Liz Story
- Born
- 1956 · San Diego.
- Nationality
- United States
- Occupation
- pianist · composer · musician
- Fields
- jazz · new age music
- Education
- Hunter College
In this article
Key facts
• Name — Liz Story • Background — non_vocal_instrumentalist • Born — 1950 10 28 • Birthplace — San Diego, California, U.S. • Genre — New-age; Jazz • Occupation — Musician, composer • Instrument — Piano • Years Active — 1983–present • Label — Windham Hill, Novus, DMI • Website — www.lizstory.com Liz Story is an American pianist. Often characterized as a New-Age musician, her works resemble a combination of jazz and classical music.
Early years
Born in San Diego, California, Story played classical music as a child. She studied at Juilliard School and Hunter College. After hearing pianist Bill Evans perform at a club in New York City, she studied jazz piano with Sanford Gold, whom Evans recommended. Story then studied music at University of California in Los Angeles and the Dick Grove Music Workshops.
Professional musician
Between 1983 and 2005, Story released ten full-length record albums, including two albums of jazz standards. William Ackerman of Windham Hill Records signed her to his label in 1983. Often compared to George Winston, another Windham Hill artist, her early solo piano recordings found favor with New-Age music listeners. A 1986 solo performance at New York music venue The Bottom Line garnered a favorable review from noted music critic Stephen Holden, who praised her technique and ability to "give each song a scrupulous sense of compositional unity." Story composed and performed the songs "Forgiveness" and "Worth Winning" for the 1989 film Worth Winning. Her hands were used in the film to simulate the piano playing by actress Madeline Stowe.
Career interrupted
Story experienced a hemorrhage of the brain during a performance in 2019, necessitating a recovery period to re-learn how to play her music. By 2023 she returned to performing, including events at Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center.
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Liz Story, revision 1329116198 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Discography
• Solid Colors (Windham Hill, 1983) • Unaccountable Effect (Windham Hill, 1985) • Part of Fortune (Jive/Novus, 1988) • Speechless (Jive/Novus, 1989) • Escape of the Circus Ponies (Windham Hill, 1990) • My Foolish Heart (Windham Hill, 1992) • The Gift (Windham Hill, 1994) • Liz Story (Windham Hill, 1996) • 17 Seconds to Anywhere (Windham Hill, 1998) • Night Sky Essays (DMI, 2005)
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Holden, Stephen. Music: Liz Story, Pianist. The New York Times. November 17, 1986.
- 2.Liska, A. James. Music MAKING MUSIC, LIZ STORY STYLE. Los Angeles Times. 1 May 1987.
- 3.Kohanov, Linda. Liz Story Biography & History AllMusic. AllMusic.
- 4.The Prescott (AZ) Times. Liz Story Live In Concert. 2023.
- 5.Grammy nominated pianist and Windham Hill recording artist Liz Story to headline concert in Lanesboro. Winona Post. Sep 28, 2016.
- 6.Worth Winning (1989). IMDb.com.
- 7.KRON News. Windham Hill Pianist Liz Story to Celebrate 40 Years of Music in Kennedy Center Debut on April 25th in Washington, D.C. February 4, 2025.
- 8.Liz Story Album Discography AllMusic. AllMusic.
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Partially resolvedreference work
Partially resolved
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 13 September 2026.
Elsewhere in Music memorabilia
41,877 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Liz McClarnonPerson
- Liz MitchellPerson
- Liz MoorePerson
- Liz PhillipsPerson
- Liza FerschtmanPerson
- Liza LehmannPerson
- Liza LiPerson
- Liza LimPerson
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Liz Story?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.