Born: August 26, 1960 Primary Instrument: Piano
Since moving to New York in 1985, Jim Beard has toured the world extensively with some of the greatest names in jazz including John Scofield, Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin and Wayne Shorter. He has recorded with artists from an extremely wide range of musical styles. From Dizzy Gillespie to the Brecker Brothers. Dianne Reeves to Meshell Ndegeocello. Toninho Horta to Walter Becker.
Jim has over 100 published compositions featured on recordings by John McLaughlin, Michael Brecker and many others and in books such as The New Real Book. He has appeared with the Metropole Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and performed in major festivals such as JVC, Montreux, Live Under the Sky, North Sea, Montreal, and stages in venues such as Avery Fisher Hall, Royal Festival Hall, Blue Note (New York and Japan), CBGBs, Montmartre and many more. His writing has been used in television, movies and radio call signals and his piano playing can be heard in major Hollywood film scores.
He has produced dozens of recordings for artists such as Mike Stern, Bob Berg, Bill Evans, Eliane Elias and others. Five of his productions have been nominated for Grammy awards and Jim won a Grammy in 2007 as a featured performer with Randy Brecker’s “Some Skunk Funk” (along with Michael Brecker, Will Lee, Peter Erskine and Marcio Doctor). Jim has sat in the producers chair for projects that have included Chick Corea, Al Jarreau, Bill Frisell, Marcus Miller, John Scofield and Kenny Garrett. His work can be heard on Sony Pictures, Paramount Pictures, Blue Note, Verve, Columbia, NBC, ABC, and CBS/Sony. Jim has taught and continues to teach at renowned music institutions around the world such as the Mason Gross School of Arts, Berklee College of Music, Aaron Copland School of Music and the Sibelius Academy in Finland.
Jim has recorded four solo CDs two of which were voted in top 10 new CDs by Jazziz Magazine critics.
In 2008 two albums will be released. On May 2nd Jim Beard's new album “Revolutions,” recorded with the Metropole Orchestra conducted by Vince Mendoza. On June 10th Walter Becker's new album “Circus Money” with Jim Beard on piano, Hammond B3 and keyboards.
Advocate
ESC Records
(1999)
Fever; Princess; Hope; Mirrors; At the Glee Club; Relief; Jazz; Jambolay; Trip.
Personel: Jim Beard: keys, vocals; Jon Herington: guitar, banjo; Bob Malach: bassett horn, clarinet, flute; Arto Tuncboyaciyan: percussion, vocals; Tim Lefebvre: bass; Matt Garrison: bass; Gene Lake: drums; Zach Danziger: drums; Pete Davenport: wood flute, vocals. Truly (1997) - Jim Beard Lost at the Carnival (1994) - Jim Beard Song of the Sun (1991) - Jim Beard
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