Biography
Aaron Goldberg (born April 30, 1974) is an American jazz pianist described by The New York Times as a “post-bop pianist of exemplary taste and range.” He has released several solo albums and collaborated widely, including with Joshua Redman, Wynton Marsalis, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Guillermo Klein.
Born in Boston to two physicians, Goldberg began piano at age seven and jazz at fourteen. He studied at Milton Academy, where he was introduced to improvisation, and later moved to New York at seventeen to attend the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. After a year, he transferred to Harvard University, where he pursued an interdisciplinary degree in Mind, Brain, and Behavior, graduating magna cum laude with a thesis on consciousness under Robert Nozick. Throughout this period, he remained active musically, earning a major jazz fellowship and performing frequently in Boston and New York.
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After graduating in 1996, Goldberg returned to New York and immersed himself in performance, working with artists such as Betty Carter. He formed the Aaron Goldberg Trio in 1998, releasing Turning Point (1999) and Unfolding (2001), while also touring extensively with Redman. He later performed with figures including Freddie Hubbard and Stefon Harris, and developed a strong connection to Brazilian music through frequent travel.
In 2005, Goldberg began a master’s degree in philosophy at Tufts University, studying under Daniel Dennett while maintaining an active performance schedule. He completed the degree in 2010 and continued recording, including Home (2010), Bienestan (2012) with Klein, and Yes! (2012). His 2014 album The Now, recorded with Reuben Rogers and Eric Harland, received strong critical praise. One of his compositions was also included in Windows Vista.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.