Richie Beirach

Richie Beirach
Richie Beirach in 2015
Background information
Born	(1947-05-23)May 23, 1947 New York City, U.S.
Died	January 26, 2026(2026-01-26) (aged 78) Worms, Germany
Genres	Jazz
Occupations	Pianist Composer Academic teacher
Instrument	Piano
Years active	1972–2026
Labels	ECM
Website	richiebeirach.com

Richard Alan Beirach[1] (/ˈbaɪræk/;[2] May 23, 1947 – January 26, 2026) was an American jazz pianist and composer. He made hundreds of recordings, in the 1970s as an early artist of ECM playing albums including Eon, Leaving, and Hubris, in a duo with saxophone player David Liebman including Forgotten Fantasies, and in many other formations. He taught jazz piano at the University of Music and Theatre Leipzig from 2001 to 2014.

Beirach was born in New York City on May 23, 1947.[1][3][4] As a child of six he began to study classical piano with James Palmieri, whom he would later credit with having made him "understand the deeper meaning of music".[5] At age 13, he was introduced to jazz by hearing Red Garland's version of "Billy Boy" from Milestones, and was inspired by its improvisation which made him want to pursue a similar path. He contacted jazz musicians, while continuing Palmieri's training.[5] While still attending high school, he took lessons from pianist and jazz theorist Lennie Tristano.[3][6] He played in New York City clubs from the mid-1960s, playing with Freddie Hubbard and Lee Konitz, among others. He earned money by occasional work as a dockworker.[5][7]

Beirach entered the Berklee College of Music in Boston to study jazz in 1967, where guitarist John Abercrombie, pianist Keith Jarrett and bassist Miroslav Vitous studied at the same time.[5] After one year, he moved to the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied composition with Ludmila Ulehla.[8] In 1972, he graduated with a master's degree in music theory and composition.[3][5]

He began working with Stan Getz, alongside bassist Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette on drums, making worldwide tours.[5] He also worked with Chet Baker.[3] Beirach maintained an ongoing musical partnership with saxophonist David Liebman, whom he met in a session in 1967.[4] They frequently performed and recorded as a duo,[4][8] including Forgotten Fantasies, Omerta and Chant.[5][7] Beirach joined Liebman's band Lookout Farm in 1973, which became outstanding in the fusion movement until 1967.[4] He made his breakthrough with the Lookout Farm album for ECM in 1974, which also featured guitarist John Abercrombie,[3] drummers Jeff Williams and Don Alias, and bassist Frank Tusa.[9] It was followed by Eon, his first album as leader,[3][4] Leaving and Hubris,[3] his first solo album in 1977.[5]

In the 1980, Beirach focused on solo piano work, duos with Liebman and recordings with the band Quest[5] that the two formed in 1981,[4][5] working with drummers Al Forster and Billy Hart, and bassists George Mraz and Ron McClure. They recorded six albums, beginning with Quest and ending in 1991 with Of one mind, touring in Europe, Asia and the Americas. Beirach recorded solo albums inspired by non-musical inspiration, such as Waterlilies related to Monet's paintings and Breathing of Statues to texts by Rilke; he also recorded free improvised in albums such as Self Portraits.[5]

Beirach mentioned Herbie Hancock as his mentor, for creating pieces in a new way each time.[4] His style was also influenced, besides his earlier classical training, by Bill Evans[7][9] and Chick Corea[9] His playing has been described as lyrical and harmonically rich, with a "sense for group interplay".[7]

From 2000, Richie Beirach lived in Leipzig (Germany) where he taught jazz piano at the University of Music and Theatre from 2001 to 2014, including two years past the legal age of 65.[1] He then moved to a farm in Heßheim, invited by drummer Christian Scheuber and pianist Regina Litvinova who had studied with Beirach.[1] They formed the New Richie Beirach Trio.[1][3] He gave concerts as long as his health permitted.[1]

Beirach died after a long illness[4] in Worms on January 26, 2026, at the age of 78.[1][3][8]

Quest

• Quest (Trio, 1982) – recorded in 1981[5]
• Quest II (Storyville, 1986) – Live[5]
• Midpoint: : Live at the Montmartre (Quest III, Storyille, 1988)[5]
• N.Y. Nites: Standards (PAN Music/NEC Avenue, 1988)[5]
• Natural Selection (Pathfinder/NEC Avenue, 1988)[5]
• Of One Mind (CMP, 1990)[5]

With John Abercrombie

• Arcade (ECM, 1978)[8]
• Abercrombie Quartet (ECM, 1979)[8]
• M (ECM, 1980)[8]

With Chet Baker

• You Can't Go Home Again (Horizon, 1977)[13]
• The Best Thing for You (A&M, 1989) – recorded in 1977[8]

With Dave Liebman

• First Visit (Philips, 1973)[8]
• Lookout Farm (ECM, 1973)[3][8]
• Sweet Hands (Horizon, 1975)[14]
• Light'n Up, Please! (Horizon, 1976)[12]
• Pendulum (Artists House, 1978)[8]

With George Mraz

• My Foolish Heart (Milestone, 1995)[5]

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• Official website
• Richie Beirach at AllAboutJazz.com
• Richie Beirach at IMDb
• Richie Beirach discography at Discogs