Preludes is a ground-breaking album that
re-imagines the work of J.S. Bach
for a new generation.

With Matt Clohesy on bass and Keita Ogawa on percussion, jazz pianist Adam Birnbaum creates fresh and vital arrangements of well-known works by J.S. Bach. The music manages to be both faithful to Bach’s original compositions while at the same same thoroughly modern and surprising at every turn.

We are so pleased to share our third album, Preludes, released on the Chelsea Music Festival Records label on October 13th!
Preludes is a ground-breaking album which re-imagines the work of J.S. Bach for a new generation. With Matt Clohesy (Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society) on bass and Keita Ogawa (Snarky Puppy) on percussion, jazz pianist Adam Birnbaum (NY Village Vanguard Orchestra) creates fresh and vital arrangements of well-known works by J.S. Bach. The music manages to be both faithful to Bach’s original compositions while at the same time thoroughly modern and surprising at every turn.

​​Baroque music, especially that of Johann Sebastian Bach, has long attracted jazz artists as a vehicle for improvisation, from the bebop era into the 21st century; in that spirit, New York-based pianist Adam Birnbaum presents his own improvisatory vision of a dozen of Bach’s preludes selected from The Well-Tempered Clavier and arranged for jazz-trio.

“‘Preludes’ is a masterful take on some of the most iconic works in the classical repertoire. Adam Birnbaum plays with command and re-imagines Bach in a novel and creative way.”
— Fred Hersch

Preludes is Birnbaum’s fifth album as a leader; his previous release, Three of a Mind, was praised as “an eloquent dispatch from the heart of the contemporary piano tradition” by Nate Chinen in The New York Times. Along with fronting his own groups, the pianist has long been in demand as a sideman, performing with drum master Al Foster, composer Darcy James Argue’s Secret Society, the venerable Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and vocal star Cécile McLorin Salvant, who also contributed the dynamic and alluring cover artwork for Preludes.

“This album provides a doorway to a new enjoyment of Bach’s music, through Adam’s surprising rearrangements and the trio’s beautiful playing. The music is dynamic, innovative and moving.”
— Cécile McLorin Salvant

Enjoy behind-the-scenes videos from the studio recording of Birnbaum’s Preludes!

PRESS

“It is not difficult to add up that here we are dealing with a top shelf pianist... When pianists like Kenny Barron and Fred Hersch are overwhelmed with enthusiasm for Birnbaum, that says a lot.”
— Tor Hammero, Nettavisen
“One doesn’t need to be a student of Bach’s work in order to be enthralled by this music, the interpretations stand as original creations and are joyful regardless of their inspiration. [...] I recommend you rush to your device and download this album promptly, it is one of the best antidotes to the challenges of modern life I have heard in recent times.”
— Reuben Klein, The Ear

Listen to Adam Birnbaum discuss the album—

  • Dmitrii Volkov

  • Joan Steinberg

  • Barry Schwartz

  • Claudia Weisser & Michael Holtgrave

  • Anna Forsythe

  • Susan & Joel Mindel

  • Janet Nine

  • CAPALINO

Our sincere thanks to the following donors whose generosity made this album possible—

  • Linda & Larry West

  • Lisa Cohen & Win Thin

  • Adam Rosen

  • Gerard Corsini

  • Stephen Lyman

  • Sasha Matson

  • Sol Hurwitz

Recorded January 5-6, 2023, at the Samurai Hotel Recording Studio, Astoria NY

  • Engineer & Mixer | David Stoller

  • Mastering Engineer | Brett Leonard

  • Artwork | Cécile McLorin Salvant

  • Design | Karen Seapker

  • Video Director | James Williams

  • Video Editor | Emily Feng

“Birnbaum’s ability to evoke great impressions...merges the styles of Herbie Hancock, Ahmad Jamal and in places the ghost of Dave Brubeck.”
— Reuben Klein, The Ear
“Birnbaum skillfully transforms this material into modern renditions, infusing them with the spirited rhythms and melodies of Latin and samba beats, as well as the timeless charm of traditional straight-ahead jazz. Recorded with bassist Matt Clohesy and drummer Keita Ogawa, the music radiates boundless enthusiasm and inventive flair, paying homage to its source material while bearing Birnbaum’s distinctive artistic vision.”
— Matt Micucci, Jazziz

Check out our previous releases: