Richie Beirach
Live at Birdland New York

There is no doubt that Richie Beirach is one of the most significant pianists in the history of jazz – one of the pioneers of open-style, classically influenced improvisation and one of the most energetic keyboard virtuosos. Born in Brooklyn, he received classical training from James Palmieri before enrolling at the legendary Berklee College of Music in Boston at the age of 20. There, he studied under teachers like Margaret Chaloff and Charlie Mariano. His extensive education culminated in the 1970s with a composition degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Concurrently, he became a member of Stan Getz's band, alongside Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette. He continued to collaborate with major figures in modern jazz, including Chet Baker. From 1973 to 1976, he was part of saxophonist Dave Liebman's band, "Lookout Farm," with whom he would collaborate repeatedly. In 1976, he debuted with his first band, "Eon," and a year later released his first solo album, "Hubris." From 1981 to 1991, he was a founding member of "Quest," one of the most important ensembles of its time, featuring his long-time companions Billy Hart on drums and George Mraz on bass. These two musicians also joined him in his two separate trios, which Beirach focused on from the mid-1990s onwards. In 1996, a young violinist, Gregor Huebner, joined one of his more enduring trios, becoming one of his most important collaborators.