Erik Deutsch
www.hammerandstring.com
Pianist, keyboardist, composer, bandleader, and genre-bending sideman Erik Deutsch currently splits time between Brooklyn, NY and Mexico City. He has performed and recorded with pop/rock/country and jazz artists like Dixie Chicks, Norah Jones, Rosanne Cash, Citizen Cope, Charlie Hunter, Leftover Salmon, Shooter Jennings, Alice Smith, Shelby Lynne, Theo Bleckmann, Jessi Coulter, Joe Russo, Allison Moorer, Phillip Phillips, Dori Freeman, Lukas Nelson, Joey Arias, Devotchka, Erin McKeown, Scott Amendola, Teddy Thompson, Ben Allison, The Motet, Sam Bush, Allison Moorer, Daniel Rodriguez, Steven Bernstein, Hannah Cohen, James Blood Ulmer, Ellery Eskelin, Billy Martin, Bobby Previte, Levon Helm, John Scofield, Phil Lesh, Jim Campilongo, Bill Kreutzman, Nels Cline, Todd Clouser, Jenny Scheinman, Scott Metzger, Elvis Perkins, John Leventhal, Tony Malaby, Bob DiPiero, Fobia, Autre ne Veut, Greensky Bluegrass, Trevor Dunn, Allison Miller, Del McCoury, Don Byron, Jeff Coffin, Jefferson Hamer, Chris Robinson, Greg Garing, Shawn Pelton, Lee Townsend, Skerik, Brandon Seabrook, Warren Haynes, Stanton Moore, Karl Denson, Ron Miles, Aaron Lee Tasjan, Michael Blake, Anton Fier, Fruition, Todd Sickafoose, Alto Reed, and Art Lande.
A prolific composer and bandleader, Erik's seven albums have received critical acclaim by RollingStone, Jazz Times, USA Today, and the Huffington Post, including Relix magazine naming Deutsch’s 4th album Outlaw Jazz the #16 best album of 2015. He was recently voted the #5 Rising Star Organist in Downbeat Magazine's annual poll, where he has been recognized for consecutive years. Deutsch’s most recent album, Live at Lunatico, was recorded in Bedstuy, Brooklyn and features his NYC sextet: Avi Bortnick, Mike McGinnis, Tony Mason, Brian Drye, and Fred Cash.
From 2016-19 Deutsch was a full-time member of the pioneering Colorado jamband Leftover Salmon, performing 100+ shows per year throughout the US. In 2020 Erik changed directions and joined forces with 12-time Grammy-winning band The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks). The Chicks are the highest grossing female act and highest grossing country music band in history. Their critically acclaimed album Gaslighter was released in July 2020.
The eclectic path of Erik’s 25-year career has led him to performances in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia; to Red Rocks, Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Blue Note, and Madison Square Garden; to Late Night with David Letterman, the Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Ellen and The View; and to appearances in the feature films “Begin Again” and “Trans.” Erik has played on more than 150 records and has taught thousands of students—who knows what to expect in the next 25 years? You can plan on a wealth of music and creative spirit from this one-of-a-kind pianist.
Erik’s 2020 releases included a solo piano improvisational recording Chrysanthemum in collaboration with producer Spencer Zahn (on Pique-nique Records) and Tangled Sea: a folk/jazz duo with Leftover Salmon banjoist Andy Thorn .
Photos by Andres Navarro
