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Erik Deutsch
Erik Deutsch, Mexico City 2020
Erik Deutsch, Mexico City 2020
Background information
Birth nameErik Larson Deutsch
Born (1976-10-26) October 26, 1976 (age 48)
Washington, D.C.
Occupation(s)Keyboardist, composer, producer
Instrument(s)Piano, keyboards, guitar
Years active1990s–present
Websitehammerandstring.com

Erik Deutsch is an American pianist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and educator. He leads his own band and was a founding member of Fat Mama. Deutsch is also known for his work with Charlie Hunter, Leftover Salmon, Dixie Chicks, Shooter Jennings, Citizen Cope and The Black Crowes.

Early life

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Deutsch was born in Washington D.C. in 1976. Influenced at an early age by his grandfather (a professional musician), his father (a barroom pianist), and his opera-singing nanny. Deutsch began taking Suzuki piano lessons at Vanderbilt University. After his family relocated to Nashville he studied piano with Tom Koester. In 1985 Deutsch won a school song writing contest that led to his first gig at the Country Music Hall of Fame. While attending High School in Potomac, MD, Deutsch frequented the jazz clubs of Washington D.C. Upon arriving at the University of Colorado Boulder in the fall 1995 he began lessons with pianists Art Lande and joined Fat Mama,[1] a modern jazz/rock/fusion ensemble.

Career

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2000s

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After completing his degree from CU in piano performance, Deutsch stayed in Boulder developing a busy career as a performer and teacher. County Road X, a cinematic Americana ensemble, released two records during this period, County Road X (2002) and From Seed to Stone (2004). Triangle, a piano trio led by Deutsch's musical mentor Art Lande (on drums), released Three Sides to a Question in 2004. He taught and accompanied students frequently and was an adjunct faculty member at the Naropa University.

In the summer of 2005 Deutsch moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he worked at the Queens College, City University of New York Saturday jazz program and in The Bronx public school as a dance accompanist.

In 2007 he joined the Charlie Hunter Trio. His tenure with Hunter lasted 3 years, involving extensive touring all over Europe, Asia, and Africa. They recorded Mistico[2] with drummer Simon Lott and Baboon Strength[3] with drummer Tony Mason.

Deutsch released his first two records as a leader towards the end of the decade. 2007's Fingerprint[4] features fellow Coloradans Ron Miles, Jenny Scheinman, Todd Sickafoose, Allison Miller, Janet Feder and Ross Martin. In a review of 2009's Hush Money[5] The Boston Globe[6] makes mention of the "unmistakable traces of the Alpine air and sweeping CinemaScope views" within Deutsch's music. These efforts also earn him his first feature in Downbeat Magazine.[7]

2010s

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In 2011 Deutsch collaborated with long-time associate Shooter Jennings[8] for two records, Family Man and The Other Life. Inevitably other similar collaborations ensued including work with Rosanne Cash, John Leventhal, Shelby Lynne, Allison Moorer, Norah Jones, Bob DiPiero and Jim Campilongo.

2012 marked the release of Deutsch’s third release as a leader, Demonio Teclado[9] revealing a new psychedelic soul jazz sound.

In 2014, Deutsch released Outlaw Jazz a critically acclaimed[10] record fusing his brand of jazz with elements of country.[11]

In 2016, Deutsch joined Colorado based jam band Leftover Salmon. His four-year stint as a full-time member[12] included over 400 shows and the release of three records.

Deutsch released his first solo piano album Creatures[13] in 2016. Downbeat Magazine[14] critic Allan Drouot wrote, "Deutsch's pieces are imbued with the same mournfulness and simplicity that inhabits Satie's piano music."

In 2018 Deutsch released another large group project entitled Falling Flowers[15].

2020s and Mexico

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Since 2015, Deutsch has hosted a weekly bi-lingual radio show called the Sounds of Brooklyn and Beyond with co-host Sara Valenzuela. The program airs on Jalisco Radio in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Ciudad Guzman and is available as a podcast on iTunes and Spotify.

In 2019 Deutsch relocated to Colonia Roma Norte in Mexico City.[16]

In 2020, Deutsch joined The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks) as the full-time touring keyboardist. Deutsch released Live at LunÁtico[17]and an improvised solo 7” LP on Piquinique Recordings entitled Chrysanthemum as well as a new project with banjoist Andy Thorn entitled Tangled Sea.[18]

In August 2022, he replaced Joel Robinow in The Black Crowes.

Awards and honors

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Deutsch has been nominated consecutively in Downbeat Magazine Critic's Poll Rising Star organ[19] category since 2012.

Discography

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As leader

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  • 2007 Fingerprint (Sterling Circle)
  • 2009 Hush Money (Hammer & String)
  • 2012 Demonio Teclado (Hammer & String)
  • 2015 Outlaw Jazz (Cumberland Brothers Music)
  • 2016 Creatures (Immersive Records)
  • 2018 Falling Flowers (LoHi Records)
  • 2020 Live at LunÁtico (Hammer & String)
  • 2020 Erik Deutsch & Spencer Zahn, Chrysanthemum (Piquenique)
  • 2021 Erik Deutsch, Shape of a Monster (Ear Up Records)

As co-leader

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  • 1997 Fat Mama, Mamatus
  • 1999 Fat Mama, Live †
  • 2000 Fat Mama, Load Star (Phoenix Media)
  • 2002 County Road X, (Adventure Records)
  • 2004 Country Road X, From Seed to Stone (Adventure Records)
  • 2004 Triangle, Three Sides to a Question (Synergy Music)
  • 2016 Victoria Reed, Chariot
  • 2018 Leftover Salmon, Something Higher (LOS Records/Soundly Music)
  • 2019 Victoria Reed, Everything for You (single)
  • 2019 Leftover Salmon, Live From the Living Room
  • 2020 Victoria Reed, Aqua Madre (Fisica Moderna)
  • 2020 Leftover Salmon, On the Road: A Tribute to John Hartford (LoHi)
  • 2020 Deutsch/Zahn: Chrysanthemum (Pique-nique Recordings)
  • 2020 Deutsch & Thorn: Tangled Sea
  • 2021 Leftover Salmon, Brand New Good Old Days
  • 2022 Leftover Salmon, On the Road: A Tribute to John Hartford (compilation)
  • 2021 Victoria Reed, Highway Butterfly: The Songs of Neal Casal
  • 2022 Victoria Reed, Door Four (single)
  • 2022 Victoria Reed, Forever Ain't Enough Time (single)
  • 2023 Victoria Reed, Even When Its Night

As sideman and co-producer

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References

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  1. ^ Mayo, James. "Mama Knows Best". Westword.
  2. ^ Chinen, Nate (July 30, 2007). "Critic's Choice". The New York Times.
  3. ^ Collette, Doug. "Album Review". All About Jazz. All About Jazz. Retrieved 13 October 2008.
  4. ^ Chinen, Nate (October 30, 2008). "Jazz Listings". The New York Times.
  5. ^ Odell, Jennifer (May 2012). "CD Reviews". Downbeat Magazine. Vol. 75, no. 5. p. 50.
  6. ^ Gilbert, Andrew. "When Musical Cultures Collide". The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 29, 2009.
  7. ^ Murph, John (February 2010). "Visual Funk". Downbeat Magazine. Vol. 17, no. 2. p. 25.
  8. ^ Hudak, Joseph (December 29, 2014). "Hear Shooter Jennings Channel Pink Floyd in Waylon Cover". Rolling Stone.
  9. ^ Wetzel, Florence. "Album Review". All About Jazz. All About Jazz. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
  10. ^ Mansfield, Brian (February 28, 2015). "Listen to These Albums Before February Ends". USA Today.
  11. ^ Reyes-Kulkarni, Sabe. "Nashville expat Erik Deutsch takes jazz into Outlaw Country". Nashville Scene. Retrieved March 12, 2015.
  12. ^ Kirby, Dave. "Erik Deutsch Splits the Difference". Boulder Weekly. Boulder Weekly. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  13. ^ Zimmerman, Lee. "Erik Deutsch: Creatures". Relix Magazine. Relix Magazine. Retrieved March 7, 2017.
  14. ^ Alain, Drouot (March 2017). "Reviews". Downbeat Magazine. Vol. 84, no. 3. p. 67.
  15. ^ Shanley, Mike (April 29, 2019). "Erik Deutsch: Falling Flowers (LoHi)". Jazz Times.
  16. ^ Cincotta, Rafaela Kenny. "Erik Deutsch: Greetings from Mexico City". Jambands.com. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
  17. ^ Newby, Tim. "Erik Deutsch: Live at Lunatico". Slide and Banjo. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
  18. ^ Kirby, Dave (December 3, 2020). "A Little Downtime". Boulder Weekly.
  19. ^ "Critic's Poll/Rising Star" (PDF). Downbeat Magazine. Vol. 87, no. 8. August 2020. p. 38.
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