Uri Caine (born June 8, 1956) is an American classical and jazz pianist and composer from Philadelphia.
Biography
Early years Caine was born on June 8, 1956, in Philadelphia, to Burton Caine (1928–2023), a professor at Temple Law School,Stearns, David Patrick. "Composer Uri Caine finding new Philadelphia roots." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Inquirer, July 15, 2014. and poet Shulamith Wechter Caine.Jelkin. "The Gospel According to Uri Caine ." Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: The Jewish Exponent, July 16, 2014. He began playing piano at age seven, and studied with French jazz pianist Bernard Peiffer at 12.Chinen, Nate. "Raising Caine," in The Pennsylvania Gazette, January/February 2001. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: University of Pennsylvania. He later studied at the University of Pennsylvania, where he came under the tutelage of George Crumb. He also gained a greater familiarity with classical music in this period and worked at clubs in Philadelphia.
Caine played professionally after 1981, and by 1985 had his recording debut with the Rochester-Gerald Veasley band. In the 1980s, he moved to New York City, where he continues to live. His solo recording debut was in 1992. He also appeared on a klezmer album (Don Byron Plays the Music of Mickey Katz, 1993) and other recordings with modern jazz musicians Don Byron and Dave Douglas, among many others.
Later years Caine has recorded 16 mostly classical albums. His 1997 jazz tribute to Gustav Mahler received an award from the German Mahler Society, while outraging some jury members. Caine has also reworked Bach's Goldberg Variations, Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, as well as music by Wagner, Schumann and Mozart.
He was Composer-in-Residence of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra from 2005 to 2009. He became a United States Artists Fellow in 2010.
In 2012, he performed with the Armenian State Chamber Orchestra in Yerevan, Armenia,"Famous American pianist to perform in Yerevan." Yerevan, Armenia: Armenpress, June 26, 2012. and, in 2013 and 2014, was Composer-in-Residence at Mannes College.
In 2019, Caine released an oratorio on the life and death of Octavius Catto.
The Bedrock Project and other collaborations In 2001, he teamed up with drummer Zach Danziger to conceive an original project fusing live jungle and drum 'n' bass beats with fusion jazz called "Uri Caine Bedrock 3". They have toured worldwide, including with the New York-based DJ Olive.
Also in 2001, he released with drummer Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson of The Roots and Christian McBride an album called The Philadelphia Experiment which contains jazz, funk, instrumental hip hop and jazz fusion. This album was produced by Aaron Levinson and features collaborations such as Pat Martino on guitar and Jon Swana on trumpet.
In 2006, he recorded an album of composition from John Zorn's second Masada book called Moloch: Book of Angels Volume 6. In November 2012, Caine collaborated with drummer Han Bennink to release a live album entitled Sonic Boom. In 2008 he was special guest of the Italian jazz awards red carpet show in Genoa (Italy) at Teatro di Sant'Agostino.
Discography
As leader/co-leader Recording dateTitleLabel Year released Notes / Personnel 1992–04, 1995–05Sphere MusicJMT1993With Anthony Cox and Kenny Davis (bass; separately), Ralph Peterson, Jr., (drums), Graham Haynes (cornet), Don Byron (clarinet), Gary Thomas (tenor sax) 1995–02, 1995–03Toys JMT 1996With Dave Douglas (trumpet), Don Byron (bass clarinet), Josh Roseman (trombone), Gary Thomas (tenor sax, flute), Dave Holland (bass), Ralph Peterson, Jr. (drums), Don Alias (percussion) 1996–06Urlicht / Primal Light Winter & Winter 1997With Dave Douglas (trumpet), Josh Roseman (trombone), Dave Binney (soprano sax), Don Byron (clarinet), Mark Feldman (violin), Larry Gold (cello), Danny Blume (guitar, electronics), DJ Olive (turntables), Michael Formanek (bass), Joey Baron (drums), Aaron Bensoussan (hand drum, cantor), Arto Lindsay and Dean Bowman (vocals) 1997–06Wagner e Venezia Winter & Winter 1997 With Dominic Cortese (accordion), Mark Feldman and Joyce Hammann (violin), Erik Friedlander (cello), Drew Gress (bass); in concert 1997–12Blue Wail Winter & Winter 1999Trio, with James Genus (bass), Ralph Peterson, Jr. (drums) 1998–07Gustav Mahler in Toblach Winter & Winter 1999 With Ralph Alessi (trumpet), David Binney (alto sax), Mark Feldman (violin), Aaron Bensoussan (oud, vocals), DJ Olive (turntables, electronics), Michael Formanek (bass), Jim Black (drums); in concert 1999–02The Sidewalks of New York: Tin Pan Alley Winter & Winter 1999Bob DeBellis (flute), Ralph Alessi and Dave Douglas (trumpet; separately), Josh Roseman (trombone), Bob Stewart (tuba), Don Byron (clarinet), Dominic Cortese (accordion, vocals), Mark Feldman (violin), Eddy Davis (banjo), James Genus (bass), Ben Perowsky (drums), various vocalists 1999–10–2000–01The Goldberg Variations Winter & Winter 2000With various 2000Love Fugue: Robert Schumann Winter & Winter 2000With David Gilmore (guitar), Stefano Barneschi (violin), Marco Bianchi (viola), Paolo Beschi (cello), Federica Valli (fortepiano), David Moss and Mark Ledford (vocals; separately), Julie Patton and Shulamith Wechter Caine (recitation; separately) Mariko Takahashi (narration) 2000–11Solitaire Winter & Winter 2001Solo piano 2001–02Bedrock 3 Winter & Winter 2001With Tim Lefebvre (bass), Zach Danziger (drums); DJ Logic (turntables), Jessie System and Pete Davenport (vocals) added on some tracks 2001–06Rio Winter & Winter 2001With various 2002–02Diabelli Variations Winter & Winter 2002With Concerto Köln 1999–07–2003–05Gustav Mahler: Dark Flame Winter & Winter 2003With various 2003–05Live at the Village Vanguard Winter & Winter 2004 Trio, with Drew Gress (bass), Ben Perowsky (drums); in concert 2004–03Shelf-Life Winter & Winter 2005As Bedrock; trio, with Tim Lefebvre (bass, guitar), Zach Danziger (drums, percussion); various guests added on some tracks 2005–05Things Blue Note 2006Duo, with Paolo Fresu (trumpet, flugelhorn, effects) 2006–06Uri Caine Ensemble Plays Mozart Winter & Winter 2006 With Ralph Alessi (trumpet), Chris Speed (clarinet), Joyce Hammann (violin), Nguyên Lê (guitar), DJ Olive (turntables), Drew Gress (double bass), Jim Black (drums); in concert 2006–09Moloch: Book of Angels Volume 6 Tzadik 2006Solo piano 2007?The Classical Variations Winter & Winter 2007 2007?Pure Affection Alessa 2007Duo, co-led with Gust Tsilis 2005–02–2008–03The Othello Syndrome Winter & Winter 2008With Ralph Alessi (trumpet), Achille Succi and Chris Speed (clarinet), Joyce Hammann (violin), Nguyên Lê (guitar), Tim Lefebvre (bass, electric bass), John Hebert (bass), Jim Black and Zach Danziger (drums), Bruno Fabrizio Sorba and Stefano Bassanese (electronics), Bunny Sigler, Dhafer Youssef, Josefine Lindstrand, Julie Patton, Marco Paolini and Sadiq Bey (vocals) 2008–10Think Blue Note 2009 Co-led with Paolo Fresu, with Alborada String Quartet 2009–03Plastic Temptation Winter & Winter 2009As Bedrock, with Tim Lefebvre (bass, guitar), Zach Danziger (drums), Elizabeth Pupo-Walker (percussion), Barbara Walker (vocals) 2009–06Twelve Caprices Winter & Winter 2010 Collaboration with Arditti String Quartet 2010–04Sonic Boom 816 2012Duo, co-led with Han Bennink (drums); in concert 2010–09Siren Winter & Winter 2011Trio, with John Hébert (bass), Ben Perowsky (drums) 2012–12Rhapsody in Blue Winter & Winter 2013With Ralph Alessi (trumpet), Jim Black (drums), Theo Bleckmann (vocals), Joyce Hammann (violin), Mark Helias (bass), Chris Speed (clarinet, tenor sax), Barbara Walker (vocals) 2012–12Callithump Winter & Winter 2014Solo piano 2013–12Present Joys Greenleaf 2014Duo, co-led with Dave Douglas (trumpet) 2015–02Two Minuettos Tŭk 2017Duo, co-led with Paolo Fresu (trumpet, flugelhorn, effects); in concert
Collaborations As The Philadelphia Experiment (with Christian McBride, Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, Pat Martino, John Swana, Larry Gold and Aaron Levinson) The Philadelphia Experiment (Ropeadope, 2001) – rec. 2000
With Mark Feldman, Greg Cohen and Joey Baron Secrets (Tzadik, 2009) – rec. 2008
As sideman With Dave Douglas In Our Lifetime (New World, 1995) Stargazer (Arabesque, 1997) – live rec. 1996 Soul on Soul (RCA, 2000) The Infinite (RCA, 2002) – rec. 2001 Strange Liberation (Bluebird, 2004) Meaning and Mystery (Greenleaf, 2006) Live at the Jazz Standard (Greenleaf, 2007) – live rec. 2006
With John Zorn Voices in the Wilderness (Tzadik, 2003) Moloch: Book of Angels Volume 6 (Tzadik, 2006) Filmworks XXI: Belle de Nature/The New Rijksmuseum (Tzadik, 2008) Masada Quintet featuring Joe Lovano, Stolas: Book of Angels Volume 12 (Tzadik, 2009)
With others Don Byron, Don Byron Plays the Music of Mickey Katz (Nonesuch, 1993) Forma Antiqva, Antonio Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (Winter & Winter, 2011) Frank London, Nigunim (Tzadik, 1998) Zohar, Keter (Knitting Factory, 1999)
References
External links
BBC Radio 2 All About Jazz Interview Uri Caine: Musical Midrashist "In Conversation with Uri Caine" by Ted Panken, Jazz.com Live concert recording, Madrid, May 2010