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At the beginning of the pandemic, as it is now called without even remembering the name of the virus that caused it,
Fred Hersch felt helpless, hopeless, like all musicians, like everyone else.
So he played, one piece a day, at home, Tune of the Day he had named this daily appointment intended for the jazz fans and internet users, like him confined at home, and undoubtedly delighted, then, that such a pianist continues to make live music which makes his heart beat, and theirs.
At the end of 2020, Fred Hersch released a miraculous solo piano album, “Songs From Home”. Ten Tunes of the Day recorded at his home in Pennsylvania, standards and other classics by Cole Porter, Joni Mitchell, Duke Ellington, Jimmy Webb, Paul McCartney and… Fred Hersch. Ten more reasons, if any were needed, to (re) tell oneself that he is today one of the greatest, if not the greatest jazz pianist still active, as his recent concerts at the Bal Blomet have reminded us.
2022 will start under the best auspices, with Breath By Breath with his new trio + string quartet. A new composition by Fred will be premiered in early January on the stage of Carnegie Hall in New York
https://downbeat.com/reviews/editorspicks/2022-01#12072
At age 62, pianist Fred Hersch is playing as rousingly and rivetingly as ever. His latest disc, Live in Europe (on the Palmetto label), may be his best trio album to date.
Please click here to read the full review of Live in Europe by Fred Kaplan for Stereophile
“During his live performances, when he’s creating music instinctively, Hersch commands the room—quietly, but assuredly. He’s so confident in himself and his trio mates—bassist John Hébert and drummer Eric McPherson—that they hardly ever need to rehearse.”
Click here to read the full article by Suzanne Lorge for DownBeat
A week ago, Fred Hersch was up for his 15th Grammy Award nomination at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards. The jazz pianist modestly said ahead of the awards show he wasn’t expecting to win, but the distinction hints at the influential and consistently skillful career Hersch has led in his 45 years of professional musicianship.
Click here to read the full article by Jocelyn Murphy for nwaonline.com
Cincinnati native and acclaimed jazz pianist Fred Hersch has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition for Begin Again from his album of the same name. He’s on the phone with our Ron Esposito to talk about this album and being nominated (again) for a Grammy.
Click here to listen to the full interview
Jazz pianist and composer Fred Hersch has received a 2020 Grammy nomination for Begin Again, his 2019 Palmetto Records album featuring the Cologne-based WDR Big Band.
Click here to read the full article on Jazzedmagazine.com
On the whole, 10 Years / 6 Discs is an enjoyable set for jazz lovers, and a great introduction to listeners unfamiliar with Hersch’s artistry.
Click here to read the full review of 10 Years / 6 Discs by Jamaal Baptiste for Black Grooves
Click here to see Begin Again listed among Ted Gioia’s 100 Best Albums of 2019
"...the most arrestingly innovative pianist in jazz over the last decade or so."
