Jazz Articles about The Fred Hersch Ensemble

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The Fred Hersch Ensemble: Leaves of Grass

by AAJ Staff
February 22, 2005

For Leaves of Grass, pianist/composer Fred Hersch has set the poetry of Walt Whitman to music. Without a doubt that this is a very great record. Hersch's compositions, which showcase the singing of Kurt Elling (mostly) and Kate McGarry, are jazz, but, happily, they are not otherwise easily classifiable. They bring a modern post-bop drive to Walt Whitman's celestial verse, thanks in large part to John Hollenbeck's drumming. Fortunately, Whitman's speech-like cadences easily lend themselves to swinging.

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