Richie Beirach

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Richie Beirach
Richie Beirach.jpg
Richie Beirach in the 1980s
Background information
Birth nameRichard Alan Beirach
Born (1947-05-23) 23 May 1947 (age 76)
New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres Jazz
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
Instrument(s)Piano
Years active1972–present
Labels ECM
Website richiebeirach.com

Richard Alan Beirach (born 23 May 1947) is an American jazz pianist and composer.

Contents

Early life

Beirach was born in New York City. He initially studied both classical music and jazz. While still attending high school, he took lessons from pianist Lennie Tristano. [1] Beirach later entered the Berklee College of Music. After one year, he left Berklee and began attending the Manhattan School of Music. While there, he studied with Ludmilla Ulehla. In 1972, he graduated from the Manhattan School of Music with a Master's Degree in Music Theory and Composition.

Career

In 1972 Beirach began working with Stan Getz. He also worked with Chet Baker. Beirach has maintained an ongoing musical partnership with David Liebman from the late-1960s to the present in the groups Lookout Farm and Quest. In addition, Liebman and Beirach have frequently performed and recorded as a duo.

Several of Beirach's compositions – "Leaving" and "Elm", for instance – have found their way into the jazz standard repertoire.

Playing style

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.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes
1974 Eon ECM Trio, with Frank Tusa (bass), Jeff Williams (drums)
1975MethuselahTrioTrio, with Frank Tusa (bass, electric bass), Jeff Williams (drums)
1975 Forgotten Fantasies A&M Horizon Duo, with Dave Liebman (tenor sax, soprano sax, echoplex, phase shifter, alto flute)
1975Sunday SongTrioDuo, with Frank Tusa (bass)
1976ZalTrioOne track solo piano; three tracks duo, with Yoshiaki Masuo  [ ja ] (guitar); two tracks duo with Terumasa Hino (flugelhorn, trumpet)
1976 Leaving Trio/Storyville Duo, with Jeremy Steig (alto flute, soprano flute, bass flute, piccolo)
1977 Hubris ECM Solo piano
1978 Omerta Trio/Storyville Duo, with Dave Liebman (tenor sax, soprano sax, alto flute)
1978KahunaTrioOne track solo piano; one track duo, with Masahiko Togashi (percussion)
1979 Elm ECM Trio, with George Mraz (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums)
1981Elegy for Bill Evans Palo Alto Trio, with George Mraz (bass), Al Foster (drums)
1981RendezvousIPIDuo, with George Mraz (bass)
1981Live in Tokyo: Solo ConcertBreak TimeSolo piano; in concert; also released by PJL as Complete Solo Concert 1981 with two extra tracks
1982Breathing of StatuesMagenta/CMPSolo piano
1983ContinuumBaybridge/Eastwind Solo piano
1984Ayers RockPolydorTrio, with Terumasa Hino (trumpet), Masahiko Togashi (percussion)
1985 Antarctica PathfinderSolo piano
1985Double EdgeStoryvilleDuo, with Dave Liebman
1985The Duo: LiveAdvanceDuo, with Dave Liebman
1986Ballads Sony Japan Solo piano
1987Ballads 2 Sony Japan Solo piano
1987?Water Lilies: Richie Beirach Plays Musical Portraits of Claude Monet Sony Japan
1987 Emerald City Pathfinder/EvidenceDuo, with John Abercrombie (guitar synth)
1987 Common Heart OwlSolo piano
1989Some Other Time: A Tribute to Chet BakerTrilokaWith Randy Brecker (trumpet, flugelhorn), Michael Brecker (tenor sax), John Scofield (guitar), George Mraz (bass), Adam Nussbaum (drums)
1989?ChantCMPDuo, with Dave Liebman
1990ConvergenceTrilokaDuo, with George Coleman (tenor sax, soprano sax)
1990InamorataEAUSolo piano
1990Self PortraitsCMPSolo piano
1990–91Sunday Songs Blue Note Solo piano
1991Themes and Impromptu VariationsEAUSolo piano
1992The Duo SessionNabelDuo, with Laurie Antonioli (vocals)
1992 Richie Beirach at Maybeck Concord Jazz Solo piano; in concert
1992Too Grand SteepleChase Duo, with Andy LaVerne (piano)
1993Universal Mind SteepleChase Duo, with Andy LaVerne (piano)
1993TrustEvidenceTrio, with Dave Holland (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums)
1994Solo Piano Recital: Live in JapanLabel Les JungleSolo piano; in concert
1996–97The Snow LeopardAlfa/EvidenceMost tracks trio, with George Mraz (bass), Billy Hart (drums); some tracks quartet, with Gregor Huebner (violin) added
1997Freedom JoyTrialDuo, with Masahiko Togashi (percussion)
1998New York RhapsodyTokumaDuo, with Gregor Huebner (violin)
1999What Is This Thing Called Love? Venus Trio, with George Mraz, Billy Hart (drums)
1999Round About Bartok ACT Trio, with George Mraz (bass), Gregor Huebner (violin)
2000Romantic Rhapsody Venus Trio, with George Mraz, Billy Hart (drums)
2001Round About Federico Mompou ACT Trio, with George Mraz (bass), Gregor Huebner (violin)
2002Round About Monteverdi ACT Trio, with George Mraz (bass), Gregor Huebner (violin)
2002No Borders Venus Most tracks trio, with George Mraz, Billy Hart (drums); some tracks quartet, with Gregor Huebner (violin) added
2006Manhattan Reverie Venus Trio, with George Mraz, Billy Hart (drums)
2007Duality: The First Ten YearsNiveau/NuromusicDuo, with Gregor Huebner (violin)
2007Summer Night Venus Trio, with George Mraz, Billy Hart (drums)
2008?Crossing OverNiveauSolo piano
2008Jazz Adagio Venus Solo piano
2009UnspokenOutnoteDuo, with Dave Liebman (tenor sax, soprano sax, flute)
2009Quest for FreedomSunnysideWith Dave Liebman (soprano sax, flute), Frankfurt Radio Bigband
2010KnowingleeOutnoteTrio, with Lee Konitz (alto sax, soprano sax), Dave Liebman (tenor sax, soprano sax)
2010Impressions of Tokyo: Ancient City of the FutureOutnoteSolo piano
2012Live at Birdland New York ACT Quintet, with Gregor Huebner (violin), Randy Brecker (trumpet), George Mraz (bass), Billy Hart (drums); in concert
2016/17AftermathJazzlineQuartet, with Dave Liebman (tenor sax, soprano sax, wooden flute, c-flute), Florian Van Volxem (buchla synthesizer), Leo Henrichs (modified tympani, gong)
2017Gaia, The New Richie Beirach TrioJazzsickTrio, with Regina Litvinova (keyboards), Christian Scheuber (drums)
2018EmpathyJazzlineDuo, with Dave Liebman (tenor sax, soprano sax)
2019LifelinesJazzlineTrio, with Dave Liebman (tenor sax, soprano sax), Jack DeJohnette (drums)
2019Crossing BordersZohoDuo, with Gregor Huebner (violin) with the WDR Big Band
2019Live JazzsickQuartet, with Reiner Witzel (alto & soprano sax), Joscha Oetz (bass), Christian Scheuber (drums)
2020Avala JazzsickDuo, with Christian Scheuber (drums, percussion)
2020Heart Of DarknessJazzlineSolo piano
2022LeavingJazzlineSolo piano

As a member

Quest

As sideman

With George Adams

With John Abercrombie

With John Scofield

With Chet Baker

With Frank Tusa

With Dave Liebman

With Jeremy Steig

With Steve Davis

With Laurie Antonioli

With Ron McClure Trio

With George Mraz

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References

  1. Shim, Eunmi (2007). Lennie Tristano – His Life in Music . University of Michigan Press. p.  134. ISBN   978-0-472-11346-0.