Fred Hersch - Silent, Listening

Label: ECM Records, 2024

Personnel - Fred Hersch: piano.

Pianist and composer Fred Hersch, a 17-time Grammy nominee with collaborations alongside jazz legends like Art Framer and Gary Burton, possesses a unique ability to emphasize beautiful melodies within sophisticated harmonizations as well as explore uncharted territory in the moment. These qualities are on full display in Silent, Listening, an introspective solo album that reasserts his stature as a prime pianist with a broad artistic vision.

Presenting brilliantly crafted nocturnals, the set begins with Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn’s “Star-Crossed Lovers”, whose narrative process involves poignancy, reflection, and exquisite beauty. Hersch’s original compositions, like “Night Delight” and “Akrasia”, are equally captivating, where something is always transpiring, even in the quietest of the moments. The former, hazy and secretive, immerses us in a baffling, inconclusive dream, while the latter dreams up mysterious shadows, with Hersh anchoring austere pulsations on the lower register while coloring bucolic impressionistic landscapes several steps higher in pitch.

Breaking away from convention, the pianist explores new realms and finds new spaces on openly improvised numbers like “Aeon”, where he traverses the keyboard to express intriguing findings, and “Volon”, whose prevailing stillness is interrupted by sudden bursts of movement. On the other hand, “Little Song”, originally written for his duo collaboration with Italian trumpeter Enrico Rava, introduces a palpable rhythm and harmony into a streamlined musical form.

The music continues to soar with inspired renditions of Sigmund Romberg’s “Softly As In a Morning Sunrise”, which Hersch immediately associates with saxophonist Sonny Rollins, and Alec Wilder’s haunting ballad “Winter of My Discontent”. This is where the most straightforward lyricism touches the soul. 

Hersch always evokes sincerity and emotion with his piano playing, and Silent, Listening is one of his most worthy solo albums in recent years.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Star-Crossed Lovers ► 03 - Akrasia ► 11 - Winter of My Discontent

Fred Hersch & Esperanza Spalding - Alive at the Village Vanguard

Label: Palmetto Records, 2022

Personnel - Fred Hersch: piano; Esperanza Spalding: vocals.

Without major arrangements, this piano-voice duo recording captured live at New York's Village Vanguard, shows off the many musical qualities of Fred Hersch and Esperanza Spalding. The pair imbues most of the tunes with a quirky perspective and humor, but I felt this work more as an audience entertainment rather than an audio recording to be revisited.

Gershwin’s “But Not For Me” swings in rubato time with theatrical posture and a kind of jocularity in the words. Spalding’s vocal solo is followed by Hersch's contrapuntal notes professed in different registers of the piano. The musicians waste no time showing melodic agility on “Dream of Monk”, a tune with lyrics from the pianist, which had been previously  included on his 2012 trio album Alive at the Vanguard (with bassist John Hébert and drummer Eric McPherson). Due to its nature, there’s an ample improvisational window turned into playful and intuitive interaction. Monk’s mysterious ways are evoked and exhaled at every breath with fluid changes of rhythm and intonation. 

The homage to the iconic pianist of “Round Midnight” is intensified with a rendition of one of his tunes: “Evidence”, here made wondrous in detail by Hersch after a responsive introduction. The vocalist shines on the latter piece but finds new spaces on “Loro”, where the Brazilian folk complexities of its composer, Egberto Gismonti, is dismantled by an effortless communication with her accompanist. Their deep-seated instinct takes the form of a slinky celebration on Charlie Parker’s calypso-bop flavored “Little Suede Shoes”, where there’s an inclination for percussive extended techniques and the low registers.

“Girl Talk” is made rightfully critical by Spalding but didn’t catch my ear, just like “A Wish”, the discreet closing number penned by Hersch and Norma Winstone and firstly recorded in 2003 to be included on their duo album Songs & Lullabies.

Mostly traditionally low-key, this is an album to be played once, not twice… and here comes Monk again!

Favorite Tracks:
02 - Dream of Monk ► 05 - Evidence ► 07 - Loro

Enrico Rava / Fred Hersch - The Song is You

Label: ECM Records, 2022

Personnel - Enrico Rava: flugelhorn; Fred Hersch: piano. 

Italian trumpeter and flugelhornist Enrico Rava and American pianist Fred Hersch have been performing in a variety of settings for more than five decades, showing a particular fondness for the duo format. Rava paired up with other pianists in the past such as Enrico Pieranunzi, Ran Blake, and Stefano Bollani, whereas Hersch established duo associations with vocalist Jay Clayton, guitarist Bill Frisell, reedist Michael Moore, and trumpeter Ralph Alessi. The Song is You marks their first musical encounter on record, as well as Hersch's first appearance on the ECM Records. 

With the natural ability to find their own spaces, the duo embarks on a set of ballad standards, one casual improvisation, and one original from each musician. They belt the poignant Brazilian poem “Retrato em Branco e Preto” - composed by Tom Jobim and Chico Buarque - with that genuine pathos that serves so well the emotionally driven style of Rava. Hersch is pretty efficient both in his harmonic choices and improvised abandonment. The following number, “Improvisation”, is exactly what the title suggests. They opt not to speed up, maintaining a similar flow of the aforementioned song but going motivic in the communication.

Hersch’s mature original “Child’s Song” was written for the late bassist Charlie Haden and plays like a lullaby smoothed out by beautiful melody. In turn, Rava’s “The Trial”, formerly included on the albums Noir (1996) and Happiness is (2003), lets us realize that a rich sound can have a light touch.

Regardless of the originals added, Rava and Hersch don’t take particularly new directions here, but their interpretation of standards always brings subtle variations and transformative ideas to the table. This is the case with the stripped-down version of “I’m Getting Sentimental Over You”, which rises into staccato piano comping and unabashed brass emotion; and “The Song is You”, another ballad that goes abstract up to a point in its denouement. The infrequent risk-taking factor is still spotted on Monk’s classic “Misterioso”, a ride that, going from quiet to playful, has Hersch exploring wonderful intervals and chord sequences around which Rava’s horn hovers and darts with poise. The album is finalized in solo piano mode with “Round Midnight”, another paradigmatic tune drawn from Monk’s repertoire.

This is not a mandatory listening, but a competent jazz recording with a few intimate musical moments to admire.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Retrato em Branco e Preto ► 03 - I’m Getting Sentimental Over You ► 04 - The Song is You

Fred Hersh - Breath By Breath

Label: Palmetto Records, 2022

Personnel - Fred Hersch: piano; Drew Gress: bass; Jochen Rueckert: drums; Rogerio Boccato: percussion (#6) + Crosby Street String Quartet - Joyce Hammann: violin; Laura Seaton: violin; Lois Martin: viola; Jody Redhage: cello. 

Acknowledging string quartet as a natural configuration for him, the pianist/composer Fred Hersch puts out Breath By Breath, a well-rounded set of sensitive music that seamlessly integrates his jazz trio - featuring his long-time collaborator Drew Gress on bass and the recent associate Jochen Rueckert on drums - and the harmonious strings of the Crosby Street String Quartet. 

The eight-part Sati Suite, inspired by his meditation practices, starts with “Begin Again”, which flows relentlessly with dramatic and poignant tones during the reflective theme; then radiates optimism during a piano solo that shows the quality of his language. The signature meter shifts to 5/4, proposing a delicate Latin touch before a brief passage infused by strings. This metric rhythm is also found in the suite's concluding part, “Worldly Winds”, a pulsating treat that, living from vivid impulses and counterpoint, reveals a strong classical lineage.

Predominantly introspective, the songs often combine silken tones with sparkling chops, and both “Awaken Heart” and “Breath by Breath” are two notable examples of these quiet inflections. The former, solemnly cinematic in the [pizzicato/bowed] strings introduction, definitely awakes for passionate and emotional piano playing; the latter, recalling a chorale, thrives with a thoughtful bass solo, pondered brushwork, and inspired string fills adorning the piano statement. The richness of the arrangements is also visible in the waltzing “Rising, Falling”, which works closer to the Bill Evans template. A bit less obvious is “Monkey Mind”, whose interactive delineation is committed to explore beyond what is expected.

On the singular “Mara” - titled after the god who tempted Buddha with wine, women and wealth - the ensemble jells into a gently percussive flow in six that evokes Eastern atmospheres. The Brazilian percussionist Rogerio Boccato guests on this immutable foundation over which Hersch churns out subtle melodic shadings before concluding with entrancing chordal movements. Not affiliated with the suite, “Pastorale” is Hersch’s homage to the German classical composer Robert Schumann, warmly put together with a bolero-ish throttle.  

Serving as a catalyst to creativity, this intimate musical experience shows the prolific pianist working in an infrequent context with the same personal voice.

Favorite Tracks:
01 - Begin Again ► 06 - Mara ► 08 - Worldly Winds

Anat Cohen / Fred Hersch - Live in Healdsburg

Label: Anzic Records, 2018

Personnel - Anat Cohen: clarinet; Fred Hersch: piano.

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On their debut duo record, world-class instrumentalists Anat Cohen and Fred Hersch, clarinetist and pianist, respectively, included originals and carefully selected repertoire, whose variety enriches sonic possibilities as it supplements their creative vein. This intimate recording session was part of the 2016 Healdsburg Jazz Festival's lineup and comes in the sequence of very personal works recently put out by the two artists - Cohen gathered a skillful tentet to bring Happy Song (Anzic, 2017) to life, while Hersch orchestrated the enchanting Open Book (Palmetto, 2017) alone at a piano.

Produced by Cohen’s longtime musical partner Oded Lev-Ari, Live in Healdsburg starts with two compositions by Hersch. The opener, “A Lark”, which first appeared on the album Trio +2 (Palmetto, 2004), has the affectionate melody outlined by the clarinet, sliding over chord changes or ever-changing textures. Spinning with as much pleasure as free abandonment, Hersch, mostly conducting his accompaniment over the mid and high registers, achieves a further grandiosity whenever he hits the supporting bass notes. 

The duo's gentleness continues on the following piece. “Child’s Song” holds a rubato piano introduction that takes us to a 6/4 tempo put on hold by a staccato pianism. Brief pedals are combined with folk and classical movements in a middle passage that sometimes feels enigmatic without losing the sweetness of tone.

Cohen also shows to be a serious connoisseur and adept of the jazz tradition on her waltzing, classical-tinged “The Purple Piece”. Although she rarely explored rhythmic ideas that go beyond the expected on the weightless rendition of Billy Strayhorn’s “Isfahan”, her improvisation was fantastic on Hersch's bebop-inspired “Lee’s Dream”, a tune harmonically based on “You Stepped Out of a Dream” that served to honor saxophonist Lee Konitz. Still, the true emotions were left to “The Peacocks”, where the clarinet digs deep into the essence of our soul. Bill Evan’s interpretation of this tune might be insuperable, but this ego-less duet also captures and exposes the grandeur of the piece based on a flawless instrumental alliance.

After Fats Waller’s emblematic “Jitterbug Waltz”, here re-invented with a playful intro from piano, expressive musical smiles, and loose-limbed interplay with some rhythmic wallops, the recording comes to an end with the amicable serenity of Ellington’s classic “Mood Indigo”.

Inspiring each other and divinely ingratiated by their natural talent and musical sophistication, Cohen and Hersch make effortless music. This cute live recording, warmly temperate and melodic, makes for a pleasant listen.

        Grade B

        Grade B

Favorite tunes: 
01 – A Lark ► 05 – Lee’s Dream ► 06 – The Peacocks

Fred Hersch - Open Book

Label/Year: Palmetto Records, 2017

Lineup - Fred Hersch: piano.

Open Book is another wonderful opportunity to get in touch with the compelling and always emotional music of Fred Hersch, an established pianist who, playing solo, presents three originals and four selected covers of disparate nature.

fred-hersch-open-book.jpg

The gifted musician confesses in the booklet notes of his 11th solo release that what gives him more pleasure lately is sitting down at the piano and let it flow to see what happens. That’s exactly the sensation we got when this record is spinning. It starts by conveying a delicate intimacy in its opening tune, “The Orb”, an original and very personal composition whose touching lyricism is freed by the magic touch of his fingers as he couples melodic and harmonic richness. Everything is surrounded by a glorious sense of dreaming.
 
“Plainsong” is another original composition that reflects this state of melancholy, generating an idyllic crossing between jazz and classical genres. Its structure has nothing to do with “Through the Forest”, a ruminative 19-minute free improvisation that explores imaginary paths and trails of a secret forest. There are amazement, abstracted reverie, and dazzle in the depiction, but also mystery and an intermittent tension that is mostly created by the deep-sounding chords unhooked with the left hand.

Jobim’s “Zingaro”, also known as “Portrait in Black and White”, shows up with a heavenly aura, carrying all that crushing sentiment in the beautiful melody and harmonic progression.

Benny Golson’s classic “Whisper Not” is dissected with wisdom and perceptiveness, and then reconstructed with adventurous melodic counterpoint and ruling staccato voicings that, in an early stage, difficult the perception of which tune we are listening to. The main melody only becomes clearly discernible when we reach the final shout chorus.

In turn, Monk’s “Eronel" theme is delivered when most expected. Holding on to its natural bop gaiety, Hersch’s rendition exerts inventive rhythmic variations, stout phrases enriched with exciting passage notes, and attractive motifs. It diverges from Billy Joel’s lyric poem “And So It Goes”, which, interpreted with elegance, closes the album with a romantic touch.

As a curiosity, the previous solo album by Fred Hersch, precisely entitled Solo, also included one Jobim and one Monk song, and closed with a pop/rock piece, in the case, Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides, Now”. Regardless the observation, Open Book is another story and a wonderful one, replete with fantastic moments that should be enough to make you exploring it with no reservations.

        Grade A

        Grade A

Favorite Tracks:
01 – The Orb ► 02 - Whisper Not ► 04 - Through the Forest 

Fred Hersch Trio - Sunday Night At the Vanguard

Fred Hersch: piano; John Hébert: double bass; Eric McPherson: drums.

Fred Hersch, a pianist of elaborate momentum, makes of the diversity his best weapon in “Sunday Nigh at the Vanguard”, recorded live in the most celebrated jazz venue in New York, in the company of the explorative bassist John Hébert and the tremendously adaptable Eric McPherson, who occupied the drummer’s chair.
The inspired melodies and harmonic textures of the pianist combine seamlessly with the throbbing grooves generated by the empathic rhythm section, ending up in curious dialogues that are more concordant than contentious.
Shedding a gentle lyricism, the proficient trio dabbles in a variety of styles. “A Cockeyed Optimist” is the typical jazz standard, “Serpentine” let us feel a strong classical influence, “The Optimum Thing” is a bop-colored tune, “Calligram is an avant-gardish delight dedicated to Benoit Delbecq, “Blackwing Palomino” is a post-bop incursion with rhythmic nuances, McCartney’s “For No One” takes the form of a ballad, Kenny Wheeler’s “Everybody’s Song But My Own” is a gripping exuberance, the weepy “The Peacocks” is naturally impactful, and Monk’s mood is completely identifiable in “Wee See”, here enhanced with some radical rhythmic variations.

Favorite Tracks:
04 – Calligram ► 07 – Everybody’s Song But My Own ► 08 – The Peacocks