Richie Beirach
Encyclopedia
Richard "Richie" Beirach (born May 23, 1947) is a jazz pianist
and composer
born in New York City
.
He initially studied both classical and jazz before entering the Berklee College of Music
.
In 1972 he began working with Stan Getz
. He also worked with Chet Baker
and in the 1990s worked well with Swedish saxophonist Henrik Frisk. He maintained an ongoing musical partnership with David Liebman from the 1970s to the 90s, in Lookout Farm
, Quest and many duos.
Richie Beirach's style is influenced by Art Tatum
, Bill Evans
, McCoy Tyner
, Chick Corea
and his earlier classical training. It is also individualistic with many touches all its own. Several of his compositions, "Leaving" and "Elm" for instance, have found their way into the jazz standard repertoire.
With John Abercrombie
Jazz piano
Jazz piano is a collective term for the techniques pianists use when playing jazz. The piano has been an integral part of the jazz idiom since its inception, in both solo and ensemble settings. Its role is multifaceted due largely to the instrument's combined melodic and harmonic capabilities...
and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
He initially studied both classical and jazz before entering the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
.
In 1972 he began working with Stan Getz
Stan Getz
Stanley Getz was an American jazz saxophone player. Getz was known as "The Sound" because of his warm, lyrical tone, his prime influence being the wispy, mellow timbre of his idol, Lester Young. Coming to prominence in the late 1940s with Woody Herman's big band, Getz is described by critic Scott...
. He also worked with Chet Baker
Chet Baker
Chesney Henry "Chet" Baker, Jr. was an American jazz trumpeter, flugelhornist and singer.Though his music earned him a large following , Baker's popularity was due in part to his "matinee idol-beauty" and "well-publicized drug habit."He died in 1988 in Amsterdam, the...
and in the 1990s worked well with Swedish saxophonist Henrik Frisk. He maintained an ongoing musical partnership with David Liebman from the 1970s to the 90s, in Lookout Farm
Lookout Farm (album)
Lookout Farm is an album by American jazz saxophonist Dave Liebman recorded in 1973 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Michael G...
, Quest and many duos.
Richie Beirach's style is influenced by Art Tatum
Art Tatum
Arthur "Art" Tatum, Jr. was an American jazz pianist and virtuoso who played with phenomenal facility despite being nearly blind.Tatum is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time...
, Bill Evans
Bill Evans
William John Evans, known as Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie...
, McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
, Chick Corea
Chick Corea
Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea is an American jazz pianist, keyboardist, and composer.Many of his compositions are considered jazz standards. As a member of Miles Davis' band in the 1960s, he participated in the birth of the electric jazz fusion movement. In the 1970s he formed Return to Forever...
and his earlier classical training. It is also individualistic with many touches all its own. Several of his compositions, "Leaving" and "Elm" for instance, have found their way into the jazz standard repertoire.
As leader
- EonEon (album)Eon is an album by American jazz pianist and composer Richard Beirach recorded in 1974 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Chuck Berg awarded the album 2½ stars calling it a "well-programmed set"....
(ECM, 1974) - Forgotten Fantasies with David Liebman (Horizon, 1975)
- Zal
- Methuselah (1975)
- Leaving with Jeremy SteigJeremy Steig-Biography:Steig is the son of New Yorker cartoonist William Steig,At age 19 Steig was involved in a motorcycle accident which left him paralyzed on one side...
(Storyville, 1976) - HubrisHubris (album)Hubris is a solo album by American jazz pianist and composer Richard Beirach recorded in 1977 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Stephen Cook awarded the album 3 stars stating "Beirach showed off his Bill Evans-tinged style and revealed his own brand of soft melancholy...
(ECM, 1977) - Sunday Song
- Omertà with David Liebman (Trio/Storyville 1978)
- ElmElm (album)Elm is an album by American jazz pianist and composer Richard Beirach recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by David R...
(ECM, 1979) - Elegy for Bill Evans (Palo Alto RecordsPalo Alto RecordsPalo Alto Records was a jazz record label that released most of its discography in the 1980s. The label was founded in 1981 by Jim Benham, who was a Palo Alto, California resident. The artistic director was Herb Wong. In 1985 the company ceased its activities...
1981) - Breathing Of Statues (Magenta/CMP 1982)
- Continuum (Baybridge/Eastwind 1983)
- Antarctica (Pathfinder 1985)
- Double edge with David Liebman (1985)
- The Duo live with David Liebman (1985)
- Ballads (Sony 1986)
- Ballads 2 (Sony 1987)
- Emerald City with John Abercrombie (Pathfinder 1987)
- Common Heart (Owl 1987)
- Water Lilies (Sony)
- Inamorata (Sony)
- Themes and Impromptu Variations (Sony)
- Some Other Time: A Tribute To Chet Baker (Triloka 1989)
- Convergence with George Coleman (1991) U.S. Top Jazz Albums #14
- Chant with David Liebman
- Live At The Maybeck Recital Hall, Vol. 19Maybeck Recital HallMaybeck Recital Hall, also known as Maybeck Studio for Performing Arts, is located inside the Kennedy-Nixon House in Berkeley, California, USA. It was built in 1914 by Bernard Maybeck. The hall seats up to 50 people and was designed upon commission for the Nixon family, local arts patrons who...
(Concord Jazz 1992) - Trust (Transheart)
- Too grand with Andy Laverne (1992)
- Universal mind with Andy Laverne (1993)
- The Snow Leopard (Alfa 1996)
- What is this thing called love? (Venus)
- Romantic Rhapsody (Venus)
- No borders (Venus)
- Manhattan Reverie (Venus)
- "The Duo Session" with Laurie Antonioli (2006)
- Duality- the first ten years (Niveau Records/Nuromusic 2007)
- Summer Night (Venus 2008)
As sideman
With George AdamsGeorge Adams (musician)
George Rufus Adams was an American jazz musician who played tenor saxophone, flute and bass clarinet. He is best known for his work with Charles Mingus, Gil Evans, Roy Haynes and in the quartet he co-led with pianist Don Pullen, featuring bassist Cameron Brown and drummer Dannie Richmond...
- Sound SuggestionsSound SuggestionsSound Suggestions is an album by the American jazz saxophonist George Adams recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 4 stars stating "The playing is advanced but not as fiery as most of Adams' later sets".-Track listing:# "Baba" ...
(ECM, 1979)
With John Abercrombie
John Abercrombie (guitarist)
John Abercrombie is an American jazz guitarist, whose work often explores jazz fusion and post bop. Abercrombie has played with Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette, Michael Brecker and Randy Brecker...
- ArcadeArcade (John Abercrombie album)Arcade is an album by guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in 1978 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 3 stars.-Track listing:# "Arcade" - 9:36# "Nightlake" - 5:31# "Paramour" - 5:06...
(ECM, 1978) - Abercrombie QuartetAbercrombie QuartetAbercrombie Quartet is an album by guitarist John Abercrombie recorded in 1979 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review awarded the album 2½ stars.-Track listing:# "Blue Wolf" - 8:20# "Dear Rain" - 6:49...
(ECM, 1979) - MM (album)M is an album by guitarist John Abercrombie's Quartet recorded in 1980 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:The Allmusic review by Jim Todd awarded the album 2½ stars stating "If only all of this set were as brilliantly melodic and driving as its best three tracks".-Track listing:# "Boat Song"...
(ECM, 1980)