Pianist Fred Hersch's once-in-a-lifetime combination of prowess and patience not only endeared him to musicians like Stan Getz and Jim Hall, but it also enabled him to become this generation's reigning poet laureate of the... more » piano. This 1998 live recording, done at his alma mater, the New England Conservatory of Music, offers the perfect format to display his gifts. A keyboard descendant of Ahmad Jamal and Bill Evans, Hersch delivers stunning interpretations of some time-honored standards, including a fabulous funereal take on the traditional song "Black Is the Color" and Alex North's immortal "Love Theme from Spartacus." Hersch's performances of "The Nearness of You" and "I Loves You Porgy" are imbued with pastel-like harmonic hazes and lyrical lines, while his rendition of Joni Mitchell's "My Old Man" retains the composer's cool, visual imagery. The piano player's own spectral offering "Departed" could be the jazz canon's new addition we've all been waiting for, while "Speak Low" swings with a snappy, interlocking fugal introduction. Hersch's reading of "Blue Monk" recasts it in a revival-era mood, complete with down-home chordal clusters that evoke that upright piano in the corner of the church. --Eugene Holley Jr.« less
Pianist Fred Hersch's once-in-a-lifetime combination of prowess and patience not only endeared him to musicians like Stan Getz and Jim Hall, but it also enabled him to become this generation's reigning poet laureate of the piano. This 1998 live recording, done at his alma mater, the New England Conservatory of Music, offers the perfect format to display his gifts. A keyboard descendant of Ahmad Jamal and Bill Evans, Hersch delivers stunning interpretations of some time-honored standards, including a fabulous funereal take on the traditional song "Black Is the Color" and Alex North's immortal "Love Theme from Spartacus." Hersch's performances of "The Nearness of You" and "I Loves You Porgy" are imbued with pastel-like harmonic hazes and lyrical lines, while his rendition of Joni Mitchell's "My Old Man" retains the composer's cool, visual imagery. The piano player's own spectral offering "Departed" could be the jazz canon's new addition we've all been waiting for, while "Speak Low" swings with a snappy, interlocking fugal introduction. Hersch's reading of "Blue Monk" recasts it in a revival-era mood, complete with down-home chordal clusters that evoke that upright piano in the corner of the church. --Eugene Holley Jr.
"Along with John McArthur's, "HIDDEN", Let Yourself Go: Fred Hersch at Jordan Hall may be the most breath-takingly beautiful album I have ever heard. Buy this CD, you will not regreat it."
Beautiful, sophisticated, original, inventive piano playing.
Joseph Scott | 07/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Fred Hersch is one of the best solo jazz pianists in recent memory. His playing is original, yet versed in the classical and jazz tradition. It is poetic and inventive in a way that makes it almost impossible to mistake Fred for any other pianist.
The recording quality on is not great, as it was not a planned release. Fred decided to release it because he felt it was a special performance.
The first track, "Black is the Colour/Love Them from Spartacus" is sublime: Fred's use of space is flawless, his harmony is sonorous and appropriate, the melodic line flows smoothly through the entire track, and the climax is one of the best in recorded jazz.
The second track, "Speak Low", is full of inventive counterpoint and several exciting devices, such as an exciting ostinato montuno pattern
I won't describe all of the tracks, but every single one is a unique gem. After a while, you may notice Fred repeating some of his ideas from other tracks, but this is almost impossible to avoid in a whole night of solo improvisation.
I highly recommend this disc to solo jazz piano fans, to pianists looking for new ideas, or anyone looking for some beautiful and modern, yet easily-appreciable music."
Complete Communion
MURASHIMA Hiroshi | Osaka Japan | 02/24/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The title of mine is the famous record of avant garde Jazz, however, we can feel that from this CD. His concentration was excellent, and that of the audience was too. We can feel the intense atmosphere of music at that night.
The concept of Mr. Hershe's performance was not aggressive and progessive, but modereate one, however, his deep insight into the music tonight reflected the mode of his play, and, probably contageous to the audience at that night. Mr.Hershe may not be a gigantic figures of Jazz, however,@this night's perfomance of him was outstanding in the historiy of Jazz, at least in that of Piano Jazz.
@"
Hersch's lion heart
JOSE VELA CASTILLO | Madrid, Spain | 01/10/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If James Hillman is right when he writes about the necessity of imagination as a real thinking device, we can say with him that pianist Fred Hearsch makes a very good job in that way. His renderings of standards are (not surprising) endowed with amazing images of almost new landscapes. I found it astonishing brilliant and open-minded. Bravo for Mr. Hearsch (again)."
Track Listings (9) - Disc #1
