RICHIE BEIRACH
Genres: Post Bop, Post-Fusion Contemporary, Third Stream, Avant-Garde Jazz, Vocal Jazz, Progressive Big Band • United States

Richard Alan Beirach (23 May 1947 – 26 January 2026) was an American jazz pianist and composer.   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.   In 1972, Beirach began working with Stan Getz. He also worked with Chet Baker. Beirach maintained an ongoing musical partnership with David Liebman, starting in the late 1960s, in the groups Lookout Farm and Quest. In addition, Liebman and Beirach frequently performed and recorded as a duo. Several of Beirach's compositions – "Leaving" and "Elm", for instance – have found their way into the jazz read more...