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Jazz Articles about Fred Hersch
Of Stories, Songs, and Self: Fred Hersch's Good Things Happen Slowly & Open Book
by Dan Bilawsky
Most everything in Fred Hersch's oeuvre has always miraculously existed as slow read and page-turner all at once. The many phrases, songs, and albums spun from the mind and fingers of this highly expressive pianist-composer have been something to really take time with, to be savored and appreciated for their beauty and depth of creative thought. But his performances simultaneously invite curiosity about what sits around the next bend. That seemingly paradoxical duality is just one of the many gifts ...
Continue ReadingFred Hersch: Open Book
by Dan McClenaghan
In the aftermath of his coma and very possible demise back in 2008, pianist Fred Hersch blossomed from a status as a first rate jazz pianist into the rarified air of one of the handful of top practitioners of that art form. A series of post-illness albums, from Whirl (2010), to Alone At The Vanguard (2011) to Floating (2014), Solo (2015) and Sunday Night At the Vanguard (2016), all on Palmetto Records, are all solo and trio outings that reveal ...
Continue ReadingFred Hersch Trio: Sunday Night at the Vanguard
by Angelo Leonardi
"Questo è di gran lunga l'album migliore che ho realizzato in trio--dice Fred Hersch -e rappresenta al meglio il nostro modo di suonare." Ogni musicista tende a pensare allo stesso modo e la frase ci lascia perplessi perchè non è facile superare album strepitosi come Floating (Palmetto, 2014) realizzato in studio e Alive at the Vanguard (Palmetto, 2012). Ma dopo numerosi ascolti del nuovo disco si tende a concordare col pianista di Cincinnati. La nuova incisione nello storico ...
Continue ReadingFred Hersch Trio: Sunday Night At The Vanguard
by Mark Corroto
The thing about a Fred Hersch Trio recording, is that it's like a family meal at your favorite restaurant. While the kids want to start with dessert first, you may want them to enjoy the appetizers and settle in for a delicious meal before the sweets. With Hersch's trio, the last course is almost always a Thelonious Monk composition. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. The favorite restaurant here is New York's Village Vanguard, the incomparable club ...
Continue ReadingThe Fred Hersch Trio: Sunday Night At The Vanguard
by Dan McClenaghan
Reach up to the CD shelf and pull a handful of Fred Hersch CDS down. You'll find that the pianist has a good thing going with the Village Vanguard. Alive At The Vanguard (Palmetto Records, 2012) a stellar two CD set, and terrific solo set, Alone At the Vanguard (Palmetto Records, 2011), are Hersch's most recent recordings from the legendary venue; and now he and his trio offer up Sunday Night At the Vanguard. Hersch says this is ...
Continue ReadingFred Hersch: Sarabande
by Budd Kopman
Sarabande is a re-mastered reissue of a recording done in 1986, and should be welcomed with open arms. Those who know pianist Fred Hersch get to hear the early work of an now-acknowledged master; those who do not can hear timeless playing from thirty years ago. In the notes, Hersch has dedicated this reissue to bassist Charlie Haden with a back story which can be summarized as follows: in 1984, Hersch began playing with Haden, and in 1986 ...
Continue ReadingFred Hersch: Solo
by Maurizio Zerbo
Compiuti i sessanta anni, Fred Hersch ha ormai conseguito la meritata notorietà che però lo ha portato alla sovraesposizione discografica. Questo suo recente progetto è imperniato sulla rielaborazione di un vasto repertorio che include jazz, bossa nova, musica eurocolta, pop. Come era lecito attendersi da un musicista di vaglia come lui, prevale la logica della decostruzione armonico-melodica rispetto alla mera interpretazione didascalica. Paragonato a qualche alterna prova discografica dell'ultimo quinquennio, questo CD brilla per ispirazione e sensibilità artistica.
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