Biography

Jazz pianist and composer Bunny Beck comes from a long line of musicians. Her dad – banjo player, guitarist, singer Larry Sideman had a band that played hotels, her aunt played vaudeville violin and her grandmother sang opera.

A native New Yorker, Bunny graduated as a music major from the High School of Music and Art (now La Guardia), and by the time she was 16, was teaching private piano students, both adults and children.

Originally trained as a classical pianist starting at age 6, Bunny studied with a range of teachers. She is extremely grateful to have had the honor of being the only child student of renowned concert pianist Selma Kramer.

Ultimately Bunny realized that jazz was her passion, so she sought out jazz mentors. She studied for several years with the superb performer, composer, arranger Lee Evans who provided a great foundation, and with the brilliant performer Fernando Hernandez.

In 2002 Bunny had the unique opportunity to study and play in Cuba with Reinaldo Gomez Ruiz and his band, “Gens”.

She has studied with renowned recording artist and band leader Sonny Bravo, pianist for the late Tito Puente and his band, and with jazz piano legend Harold Mabern.

An ardent admirer of many great jazz pianists, Bunny gravitates most toward the sound, feel and style of Bud Powell, Wynton Kelly and Sonny Clark.

Bunny performs solo and with other musicians wherever the gig takes her, playing in the US as well as abroad.

Professional musician memberships include the American Federation of Musicians - Local 802 and ASCAP. Bunny is also a member and past Board member of the International Women in Jazz.

Gigs

VENUES (Partial List)

The New York Palace Hotel
Couture Bridal Collection Cocktail Reception

The Four Seasons Restaurant, NYC
Anniversary Party

The Grill Room, World Financial Center, NYC
Special Promotional Event

The Park Avenue Café Townhouse, NYC
Private Event

Hyatt Regency Hotel, Boston
Wedding Cocktail Reception

Saks Fifth Avenue, NYC
Special Corporate Promotion Event

The Museum of the Moving Image, Astoria, NY
Special Corporate Event

Terrace on the Park, Queens, NY
Corporate Reception and Luncheon

The Riverdale Garden Restaurant, Riverdale, NY
Anniversary Party

La Guardia Marriott Courtyard Hotel, Queens, NY
Corporate Reception

The Crawford Mansion, Ryebrook, NY
Wedding Reception

The White Peach Restaurant, Gaylordsville, CT
Cocktail Party/Open House

The Regency, Glen Cove, NY
Soiree for Managers 

Knickerbocker Country Club, Tenafly, NJ,  Corporate Event

La Quinta Inn, Secaucus, NJ, Private Event

CLIENTS (Partial List)

Make Music New York (MMNY) Sponsored by Time Out NY
Sidewalk Performance at Pommes Frites

Queens Public Television, NY
25th Anniversary Celebration

Entertainment Fusion Group, (P.R. Firm) Los Angeles, CA
Promotional Special Event

Carmela Sutera Couture Bridal Collection
Collection Show Cocktail Party 

Holliswood Hospital, NY
Staff Holiday Party

Carl Schurz Park Association, NYC
Benefit Cocktail Parties

Bryant Library, Roslyn NY
“What Makes Jazz, Jazz?” Performance and Discussion

The White Peach Restaurant, Gaylordsville, CT
on-going gigs; Saturday nights & Sunday brunch 5/07 - 6/09

The Riverdale Garden Restaurant, Riverdale, NY
on-going Sunday Brunch gig 2004-2005

LPG Music, Westchester NY
played numerous gigs at various venues for this entertainment company

Queensboro Council for Social Welfare, NY
Luncheon/Reception Annual Salute to Community Leaders

Health and Business Alliance, Queens, NY
Corporate Fair

Community Chest of Englewood, NJ, Benefit Cocktail Party

Music entertainment for private Alzheimer’s client, Port Washington, NY

Numerous Private Events
Solo, Duo and Trio: holiday parties, cocktail parties, weddings, receptions, anniversary parties, fund raisers, special events

Music

Bunny Beck’s piano jazz style has been noted for “its distinctive, warm, rich sound” Her technique is “fluid, smooth and brings clarity to every note.” Her playing has been called “sweet and strong, innovative, lyrical, and definitely swinging!”

Her broad repertoire includes the jazz standards typical of Porter, Gershwin, and Rogers and Hart, Ellington and Strayhorn works, and the harmonic genre and technically intricate music of jazz and blues greats such as Bud Powell, Miles Davis, JJ Johnson, Horace Silver, Chick Corea, and Mal Waldron.

Bunny creates her own arrangements and solo improvisations and composes original music. She's always exploring new sounds, new musical ideas, which constantly inspire her musical creativity In 2007, she recorded her composition “It’s In The Stars” with bassist Tom Hubbard and vocalist Mark Estabrooks.   

LATEST NEWS!    

     Look for Bunny's album,"Sound Tapestries" released August 31, 2010 by Parma Recordings on their Big Round label! The album features both the Bunny Beck Trio as well as Bunny's solo piano.

  The music streaming now is the Bunny Beck Trio with Tom Hubbard on bass and Scott Latzky on drums. 

Renowned bassist, arranger and composer Tom Hubbard has performed with many of the finest performers in jazz including Ron Affif, Charlie Byrd, Dewey Redman, Roy Hargrove, Randy Brecker, Kenny Washington, Kenny Barron, and Cyrus Chestnut. Tom has also accompanied many singers, including Chris Connor, Liza Minnelli, Sheila Jordan, Martha Reeves, Laurel Masse, Joe Williams and Freddie Cole. You can catch Tom at a multitude of venues in NYC, as well as hearing his definitive style on numerous albums.

Innovative and versatile percussionist Scott Latzky has played and recorded with a wide range of musicians. He has created a unique ensemble - a "collective" - where he combines his skills on drums with his interest in melodic percussion. 1996 winner of the Cognac-Hennessey Jazz Search, Scott has played the Playboy Jazz Festival at the Hollywood Bowl. He's a faculty member of Groznjan, Croatia's summer jazz workshop, has taught at Hartwick College and since 1992 has been teaching at The Fieldston School, NY. Additionally, Scott has composed for and directed musical productions.

Testimonials

"Bunny Beck has been playing piano during lunch/brunch and dinner between 2007-2009 at the White Peach Restaurant.

The restaurant was a fine dining restaurant with nice reviews in the New York Times, Connecticut magazine and a variety of other publications.

Bunny’s style was perfect for the setting and her wide variety including jazz, classic and show tunes were very much enjoyed by the customers. Sunday brunch jazz standards had many patrons humming or singing along and people often asked if she would be playing.

Bunny has a very friendly, entertaining and easygoing style both musically and personally. She was very well liked by staff and customers. During the special events we hosted, when people hung around late, Bunny would graciously offer to play later as people were enjoying the music. It is really nice to see how passionate Bunny is about her music and how much she likes it herself, as it translates to very enjoyable performances.

As I am selling the restaurant, I will miss Bunny’s playing and her sparkling personality. If I would need to hire a piano player in the future, she is at the top of my list."

Jiri Krejcir
Owner
White Peach Restaurant
Gaylordsville, CT

"Thank you for providing the background music for the Community Chest’s “Grant A Wish” event. Not only was your music lovely, but it also created just the atmosphere we hoped for. The party was a huge success – first, everyone had a really nice time and second, it netted $19,000+ for the Community Chest and for the wishes of the hungry and homeless. Thank you for being an important part of our success."

Harriet Tanner
Executive Director
The Community Chest of Englewood
Englewood, NJ

Links

Contact

Ways you can get in touch with Bunny:

Email - bunnybeck2000@gmail.com
Telephone - 212 828 6944
Cell - 646 732 9875 

Bunny is available for hire within New York City, the Tri-State area, and beyond.

Her fee is $125.00 per hour. The fee varies when she is booked to play as a duo, trio, or if a vocalist or additional musicians are added to the engagement.

If you are interested in hiring Bunny, please fill out the form below: