Although somewhat underrated, Richie Beirach is a consistently inventive pianist whose ability to play both free and with lyricism makes him an original. After studying classical piano, Beirach switched to jazz. He studied at Berklee and the Manhattan School of Music, and took lessons with Stan Getz, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette. Beirach played electric piano while with Dave Liebman's Lookout Farm in 1974, but afterward mostly stuck to acoustic piano. He teamed up with Liebman on many occasions (including the early-'80s group Quest) and has recorded frequently since the '80s. Among his many jobs as a sideman were important stints with Getz, Lee Konitz, John Abercrombie, and Chet Baker, and Beirach has played music ranging from hard bop to totally free. His classical training can sometimes be heard in his more advanced improvisations, along with the sensitivity of a Bill Evans. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
In 1972 he began working with Stan Getz. He also worked with Chet Baker and in the 1990s worked well with French 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, 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.
Selected discography
Eon (ECM 1974)
Forgotten Fantasies (Horizon 1975) with David Liebman
Zal
Leaving (Storyville 1976)
Methuselah (1975)
Hubris (ECM 1977)
Sunday song
Omerta (Trio/Storyville 1978) with David Liebman
Elm (ECM 1979)
M (ECM 1980) with John Abercrombie Quartet
Elegy For Bill Evans (Palo Alto 1981)
Breathing Of Statues (Magenta/CMP 1982)
Continuum (Baybridge/Eastwind 1983)
Antarctica (Pathfinder 1985)
Double edge (1985) with David Liebman
The Duo live (1985) with David Liebman
Ballads (1986) (Sony)
Ballads 2 (1987) (Sony)
Emerald City (Pathfinder 1987) with John Abercrombie
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[1]
Chant with David Liebman
Live At The Maybeck Recital Hall, Vol. 19 (Concord Jazz 1992)
Trust (Transheart)
Too grand (1992) with Andy Laverne
Universal mind (1993) with Andy Laverne
The Snow Leopard (Alfa)
What is this thing called love? (Venus)
Romantic Rhapsody (Venus)
No borders (Venus)
Manhattan Reverie (Venus)
Duality- the first ten years (Niveau Records/Nuromusic 2007)
"The Duo Session" with Laurie Antonioli (2006)
the majority of these are on Japanese labels which may find limited release overseas.
Deiana Gabriele, Recezione dell'armonia dei primi del '900 nel Jazz contemporaneo: il caso di Richard Beirach, Dissertation, Bologna University , 2004.
