Brooklyn native Richie Beirach began studying piano at age five. He only discovered jazz in his teens upon hearing the recordings of Red Garland, and at the suggestion of reedman, longtime friend and collaborator Dave Liebman, Beirach sought out Lennie Tristano for jazz piano lessons in Queens.
Beirach attended Berklee College of Music for a year but was more focused on gigging around Boston, and returned to New York to audition for the Manhattan School of Music, while playing weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, and the like on the side.
Beirach broke in playing at the Café Au Go Go and the Half Note with Stan Getz, Dave Holland, and Jack DeJohnette, while continuing his study of the classical composers who informed his omnivorous approach to performance and composition, most notably Bartók. We spin a couple examples of the latter later in this episode, recorded after Beirach moved to Germany in 2000 and undertook classically inspired mid-career projects with bassist George Mraz and German violinist Gregor Huebner.
This hour of Jazz Roots & Branches begins with a selection from Dave Liebman’s Lookout Farm (ECM, 1973), featuring Liebman on soprano sax, tenor sax, and alto C flute, Beirach (piano, keyboards), John Abercrombie (electric and acoustic guitar), and an eclectic host of supporting artists. Essentially improvised in the studio, Lookout Farm is often cited as a critical contribution to the jazz fusion experimentation of the 1970s, creations forged in the august company of such fellow ECM artists as Abercrombie, Ralph Towner, Keith Jarrett, Chick Corea, and DeJohnette.
Thank you for joining us here at Jazz Roots & Branches. If what you hear is pleasing, I hope you will forward to others who may share your pleasure and enthusiasm for the spontaneity, risk, and freedom that animate improvisatory music.
Title | Artist | Album | Composer | Label
Pablo’s Story | Dave Liebman w/ Richie Beirach | Lookout Farm | Dave Liebman | ECM
Hubris | Richie Beirach | Hubris | Richie Beirach | ECM
Sea Priestess | Richie Beirach | Elm | Richie Beirach | ECM
Around Scrijabin Prelude Op. 16 | Richie Beirach, George Mraz & Gregor Huebner | Round About Bartók | Richie Beirach; George Mraz; Gregor Huebner | ACT
Música Callada #6 | Richie Beirach, George Mraz & Gregor Huebner | Round About Federico Mompou | Federico Mompou | ACT
Some Other Time | Richie Beirach | Leaving | Leonard Bernstein | Jazzline
