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Richie Beirach
Richie Beirach in the 1980s
Background information
Birth name	Richard Alan Beirach
Born	(1947-05-23) 23 May 1947 (age 77) New York City, New York, U.S.
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer
Instrument	Piano
Years active	1972–present
Labels	ECM
Website	richiebeirach.com

Richard Alan 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 attending high school, he took lessons from pianist Lennie Tristano. 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 Ludmila Ulehla. In 1972, he graduated 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.

Discography

As leader/co-leader

As a member

Quest

• Quest (Trio, 1982) – recorded in 1981
• Quest II (Storyville, 1986) – Live
• Midpoint: Quest III (Storyille, 1988)
• N.Y. Nites: Standards (PAN Music/NEC Avenue, 1988)
• Natural Selection (Pathfinder/NEC Avenue, 1988)
• Of One Mind (CMP, 1990)
• Redemption; Quest Live in Europe (Hatology, 2007) – Live
• Re-Dial – Live in Hamburg (Outnote, 2007) – Live
• Circular Dreaming (enja, 2012) – recorded in 2011

As sideman

With George Adams

• Sound Suggestions (ECM, 1979)

With John Abercrombie

• Arcade (ECM, 1978)
• Abercrombie Quartet (ECM, 1979)
• M (ECM, 1980)

With John Scofield

• John Scofield Live (Enja, 1978)

With Chet Baker

• You Can't Go Home Again (Horizon, 1977)
• The Best Thing for You (A&M, 1977 )

With Frank Tusa

• Father Time (Enja, 1975)

With Dave Liebman

• First Visit (album) (Philips, 1973)
• Lookout Farm (ECM, 1973)
• Sweet Hands (Horizon, 1975)
• Light'n Up, Please! (Horizon, 1976)
• Pendulum (Artists House, 1978)
• Eternal Voices (Jazzline, 2019)

With Jeremy Steig

• Temple of Birth (Columbia, 1975)
• Firefly (CTI, 1977)

With Steve Davis

• Explorations and Impressions (Double-Time, 1997)

With Laurie Antonioli

• The Duo Session (Nabel, 2005)

With Ron McClure Trio

• Inspiration (Ken, 1991)

With George Mraz

• Catching Up (1991)
• My Foolish Heart (1995)
• Jazz (1995)

References

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

External links

• Richie Beirach's Website
• Richie Beirach at AllAboutJazz.com

• 1947 births
• American jazz pianists
• American male jazz pianists
• Berklee College of Music alumni
• ECM Records artists
• Living people
• Jazz musicians from New York City
• Post-bop pianists
• 20th-century American pianists
• 21st-century American pianists
• 20th-century American male musicians
• 21st-century American male musicians
• Quest (band) members
• Sunnyside Records artists
• SteepleChase Records artists
• ACT Music artists
• Origin Records artists