Richie Beirach
| Richie Beirach | |
|---|---|
 Richie Beirach in the 1980s. | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Richard Beirach |
| Born | 23 May 1947 |
| Origin | New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, composer |
| Instruments | Piano |
| Associated acts | Stan Getz, Chet Baker, Henrik Frisk, David Liebman, Lookout Farm, Quest |
| Website | www.richiebeirach.com |
Richard Beirach (born 23 May 1947) is an American jazz pianist and composer.
Early life
Beirach was born in New York City. He initially studied both classical music and jazz. While still at 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
- Eon (ECM, 1974)
- Forgotten Fantasies with David Liebman (A&M Horizon, 1975)
- Sunday Song with Frank Tusa (Trio, 1975)
- Methuselah (Trio, 1975)
- Zal (Trio, 1976)
- Leaving with Jeremy Steig (Trio/Storyville, 1976)
- Hubris (ECM, 1977)
- Omerta with David Liebman (Trio/Storyville, 1978)
- Kahuna, Keeper of Secrets with Masahiko Togashi (Trio, 1978)
- Elm (ECM, 1979)
- Elegy for Bill Evans (Palo Alto Records, 1981)
- Rendezvous with George Mraz (IPI, 1981)
- Live in Tokyo: Solo Concert (Break Time, 1981); also released as Complete Solo Concert 1981 with two additional tracks (PJL, 1981)
- Breathing Of Statues (Magenta/CMP, 1982)
- Continuum (Baybridge/Eastwind, 1983)
- Antarctica (Pathfinder/Evidence, 1985)
- Double Edge with David Liebman (Storyville, 1985)
- The Duo: Live with David Liebman (Advance, 1985)
- Ballads (Sony Japan, 1986)
- Ballads 2 (Sony Japan, 1987)
- Water Lillies: Richie Beirach Plays Musical Portraits of Claude Monet (Sony Japan, 1987)
- Emerald City with John Abercrombie (Pathfinder/Evidence, 1987)
- Common Heart (Owl, 1987)
- Some Other Time: A Tribute To Chet Baker (Triloka 1989)
- Chant with David Liebman (CMP, 1989)
- Convergence with George Coleman (1990) U.S. Top Jazz Albums No. 14[2]
- Inamorata (EAU, 1990)
- Self Portraits (CMP, 1990)
- Sunday Songs (Blue Note, 1990)
- Themes and Impromptu Variations (EAU, 1991)
- Live at The Maybeck Recital Hall, Vol. 19 (Concord Jazz, 1992)
- Trust (Evidence, 1992)
- Too Grand with Andy LaVerne (SteepleChase, 1992)
- Universal Mind with Andy LaVerne (SteepleChase, 1993)
- Solo Piano Recital: Live in Japan (Label Les Jungle, 1994)
- The Snow Leopard (Alfa/Evidence, 1996)
- Freedom Joy with Masahiko Togashi (Trial, 1997)
- New York Rhapsody with Gregor Huebner (Tokuma, 1998)
- What Is This Thing Called Love? (Venus. 1999)
- Round About Bartok with Gregor Huebner and George Mraz (ACT, 1999)
- Romantic Rhapsody (Venus, 2000)
- Round About Mompou with Gregor Huebner and George Mraz (ACT, 2001)
- No Borders (Venus, 2002)
- Manhattan Reverie (Venus. 2004)
- The Duo Session with Laurie Antonioli (Nabel, 2004)
- Duality: The First Ten Years (Niveau Records/Nuromusic, 2007)
- Summer Night (Venus, 2007)
- Crossing Over (Niveau, 2008)
- Jazz Adagios (Venus, 2008)
- Quest for Freedom with David Liebman, Jim McNeely, and the Frankfurt Radio Bigband (Challenge, 2010)
- Knowinglee with Lee Konitz and David Liebman (Outnote, 2010)
- Impressions of Tokyo: Ancient City of the Future (Outnote Records, 2011)
- Unspoken with David Liebman (Outnote, 2011)
See also Richie Beirach's extensive recordings as a co-leader with the group Quest.
As sideman
With George Adams
- Sound Suggestions (ECM, 1979)
With John Abercrombie
- Arcade (ECM, 1978)
- Abercrombie Quartet (ECM, 1979)
- M (ECM, 1980)
With Jeremy Steig
- Firefly (CTI, 1977)
With Steve Davis
- Explorations and Impressions (Double-Time Records, 1997)
With Laurie Antonioli
- The Duo Session (Nabel Records, 2005)
References
External links
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