2015 | Clockworks, for Tenor Sax, Piano, Bass, and Drums | |
| 2015 | Sleight of Hand, for Solo Percussion | Concerts de Poche, France |
| 2015 | Aspects of Darkness and Light, for Joshua Redman et al | Seattle Commissioning Club |
| 2014 | Signs of Life, for Jazz Piano and Classical Marimba | Bulgarian Cultural Commission |
| 2014 | Brownian Motion, for Symphonic Band | Brown Univ. 250th Anniversary |
| 2013 | Sappho Songs, for Luciana Souza and Gary Versace | Wigmore Hall, London |
| 2013 | Quintet for Saxophone, Strings, and Piano | Festival Mozaic, California |
| 2012 | Sonata Kol Nidrei, for Solo Cello | Lev Aronson Project/Brian Thornton |
| 2011 | Introduction and Allegro, for 2 Pianos/ Residency | Music in the Loft, Chicago, Illinois |
| 2010 | Festival Overture, for Full Orchestra | Colorado Music Festival “Click” People’s Commission |
Recordings
| Title | Artist | Year | Label | Role |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book of Dreams | Patrick Zimmerli | 2020 | Nouvelle | Composer, Saxophone |
| Sun on Sand | Joshua Redman + Brooklyn Rider | 2019 | Nonesuch | Composer, Producer |
| Day after Day | Ben Monder | 2019 | Sunnyside | Producer |
| Clockworks | Patrick Zimmerli | 2018 | Songlines | Composer, Saxophone |
| So Many Things | A-S von Otter | 2016 | Naïve | Arranger |
| Shores Against Silence | Patrick Zimmerli | 2016 | Songlines | Composer, Saxophone |
| Signs of Life | Thomas Encho + V. Serafimova | 2016 | Deutsche Grammophon | Composer |
| Walking Shadows | Joshua Redman + Brad Mehldau | 2013 | Nonesuch | Arranger |
| Lev Aronson Project | Brian Thornton | 2012 | Telarc | Composer |
| Modern Music | Brad Mehldau + Kevin Hays | 2011 | Nonesuch | Composer, Arranger, Producer |
| Variations | Kevin Hays | 2011 | Pirouet | Producer |
| River of Light | Timothy Fain | 2011 | Naxos | Composer |
| Stone and Steel | Kristina Reiko Cooper | 2008 | Koch | Composer, Arranger, Producer |
| Piano Trios No. 1 & 2 | Scott Yoo et al | 2006 | Arabesque | Composer |
| Phoenix | Patrick Zimmerli | 2004 | Songlines | Composer, Arranger, Saxophone, Producer |
| Book of Hours | Octurn | 2002 | Songlines | Composer, Saxophone, Producer |
| Expansions | Patrick Zimmerli | 2000 | Songlines | Composer, Saxophone, Producer |
| Twelve Sacred Dances | Patrick Zimmerli | 1998 | Arabesque | Composer, Saxophone |
| Explosion | Patrick Zimmerli | 1996 | Songlines | Composer, Saxophone |
Performance Highlights
| 2020 | Premiere of Concerto for Flute, Percussion and Strings, Jasmine Choi, flute, Satoshi Takeishi, percussion, New York Classical Players, Dongmin Kim, cond. |
| 2019 | NYC Premiere of Alan Seeger: Instrument of Destiny at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine |
| 2017 | Premiere of Oratorio Alan Seeger: Instrument of Destiny at the Invalides, Paris |
| 2016-18 | Premiere of Clockworks at Poisson Rouge; CD release at Ecstatic Music Festival |
| 2015 | Conducted premiere of full orchestral version of the Concerto #2 for Piano and Percussion in Sala Sao Paolo, Brazil, with pianist Sonia Rubinsky and the TUCCA Orchestra |
| 2014 | Premiered Sappho Songs with Luciana Souza and Gary Versace at Wigmore Hall, London |
| 2014 | Conducted world premiere of Aspects of Darkness and Light with Joshua Redman, Escher String Quartet, Scott Colley and Satoshi Takeishi at Wigmore Hall, London |
| 2011-13 | Pianists Brad Mehldau and Kevin Hays toured Modern Music worldwide, performing at such venues as Carnegie Hall in NYC, Salle Pleyel in Paris, and the Vienna Konzerthaus |
Selected Recent Press Quotes
“Clockworks is a major accomplishment…a highly structured, optimistic work that runs through a course of mind-bending variations and ends on a strong, singable melody.”– DownBeat editors pick
“…marvelous lyrical, witty and emotive suite…engaging songs teeming with improvisational flair and in some stretches polyrhythmic glee…More spins recommended.” – Dan Ouellette
“Zimmerli has a natural affinity for shifting intricacies and formal convolutions.” – WBGO Radio
“…melds the spontaneity and exuberance of jazz with the complexity and rigor of the modernist composers he admires.” – The New Yorker
Selected Writings and Interviews
Josh Redman and Brooklyn Rider on NPR’s Soundcheck, May 2017
Interview with Ethan Iverson on Do the Math
Time is Flat Nov 2016 New Music Box
Jazz and Classical— Musical, Cultural, Listening Differences Nov 2016 New Music Box
WWFM Interview
Neon Jazz Interview
Curation
2019 (In Production) Curator, Then and Now: New Music and Roots, National Sawdust, Brooklyn, NY, in conjunction with WNET Public Television, NYC
- Conceived series of concerts juxtaposing new pieces with classics that influenced them. The series will be based in classical music but will also cover jazz and possibly indy pop and other genres, showing how music evolves from its sources.
- Concerts will be concurrent with a TV series on WNET’s new AllArts Channel.
2016-17 Curator, IN/TER\SECT Festival, Bryant Park, NYC
- Conceived series of jazz and classical music for Manhattan’s Bryant Park combining classical music and jazz at the nexus of new creation.
- Selected ensembles according to an aesthetic of high-quality, innovative but audience-friendly music whose broad stylistic range also encompassed electronics and even rap.
- Coordinated with Chamber Music America to ensure that their grantees were well-represented on the series.
Teaching
| 2017-18 | Paris Conservatoire |
| 2011-13 | Professor in Jazz, Sciences Po, Paris |
| 2005-10 | Professor in Classical Music Theory, Columbia University |
| 2010-present | Coachings with established jazz and classical musicians |
| 2003-2005 | Composer in Residence, Metamorphosen Chamber Orchestra |
Education
- DMA/MPhil, Columbia University, 2000/1996
- BA, Columbia University, 1990