Erik Deutsch

Erik Deutsch is an American pianist, keyboardist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and educator.

He leads his own band and was a founding member of Fat Mama.

Deutsch is also known for his work with Charlie Hunter, Leftover Salmon, Dixie Chicks, Shooter Jennings, Citizen Cope and The Black Crowes.

Deutsch was born in Washington D.C. in 1976.

Influenced at an early age by his grandfather (a professional musician), his father (a barroom pianist), and his opera-singing nanny.

Deutsch began taking Suzuki piano lessons at Vanderbilt University.

After his family relocated to Nashville he studied piano with Tom Koester.

In 1985 Deutsch won a school song writing contest that led to his first gig at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

While attending High School in Potomac, MD, Deutsch frequented the jazz clubs of Washington D.C. Upon arriving at the University of Colorado Boulder in the fall 1995 he began lessons with pianists Art Lande and joined Fat Mama, a modern jazz/rock/fusion ensemble.

After completing his degree from CU in piano performance, Deutsch stayed in Boulder developing a busy career as a performer and teacher.

County Road X, a cinematic Americana ensemble, released two records during this period, County Road X (2002) and From Seed to Stone (2004).

Triangle, a piano trio led by Deutsch's musical mentor Art Lande (on drums), released Three Sides to a Question in 2004.

He taught and accompanied students frequently and was an adjunct faculty member at the Naropa University.

In the summer of 2005 Deutsch moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he worked at the Queens College, City University of New York Saturday jazz program and in The Bronx public school as a dance accompanist.

In 2007 he joined the Charlie Hunter Trio.

His tenure with Hunter lasted 3 years, involving extensive touring all over Europe, Asia, and Africa.

They recorded Mistico with drummer Simon Lott and Baboon Strength with drummer Tony Mason.

Deutsch released his first two records as a leader towards the end of the decade.

2007's Fingerprint features fellow Coloradans Ron Miles, Jenny Scheinman, Todd Sickafoose, Allison Miller, Janet Feder and Ross Martin.

In a review of 2009's Hush Money The Boston Globe makes mention of the "unmistakable traces of the Alpine air and sweeping CinemaScope views" within Deutsch's music.

These efforts also earn him his first feature in Downbeat Magazine.

In 2011 Deutsch collaborated with long-time associate Shooter Jennings for two records, Family Man and The Other Life.

Inevitably other similar collaborations ensued including work with Rosanne Cash, John Leventhal, Shelby Lynne, Allison Moorer, Norah Jones, Bob DiPiero and Jim Campilongo.

2012 marked the release of Deutsch’s third release as a leader, Demonio Teclado revealing a new psychedelic soul jazz sound.

Deutsch has been nominated consecutively in Downbeat Magazine Critic's Poll Rising Star organ category since 2012.

In 2014, Deutsch released Outlaw Jazz a critically acclaimed record fusing his brand of jazz with elements of country.

Since 2015, Deutsch has hosted a weekly bi-lingual radio show called the Sounds of Brooklyn and Beyond with co-host Sara Valenzuela.

The program airs on Jalisco Radio in Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, and Ciudad Guzman and is available as a podcast on iTunes and Spotify.

In 2016, Deutsch joined Colorado based jam band Leftover Salmon.

His four-year stint as a full-time member included over 400 shows and the release of three records.

Deutsch released his first solo piano album Creatures in 2016.

Downbeat Magazine critic Allan Drouot wrote, "Deutsch's pieces are imbued with the same mournfulness and simplicity that inhabits Satie's piano music."

In 2018 Deutsch released another large group project entitled Falling Flowers .

In 2019 Deutsch relocated to Colonia Roma Norte in Mexico City.

In 2020, Deutsch joined The Chicks (formerly Dixie Chicks) as the full-time touring keyboardist.

Deutsch released Live at LunÁtico and an improvised solo 7” LP on Piquinique Recordings entitled Chrysanthemum as well as a new project with banjoist Andy Thorn entitled Tangled Sea.

In August 2022, he replaced Joel Robinow in The Black Crowes.