Uri Caine
American pianist and composer blending classical and jazz traditions.
Uri Caine, a pianist and composer born in Philadelphia on June 8, 1956, works in both classical and jazz traditions. His father, Burton Caine, was a law professor at Temple, and his mother, Shulamith Wechter Caine, was a poet. He started piano at age seven and studied with French jazz pianist Bernard Peiffer when he was twelve. Later, at the University of Pennsylvania, he studied under George Crumb, deepening his classical knowledge while also playing in Philadelphia clubs. He began playing professionally in 1981 and made his recording debut in 1985 with the Rochester-Gerald Veasley band. In the 1980s, he moved to New York City, where he still lives. His first solo album came out in 1992. He appeared on a klezmer album in 1993 and has recorded with modern jazz musicians like Don Byron and Dave Douglas.
Caine has released sixteen mostly classical albums. His 1997 jazz tribute to Gustav Mahler won an award from the German Mahler Society, though it upset some jury members. He has also reworked Bach’s Goldberg Variations, Beethoven’s Diabelli Variations, and music by Wagner, Schumann, and Mozart. From 2005 to 2009, he was Composer-in-Residence for the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and in 2010 he became a United States Artists Fellow. In 2012, he performed with the Armenian State Chamber Orchestra in Yerevan, and in 2013 and 2014 he was Composer-in-Residence at Mannes College. In 2019, he released an oratorio about the life and death of Octavius Catto.
In 2001, Caine and drummer Zach Danziger created the project Uri Caine Bedrock 3, blending jungle and drum ’n’ bass beats with fusion jazz. They have toured worldwide, including with DJ Olive. That same year, he released *The Philadelphia Experiment* with drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson and Christian McBride, an album mixing jazz, funk, instrumental hip hop, and fusion, produced by Aaron Levinson and featuring Pat Martino and Jon Swana. In 2006, he recorded *Moloch: Book of Angels Volume 6*, compositions from John Zorn’s second Masada book. In November 2012, he and drummer Han Bennink released a live album called *Sonic Boom*. In 2008, he was a special guest at the Italian jazz awards in Genoa.
- born
- June 8, 1956
- field
- Classical and jazz pianist and composer
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Jazz tributes to classical composers; reworkings of Bach, Beethoven, Wagner, Schumann, and Mozart
Quick Facts
- Background
- non_vocal_instrumentalist
- Birth Date
- 1956-06-08
- Birth Place
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- Genre
- Jazz, classical
- Occupation
- Musician, composer
- Instrument
- Piano
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Uri Caine was born on June 8, 1956, in Philadelphia, to Burton Caine, a professor at Temple Law School, and poet Shulamith Wechter Caine. He began playing piano at age seven and studied with French jazz pianist Bernard Peiffer at 12. Later, at the University of Pennsylvania, he studied under George Crumb, gaining greater familiarity with classical music while working at clubs in Philadelphia. He played professionally after 1981 and made his recording debut in 1985 with the Rochester-Gerald Veasley band. In the 1980s, he moved to New York City, where he continues to live. His solo recording debut was in 1992. He appeared on a klezmer album (Don Byron Plays the Music of Mickey Katz, 1993) and other recordings with modern jazz musicians Don Byron and Dave Douglas, among many others.
Caine has recorded 16 mostly classical albums. His 1997 jazz tribute to Gustav Mahler received an award from the German Mahler Society, while outraging some jury members. He has also reworked Bach's Goldberg Variations, Beethoven's Diabelli Variations, and music by Wagner, Schumann, and Mozart. He was Composer-in-Residence of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra from 2005 to 2009 and became a United States Artists Fellow in 2010. In 2012, he performed with the Armenian State Chamber Orchestra in Yerevan, Armenia, and in 2013 and 2014 was Composer-in-Residence at Mannes College. In 2019, he released an oratorio on the life and death of Octavius Catto.
In 2001, he teamed up with drummer Zach Danziger to conceive an original project fusing live jungle and drum 'n' bass beats with fusion jazz called 'Uri Caine Bedrock 3.' Also in 2001, he released with drummer Ahmir 'Questlove' Thompson of The Roots and Christian McBride an album called The Philadelphia Experiment. In 2006, he recorded an album of compositions from John Zorn's second Masada book called Moloch: Book of Angels Volume 6. In November 2012, Caine collaborated with drummer Han Bennink to release a live album entitled Sonic Boom.
Reader's Guide
Uri Caine's significance lies in his sustained exploration of the intersection between classical and jazz traditions, often reimagining works by major classical composers through a jazz lens. His 1997 jazz tribute to Gustav Mahler, which received an award from the German Mahler Society while outraging some jury members, exemplifies his ability to provoke both acclaim and controversy. His reworkings of Bach's Goldberg Variations and Beethoven's Diabelli Variations further demonstrate his approach of treating canonical works as raw material for improvisation and reinterpretation. Caine's career also reflects a broad collaborative spirit, working with figures such as Don Byron, Dave Douglas, John Zorn, and members of The Roots. His role as Composer-in-Residence of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra from 2005 to 2009 and at Mannes College in 2013 and 2014 indicates institutional recognition of his work. His 2019 oratorio on Octavius Catto shows his engagement with historical and social themes. Caine's legacy is that of a versatile musician who has consistently blurred genre boundaries, contributing to both the classical and jazz canons through performance, composition, and collaboration.
Did You Know?
- Uri Caine began playing piano at age seven and studied with French jazz pianist Bernard Peiffer at 12.
- His 1997 jazz tribute to Gustav Mahler received an award from the German Mahler Society while outraging some jury members.
- He was Composer-in-Residence of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra from 2005 to 2009.
- In 2019, he released an oratorio on the life and death of Octavius Catto.
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