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Thomas Lehn


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Pianist and analogue synthesizer player Thomas Lehn is a composer-performer of contemporary music. His academic education enfolds studies of recording engineering at the Hochschule für Musik Detmold in Germany in 1979-1980 as well as classical and as jazz piano at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne 1980-1987. Since the 1980s he has been performing as an interpreting pianist, both, contemporary new music including numerous first performances and traditional composed music of the classical/romantical period. Parallel to this work as a pianist, since the early 1990s he extensively developed activities in international colloborations as a performer of live-electronic music based on the sound synthesis of analogue synthesizers of the late 1960s, utilizing almost exclusively the EMS Synthi A. Performing majorly his own electronic music, he has been extending his work by live- and studio-produced synthesizer interpretations of electronic compositions by composers like Boguslav Schaeffer, Éliane Radigue, Peter Jakober, Anthony Pateras a.m.o. . International collaborations enclosure long term and newer ensembles as well as involvements in numerous specific projects employing either merely music, or, music in combination with other artistic practices (dance, film, video, multimedia, performance etc.). Long term working ensembles include the trios KONK PACK, TOOT, THERMAL, the duos works with Marcus Schmickler, Tiziana Bertoncini, Gerry Hemingway, Paul Lovens, Frédéric Blondy Urs Leimgruber and John Butcher, as well as other formations like MIMEO, SPEAK EASY, SHIFT, 6IX, a.m.o. Furthermore, he is pianist and founding member of the ensemble]h[iatus, a project dedicated to the both practices of interpratation and improvisation. More recently established ensembles are the duos with the video artist Kjell Bjørgeengen and percussionist Roger Turner, as well as two trio formations shared together with John Butcher involving the pianists John Tilbury and Matthew Shipp.

ALBUMS


ErbtMäderAmBerg? & Lehn*
In Echoes' Shadow
2025, 5xFile, WAV, Album, Veto Records (3)
LDL (2), Urs Leimgruber, Jacques Demierre, Thomas Lehn
In The Endless Wind
2024, CD, Album, Ltd, Wide Ear Records
Schindler* & Lehn*
Basis Acoustronics
2024, 4xFile, FLAC, Album, Arch-Musik
Thomas Lehn, Tiziana Bertoncini
Live at Saint-Merri
2024, File, WAV, MiniAlbum, ANTI MATTER PLANT
John Butcher, Thomas Lehn, John Tilbury
Lights
2023, CD, ,
Free Improvisation
Butcher* ⊳ Lehn* ⊳ Robair*
Shaped & Chased
2022, LP, Album, Ltd, Ni-Vu-Ni-Connu, ,
Free Improvisation
Lehn* & Strid*
Live At Anagram, 2000
2022, 3xFile, FLAC, Album, Not On Label (Raymond Strid Self-released)
Ken Vandermark, Matthias Muche, Thomas Lehn, Martin Blume
Soundbridges
2022, CD, Album, Jazzwerkstatt, ,
Free Jazz
Olaf Rupp + Thomas Lehn
Live At The CCA Glasgow 04​/​09​/​1999
2021, 3xFile, FLAC, scatterArchive
J. Butcher* - T. Lehn* - M. Shipp*
The Clawed Stone
2020, CD, Album, Rogueart, ,
Free Jazz/Avant-garde Jazz
Jean-Marc Foussat & Thomas Lehn
Spie(l)gelungen
2020, CD, Album, Fou Records, ,
Abstract/Experimental/Free Improvisation
Urs Leimgruber, Jacques Demierre, Barre Phillips*, Thomas Lehn
Willisau
2019, CD, Album, Jazzwerkstatt, Jazzwerkstatt
Christopher Fox / WDR Sinfonieorchester*, Ilan Volkov / John Butcher & Thomas Lehn / Axel Dörner & Paul Lovens
Topophony
2018, ,
Contemporary/Free Improvisation
Thomas Lehn & Marcus Schmickler
Neue Bilder
2017, CD, Album, Mikroton Recordings
John Butcher, Thomas Lehn, Matthew Shipp
Tangle
2016, CD, Album, Ltd, Fataka, ,
Free Improvisation
Thomas Lehn, Richard Scott, Axel Dörner
Orbit, Dialogue And Trajectory: Live In Berlin
2015
John Butcher, Thomas Lehn, John Tilbury
Exta
2013, CD, Album, Ltd, Fataka, ,
Free Improvisation
Hans W. Koch, Thomas Lehn, Ben Patterson, Jozef Cseres
Requiem For A Baby Grand
2012, DVD-V, NTSC, Dob, PANREC, HEyeRMEarS/DISCORBIE
Tiziana Bertoncini / Thomas Lehn
Horsky Park
2011, CD, Album, Another Timbre, ,
Free Improvisation
Thomas Lehn / Marcus Schmickler
Live Double Séance [Antaa Kalojen Uida]
2011, ,
Abstract/Experimental/Noise/Free Improvisation
Bertrand Gauguet, Franz Hautzinger, Thomas Lehn
Close Up
2009, CD, Album, Monotype Records, ,
Abstract/Experimental/Minimal
Leimgruber* / Lehn*
Lausanne
2009, CD, Album, For 4 Ears
Frédéric Blondy / Thomas Lehn
Obdo
2008, CD, Album, Another Timbre
Lehn* / Schmickler*
Navigation Im Hypertext
2008, CD, Album, a-Musik, ,
Abstract/Industrial/Experimental
Lehn* / Schmickler*
Kölner Kranz
2008, LP, Album, Ltd, A-Musik, ,
Abstract/Industrial/Experimental
Tom & Gerry (2) : Gerry Hemingway, Thomas Lehn
Kinetics
2008, CD, Album, Auricle Records
ERIKM, Luc Ferrari & Thomas Lehn
Les Protorythmiques
2007, CD, Album, Room40
Johannes Bauer / Jon Rose / Thomas Lehn
Futch
2007, CD, Album, Jazzwerkstatt, Jazzwerkstatt
Ivar Grydeland / Thomas Lehn / Ingar Zach
Szc Zcz Cze Zec Eci Cin
2006, CD, Musica Genera
Frank Gratkowski / Thomas Lehn / Melvyn Poore
Triskaidekaphonia
2006, CD, Album, Leo Records
Keith Rowe / Toshimaru Nakamura / Thomas Lehn / Marcus Schmickler
Untitled
2004, CD, Erstwhile Records, ,
Abstract/Experimental
Mary Oliver / Thomas Lehn / Han Bennink
Pica Pica
2004, CD, Mini, Instant Composers Pool
Keith Rowe / Thomas Lehn / Marcus Schmickler
Rabbit Run
2003, CD, Album, Erstwhile Records, ,
Abstract/Experimental/Free Improvisation
Lehn* - Strid*
Here There
2003, 7", Fylkingen Records, Fylkingen Records
Thomas Lehn / Paul Lovens
Achtung
2003, CD, Album, GROB
Durrant* / Lehn* / Malfatti*
Dach
2001, CD, Album, Erstwhile Records
Moor*, Lehn*, Butcher*
Thermal
2001, CD, Album, Unsounds, ,
Abstract/Experimental
Wolfgang Fuchs / Thomas Lehn / Fabrizio Spera
Lingua
2001, CD, Album, Oaksmus
Thomas Lehn / Marcus Schmickler
BART
2000, CD, Album, Erstwhile Records
Thomas Lehn
Feldstärken
2000, CD, Album, Random Acoustics (2)
Phil Durrant / Thomas Lehn / Radu Malfatti
Beinhaltung
2000, CD, Album, Ltd, Num, Fringes Recordings
Christmann* / Lehn*
Temps Durée
1999, CDr, Album, Ltd, Num, Edition Explico
Hirt* / Theurer* / Lehn*
Trinidad
1999, CDr, Album, Happy Few Records (2)
Sue Schlotte, Gunda Gottschalk, Joachim Zoepf, Thomas Lehn, Erhard Hirt, Paul Hubweber, Martin Theurer
U Boot Party
1999, CDr, Album, Happy Few Records (2)
Thomas Lehn, Erhard Hirt, Martin Theurer
Zwei + Zwei Sind Drei, 2. Konzert
1998, CDr, Album, Happy Few Records (2), ,
Free Jazz/Free Improvisation
Tiziana Bertoncini / Thomas Lehn
Tiziana Bertoncini / Thomas Lehn
CDr, Promo, Not On Label
Die Klangräumer
Mangelware
1996, CD, Album, Hybrid Music Productions
Soundbridges
The Red And The Blue
2024, LP, Album, Idyllic Noise
Thermal
Ice In A Hot World
2023, CD, Album, Unsounds, ,
Free Improvisation
Urs Leimgruber
Air Vol. 1
2023, 4xCD, Album, Creative Works Records
Urs Leimgruber, Jim Baker, Jason Roebke
Elastic
2021, CD, Album, Creative Works Records
Katharina Klement
Schütten
2020, CD, Album, Austrian Gramophone
Speak Easy
@ Konfrontationen
2019, CDr, Album, Confront, ,
Free Improvisation
ensemble]h[iatus / Peter Jakober
Peter Jakober / ensemble]h[iatus
2017, CD, Album, Césaré, ,
Contemporary/Free Improvisation/Experimental
LHZ+H
Scope
2012, CD, Album, Monotype Records
Shift
Songs From Aipotu
2011, CD, Album, Leo Records, ,
Free Improvisation
Artifact iTi
Artifact: iTi Live In St. Johann
2010, CD, Album, Okka Disk, ,
Free Improvisation
Konk Pack
The Black Hills
2010, CD, Album, GROB
Speak Easy
Backchats
2009, CD, Album, Creative Sources, ,
Free Improvisation
Toot
Two
2008, CD, Album, Another Timbre, ,
Free Improvisation
The Cortet
HHHH
2005, CD, Album, Unsounds
Konk Pack
Warp Out
2001, CD, Album, GROB
Vario-50
The Art Of The Duo
2017, CDr, Ltd, Num, Edition Explico, ,
Free Improvisation
Konk Pack
Doing The Splash
2013, CD, Album, Megaphone Records (3), Knock'em Dead Records, ,
Free Improvisation
6ix
Almost Even Further
2012, CD, Leo Records
MIMEO
Wigry
2011, 2xLP, Album, Bôłt, Monotype Records
John Butcher Group
Somethingtobesaid
2009
James Choice Orchestra
Live At Musik Triennale Köln
2008, CD, Album, Leo Records
MIMEO
Sight
2007, CD, Album, Cathnor Recordings, ,
Abstract/Experimental/Free Improvisation
Scott Fields Ensemble
We Were The Phliks
2007, CD, Album, Rogueart
James Choice Orchestra
Live At Moers
2007, CD, Album, Moers Music, ,
Free Jazz
Toot
One
2005, CD, Sofa
MIMEO
Lifting Concrete Lightly
2004, 3xCD, Album, Serpentine Gallery, ,
Abstract/Experimental/Free Improvisation
Konk Pack
Off Leash
2004, CD, Album, GROB
E-Rax
Live At The Bimhuis 1999
2000, CD, Album, Ltd, Num, X-OR
MIMEO
Electric Chair + Table
1999, 2xCD, Album, GROB, ,
Abstract/Free Improvisation/Experimental
Konk Pack
Big Deep
1999, CD, Album, GROB, ,
Free Improvisation
Chadlehn
C Inside
1999, CD, GROB
Tom & Gerry
Fire Works
1999, CD, Album, Umbrella (3)
MIMEO
Queue
1998, CDr, ,
Abstract/Experimental/Free Improvisation
Vario-34*
Vario-34
1995
Linguafonie
3
CD, Album, Laboratorio D'Improvovisazione Italo-Tedesco

APPEARANCES +


Thomas Lehn
Ihre Vergangenheit / Her Past
2014, DVD, PAL, Verlag filmarchiv austria, ,
Soundtrack/Contemporary/Experimental
6ix
Nothing More
2015, 2xFile, FLAC, Otoroku, ,
Free Improvisation
Vario 34-3*
Free Improvised Music
2020, CD, Album, Corbett vs. Dempsey
Roman Haubenstock-Ramati / Reinhold Friedl / Peter Ablinger / Mark Fell
Decisions / Study In Forms
2020, 2xCD, Album, Enh, Bôłt
Roman Haubenstock-Ramati / Reinhold Friedl / Peter Ablinger / Mark Fell
Decisions
2020, CD, Album, Enh, Bôłt
Various
The Art Of The Duo - 2
2018, CDr, Ltd, Num, Edition Explico
Mats Gustafsson And Friends
MG 50 – Peace & Fire
2016, Box + 4xCD, Trost Records
Gerry Hemingway
Kernelings
2014, CD, Album + DVD-V, Auricle Records
Various
DAMN!
2014, CDr, Comp, Chmafu Nocords
Various
PRES Scores
2013, 2xCD, Album, Bôłt
Domenico Sciajno
Sonic Shuffle / The App Release
2013, M/Stick, Ltd, of + Box, Bowindo
Bogusław Schaeffer
Assemblage
2012, 2xCD, Album, Bôłt, DUX Recording Producers
Various
Instant Composers Pool
2012, 52xCD, Album, RE, RM + 2xDVD-V, RE, RM + Box, Comp, Instant Composers Pool, ,
Free Jazz/Free Improvisation
Various
Unlimited 23
2011, DVDr, DVD-V, PAL, PanRec, ,
Free Jazz/Punk/Free Improvisation
Scott Fields & Multiple Joyce Orchestra
Moersbow / Ozzo
2011, CD, Album, Clean Feed, ,
Contemporary Jazz/Free Improvisation
Various
Noise Of Cologne 1
2010, CD, Comp, Mark e.V.
Domenico Sciajno
Doves Days In Palermo
2009, CD, Bowindo
The Ex
The Convoy Tour: 25 Years Of The Ex
2009, DVD, NTSC, Ex Records
Various
Live From The Devil's Triangle Volume 12
2009, 2xCD, Album, Comp, Ltd, KFJC, ,
Ambient/Crust/Black Metal/Avantgarde/Garage Rock/Psychedelic Rock/Avant-garde Jazz
Speak Easy
The Loft Concert
2009, DVDr, ,
Free Improvisation
Euphorium_freakestra
Free Electric Supergroup
2008, 2xCD, Album, Euphorium Records, ,
Free Improvisation
Various
November Music 2008
2008, CD, Comp, November Music
Vario-44
Vario-44
2007, CDr, Ltd, Num, Edition Explico
E-Rax
Antics
2004, DVD, NTSC, Institute For Improvisation
2nd Outlet
Burnt Sienna
2004, CD, Album, Nuscope Recordings, ,
Free Improvisation
Josef Novotny, Thomas Klinger
Austernbucht Und Filibuster
2004, CD, Album, Extraplatte, Extraplatte, ,
Radioplay/Experimental/Poetry
Various
60 Sound Artists Protest The War
2003, CD, Comp, Atak, ,
Abstract/Experimental
Various
Total Music Meeting 2002 - Audiology II » 11 Groups Live In Berlin
2003, CD, a/l/l, ,
Free Jazz/Free Improvisation
Various
Feedback Studio Köln
2003, CD, Album, Cybele, Deutsche Gesellschaft Für Elektroakustische Musik
MIMEO / John Tilbury
The Hands Of Caravaggio
2002, CD, Album, Erstwhile Records, ,
Abstract/Experimental/Free Improvisation
Various
See The Sound, Hear The Space (November Music 2002)
2002, CD, Comp, November Music
Gerry Hemingway
Songs
2002
Antasten
Excentriques
2001, CD, Album, Loewenhertz
Antasten
Echos An Den Kegelrändern
2001, CD, Album, Loewenhertz
Shabotinski
(B)ypass (K)ill
2000, CD, Album, Charhizma, Plag Dich Nicht
Michael Rüsenberg
Kölner Brücken Sinfonie
2000, CD, Album, Artelier Music, ,
Field Recording
Burkhard Stangl • Oswald Egger
Venusmond - Oper Als Topos
2000, CD, Album, Quell Records
John Butcher
Music On Seven Occasions
2000, ,
Free Improvisation
Thomas Lehn & Gerry Hemingway*
Tom & Gerry
1999, 2xCD, Album, Erstwhile Records
Vario 34-2*
* Water Writes Always In * Plural
1999, CD, Album, Concepts Of Doing
Various
10 X Humannoise Congress
1999, CDr, Comp, Kooperative New Jazz Wiesbaden E.V.
Various
Das Eigene - Grabenfesttage 1998
1999, CD, Album, Ltd, Extraplatte
Eugene Chadbourne
Doc Chad Banjo Book
CDr, Not On Label,
Various
Polish Radio Experimental Studio Revisited 1998-2018
2018, CD, Comp, Wire Magazine, ,
Abstract/Experimental
Various
Or The Other - Multiphonics Im Werkhaus Muenzviertel (2014-2017)
2018, CD, Ltd, Not On Label, ,
Free Improvisation/Free Jazz/Avant-garde Jazz/Experimental
Various
Pounding Ponc
2015, CD, Comp, Moravská galerie, ,
Experimental
Ben Vida
RootBlogMix – 03122012
2012, File, MP3, Mixed, 192, Root Strata, ,
Experimental
Ute Wassermann
A Retrospective Tribute / 1984-2012
2011, 14xFile, MP3, 320, Audition Records, ,
Experimental/Free Improvisation/Vocal
Various
MonotypeRec. Sampler 01
2010, CD, Smplr, Monotype Records
Various
Amplify 2002 3/4
2004, 2xCD, Erstwhile Records
Various
t-u-b-e ⎮ reloaded 2004
2004, DVD-V, Comp, artist.cd
Various
AMPLIFY 2002 / Balance
2003, 7xCD + DVD-V + Box, Erstwhile Records, ,
Abstract/Free Improvisation/Experimental/Interview
Various
Luisterpost (2002 / 2003)
2003, 2xCD, Album, Ltd, Lokaal 01
Various
Touch: Ringtones
2001, CD, Album, Touch, ,
Abstract/Noise/Field Recording/Experimental
Various
Impakt 2000
2000, CD, Comp, Impakt, ,
Glitch/IDM/Future Jazz/Experimental