Birnbaum was born in 1979 in
Boston,
Massachusetts. He studied "music theory, chamber music, and classical and jazz performance" at the
New England Conservatory of Music's Preparatory School. Birnbaum toured Japan and South Korea in 2008 as part of the Juilliard Jazz All-Stars. In 2008 Birnbaum received a
Chamber Music America grant to compose music for a piano trio. From around 2009 Birnbaum has been part of drummer
Al Foster's quartet. ==Playing style==