Richie Beirach - Breathing of Statues (CMP/Magenta, 1982)

This post is by Scott

Richie Beirach (p)

Recorded in September 1982

I was late to the party with Richie Beirach.  But, when I finally did discover his music, I fell for it hard.  Even though Beirach has recorded prolifically and many of his albums are rare, I've collected most of his recordings.  From this listener's point of view, there are many, many high points in Beirach's discography -- but none of them are higher than Breathing of Statues.   

Like much of his best work, the music on the album draws on 20th century composers like Scriabin, Bartok, and Satie as much as does more traditional jazz sources.  The music is inward and quiet, but it's also tremendously intense.

It's not at all background music -- nor is it intended to be -- but listeners who give themselves the music by focusing intently can find themselves in an strange, beautiful, and otherworldly place.  

At its best, Beirach's music doesn't sound like anyone else's.  

Is there any higher compliment? 

More Richie Beirach in the 1980s

Along with Beirach's wonderful trio outing with George Mraz and Al Foster, Elegy for Bill Evans (Trio/PAJ/Storyville, 1981), which Dan has already discussed, and his work with Quest, which I will cover later, I would point listeners to these exceptional Beirach recordings:

• Continuum (Baybridge/Eastwind, 1984)
• Ballads (Sony Japan, 1986)
• Ballads II (Sony Japan, 1987)
• Common Heart (Owl, 1988)

Like Breathing of Statues, all of these are solo piano albums.