Bill Beach (jazz musician)

Bill Beach (born 1953) is a jazz pianist, vocalist, and teacher.

Bill Beach
Background information
Born1953 (age 70–71)
Corvallis, Oregon, U.S.
GenresJazz, bossa nova
Occupation(s)Musician, composer
InstrumentPiano
Years active1970–present
LabelsAxial
Websitebillbeach.com

Biography

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In 2003, Beach began to study Brazilian music and the Portuguese language. He concentrated on the bossa nova introduced by Antonio Carlos Jobim, João Gilberto, Vinicius De Moraes, Carlos Lyra and João Donato and the later MPB styles of Sergio Mendez, Edu Lobo, Milton Nascimento, and Ivan Lins. He released Letting Go[1] in 2004 on his Axial Records label. This album was his debut as leader of a recording session and featured Beach singing Brazilian standards and playing original instrumentals in a piano trio setting.

In 2008, Beach began writing lyrics in the Brazilian style, and his album Brasil Beat (2010)[2][3] contained music and lyrics in Portuguese. This was followed by Búzios[4][5] also original material and also on Axial Records. This album featured Rebecca Kilgore on vocals and Gary Hobbs on drums.[6]

Discography

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  • Letting Go (2004)
  • Brasil Beat (2010)
  • Búzios (2011)

References

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  1. ^ "Tasteful pianist in tuneful settings embellished with his laid-back vocals on some bossa nova tunes". Audiophile Audition. Archived from the original on 2011-07-07. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  2. ^ "Album: Bill Beach sings sweet Portuguese". Oregon Music News. Archived from the original on January 6, 2011. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  3. ^ "CD Reviews – May 2010". Jazz Society of Oregon. Archived from the original on 2013-09-21. Retrieved 2010-12-19.
  4. ^ "Album: Bill Beach waxes wonderful on newest Brazilian-inspired CD". Oregon Music News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
  5. ^ "CD Reviews - May 2011". Jazz Scene Magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-10-07. Retrieved 2011-08-31.
  6. ^ "Reflecting Happy and Sunny Búzios". musicabrasileira.org. 15 May 2011. Retrieved 2014-11-11.
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