Adam Birnbaum (born 1979) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger. He was the winner of the 2004 American Piano Awards Cole Porter Fellowship in Jazz.
Life and career Birnbaum was born in 1979 in Boston, Massachusetts."Adam Birnbaum" . New York Youth Symphony. Retrieved March 29, 2015. He studied "music theory, chamber music, and classical and jazz performance" at the New England Conservatory of Music's Preparatory School. He graduated from Boston College in 2001, and went on to study at the Juilliard School. In 2004, he won the American Piano Awards Cole Porter Fellowship in Jazz."Adam Birnbaum Named Cole Porter Fellow" . (May 26, 2004) JazzTimes. Birnbaum toured Japan and South Korea in 2008 as part of the Juilliard Jazz All-Stars."School Notes" (September 2008), Down Beat. p. 92.
In 2008 Birnbaum received a Chamber Music America grant to compose music for a piano trio."New Jazz Works". Chamber Music America. Retrieved March 29, 2015. From around 2009 Birnbaum has been part of drummer Al Foster's quartet.Chinen, Nate (February 16, 2015), "Review: Estelle, Adam Birnbaum, and Sonny and the Sunsets Release New Albums". The New York Times.
Playing style The DownBeat reviewer of Birnbaum's 2015 album Three of a Mind commented that the pianist "has a light touch, with playing that dances over the bars. He favors major keys, and his lyricism seems to sparkle".Silsbee, Kirk (April 2015), "Adam Birnbaum – Three of a Mind". DownBeat. p. 54.
Discography An asterisk (*) indicates that the year is that of release.
As leader/co-leader Year recordedTitleLabelPersonnel/Notes2006*Ballade pour AdelinePony CanyonTrio, with Matt Brewer (bass), Quincy Davis (drums)2006*A Comme AmourPony CanyonTrio, with Ben Wolfe (bass), Rodney Green (drums)2008*TravelsSmalls Trio, with Joe Sanders (bass), Rodney Green (drums)2015*Three of a MindDaedalusTrio, with Doug Weiss (bass), Al Foster (drums)2023PreludesChelsea Music FestivalTrio, with Matt Clohesy (bass), Keita Ogawa (percussion)
As sideman Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel2003Say ItM&I2004*Small HoursCDBaby2004*Besame MuchoM&I2008*9 LevelsInner Circle
References
External links Official website