13 Facts About Jim Beard

James Arthur Beard was an American jazz pianist and keyboardist, composer, arranger and producer who worked with Steely Dan, Wayne Shorter, John McLaughlin, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Dennis Chambers, and Bob Berg, among others.

Jim Beard produced seven albums from 1990 through 2019, and wrote several compositions for jazz artists.

Jim Beard was born in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania on August 26,1960.

Jim Beard developed a keen interest in music from an early age.

Jim Beard first learned to play the piano at the age of 6, before playing and later studying about other instruments, including the bass, clarinet, and saxophone.

Jim Beard took his first overseas tour at the age of sixteen with the American Youth Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Hal Schiff.

Jim Beard attended Indiana University, studying jazz under David Baker and classical piano under John Ogdon.

Jim Beard moved to New York in 1985 and became the pianist of John McLaughlin's Mahavishnu, started working relationships with Bill Evans and Mike Stern and had recorded with Dave Liebman.

Jim Beard began producing many successful recordings for artists such as Mike Stern, Bob Berg, Evans and Eliane Elias.

Jim Beard's albums include Song of the Sun, which features Wayne Shorter and Michael Brecker; Lost at the Carnival ; Truly ; Advocate ; Revolutions ; Show of Hands ; and Chunks and Chairknobs.

Jim Beard won a Grammy in 2007 as a featured performer on Some Skunk Funk.

Jim Beard taught at Berklee College of Music in Boston, the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Finland, and the Aaron Copland School of Music in New York.

Jim Beard died at a hospital in New York City, on March 2,2024, at age 63.