Fred Hersch Trio©Andrea Canter

He’s long been one of the most sublime pianists and composers of modern jazz, and has also proved to be one of the most durable. Over his nearly three decades of performing and composing, pianist Fred Hersch has earned five Grammy nominations as well as critical accolades as: “a master who plays it his way" (Ben Ratliff,  The New York Times); “a pristine pianist with a poet’s soul--a pair of qualities that combine to especially dazzling effect" (Joan Anderman, The Boston Globe); “one of the most sensitive and genuinely lyrical players in jazz” (Bob Blumenthal, The Atlantic Monthly); "...a constantly inventive soloist” (Leonard Feather, The Los Angeles Times); and simply, “...a poet of a pianist.”(Whitney Balliett, The New Yorker). When he spent two months of 2008 in a coma triggered by AIDS-related complications, and much of the year unable to function independently, his career seemed in significant doubt, yet he recovered not only returning to composing and performing (including stints at the Village Vanguard), but has since brought forth one acclaimed recording after another. The most recent, the aptly titled Alive at the Vanguard, features what may be his most sympathetic trio yet (with John Hebert and Eric McPherson), now coming to Chicago’s Jazz Showcase, September 20-23.

About Fred

Fred Hersch©Andrea Canter

Honors have included grants from The National Endowment for the Arts and Meet the Composer, multiple composition residencies at the prestigious MacDowell Colony, a Guggenheim Fellowship and the Gay and Lesbian American Music Award (GLAMA)—four times. Fred was a nominee for the 2011 Jazz Journalists Association’s “Jazz Pianist of the Year.” Teaching has always been a priority for Fred, serving on the faculty at the New England Conservatory for ten years, and teaching at The New School, Manhattan School of Music and Western Michigan University. Among his students are many who have become star performers themselves, including Brad Mehldau and Ethan Iverson.

John Hebert©Andrea Canter

The Trio

With his working trio of the past few years, featuring bassist John Hébert and drummer Eric McPherson, Hersch returned for a week-long run at the Vanguard last winter, yielding the new two-disc set, Alive at the Vanguard. “This may be my best trio playing on record,” notes Hersch, “in terms of range, sound, being in the moment, and the way we play together…And sonically I think it really captures the Vanguard…you feel like you’re there.”  Across the two discs, Fred presents seven new compositions and covers 11 more (from Coleman, Parker, Rollins, and Monk to Alec Wilder to Cole Porter), including 3 tracks that merge two tunes each. And indeed, you feel like you are right there in the iconic living room of jazz. It’s a perfect balancing of the elegant and the quirky, serious musings and playful energy. 

Eric McPherson©Andrea Canter

Named for Eric Dolphy by his godfather, bassist Richard Davis, drummer Eric McPherson grew up surrounded by musicians in New York City. He taught himself to play drums at age 8, studied seven years under Michael Carvin, and attended the LaGuardia High School of the Arts. With a full scholarship, he enrolled in the Jackie McLean Institute at the Hartt School of Music at the University of Hartford. Before long, he began a 15-year stint with McLean’s Quintet. He has also performed with Pharaoh Sanders, Andrew Hill, Richard Davies, Claudia Acuña, Jason Moran, Greg Osby and Avishai Cohen. With John Hebert, he appears on Hill’s acclaimed Timelines.

The Jazz Showcase is located at 806 S. Plymouth Court at Dearborn Station, Chicago; www.jazzshowcase.com. Sets at 8 and 10 pm, with an additional 4 pm show on Sundays.

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