Pianist Al Haig was born in Newark, New Jersey on July 22, 1922 and majored in piano performance at Oberlin College. Haig appeared with some of the most important musicians of his era and is considered an important be-bop keyboard man.

In 1945 Haig was playing in the combo led by Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker and was much in demand during the latter portion of that decade. He also played with Fats Navarro, Eddie Davis and Stan Getz during that period as well as playing on at least one of the “Birth of the Cool” sessions led by Miles Davis and Gil Evans. Although best known as a small group player, Haig also spent time playing in the big bands led by Charlie Barnet and Jimmy Dorsey. In 1952 Al Haig played for a time with trumpeter and vocalist Chet Baker before forming his own trios and quartets that produced some fine records in the mid-1950s.

All but forgotten for most of the 1960s, he was often found playing in piano bars around New York.  In 1968 Haig was accused of strangling his third wife. He was tried and acquitted the following year. There were those who doubted the outcome of the trial, however. Oddly enough, the notoriety of the trial and his subsequent acquittal seemed to somehow revive his career.

In the final decade of his life Haig spent much of his time performing in Europe and developed a significant following there. He died of a heart attack in 1982. During his career Al Haig was the pianist on some of the most significant recordings of the be-bop era.

Here is a link to a performance by the Al Haig Trio from 1954:

"ESOTERIC"