T he
style championed by American pianist-composer Jim Beard is commonly referred to as
jazz-fusion. By fusion, though, most often a commingling of jazz and rock is meant.
However, Jim Beard’s version exhibits a greater subtlety and variety of nuances than
the so-called fusion can commonly expected to comprise.
Beard’s initial inspirers were Stevie Wonder and the earthy soul-funk of War. One of
his first teachers was popular jazz-pianist George Shearing. In the 1980s Beard performed
and recorded on many occasions with John McLaughlin and collaborated with sax-great Wayne
Shorter. On top of releasing four solo albums, Jim Beard has gigged and sessioned in the
company of John Scofield, Pat Metheny, Victor Bailey, Michael Brecker, Bob Berg, Toots
Thielemans, Mike Stern, Dave Liebman, Lenny Pickett, Don Alias, Peter Erskine.
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