Since moving to New York in 1985, Jim Beard has toured the world extensively with some of the greatest names in jazz, including John Scofield, Pat Metheny, John McLaughlin and Wayne Shorter. He has recorded with artists from an extremely wide range of musical styles. From Dizzy Gillespie to the Brecker Brothers;. Dianne Dianne Reeves to Meshell Ndegeocello;. Toninho Horta to Walter Becker.
Jim has over 100 published compositions featured on recordings by John McLaughlin, Michael Brecker and many others, and as well as in books such as The New Real Book. He has appeared with the Metropole Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and performed in major festivals such as JVC, Montreux, Live Ander the Sky, Blue Note (New York and Japan), CBGBs, Montmartre and many more. His writing has been used in television, movies and radio call signals and his piano playing can be heard in major Hollywood film scores.
Five of his productions have been nominated for Grammy awards and Jim won a Grammy in 2007 for his contributions as featured performer on "Some skunk funk" (Randy and Michael Brecker). Jim has sat in the producer's chair for projects that have included Chick Corea, Al Jarreau, Bill Frisell, Marcus Miller, John Scofield And and Kenny Garret.
Jim has recorded five solo CDs, two of which were voted in as top 10 new CDs by Jazziz Magazine critics.
