Jim Beard

James Arthur "Jim" Beard ( born August 26, 1960 in Philadelphia ) is an American fusion musician ( pianist ), composer, arranger and music producer.

Life and work

Beard had an early interest in music making; the age of five, he wanted to play tuba, and was interested in shortly thereafter for the drums and the saxophone. From the age of seven he was given piano lessons; as a teenager, he received private lessons with George Shearing, but also clarinet, saxophone and bass lessons. At sixteen, he was a member of the American Youth Jazz Orchestra, with whom he completed a tour abroad. Then he studied music at Indiana University. In 1985, he moved to New York City and was only a little later a member of John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu Orchestra edition of the.

He also worked with Mike Stern, Bob Berg and Bill Evans, which he also produced later. 1986 brought him Wayne Shorter in his band, with whom he worked until 2000. In 1988, he played with John Scofield. From 1990, he presented his own albums, where musicians such as Erik Friedlander, Bob Malach, John Patitucci, Steve Rodby and Arto Tuncboyaciyan participated.

With Pat Metheny and his Secret Story project, he toured in 1992 and 1993. Moreover, he worked with Ralph Bowen, Philip Catherine, Dizzy Gillespie, Eliane Elias, Victor Bailey, Wayne Krantz, Dianne Reeves, John Mayer, Walter Becker, Randy Brecker and the WDR Big band Cologne ( Some Skunk Funk ) and with Dieter Ilg. As a producer and keyboard programmer, he has worked for numerous musicians of the fusion scene like the Brecker Brothers, Dennis Chambers, Steely Dan or Mike Stern.

Beard's compositions have been played by other musicians, such as The Wait by John McLaughlin, Riddle Me This by Bob Berg, In the Hat of Victor Bailey or Ode to the Doo Da Day ( on the Camptown Races builds ) by Michael Brecker. Five of his productions have been nominated for a Grammy.

Beard taught at Berklee College of Music in Boston, Rutgers University, the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki and the Aaron Copland School of Music.

Discography

  • Revolutions ( Sunnyside, 2008 with the Metropole Orkest Vince Mendoza)
  • Ad.Vo.Cate (ESC, 1999)
  • Truly (ESC, 1997)
  • Song of the Sun (CTI, 1990, with Wayne Shorter and Michael Brecker )

Works

  • Richard Cook Jazz Encyclopedia London 2007; ISBN 978-0-141-02646-6
Jazz fusion John McLaughlin (musician) Bill Evans (Saxophonist) Victor Bailey (musician) Electronic keyboard Grammy Award CTI Records Integrated Authority File
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