FRED HERSCH TRIO: Alive at the Vanguard
Palmetto, 2012

MODERN JAZZ – Wonderful, lyrical, flowing music from a tight and inventive trio, recorded live at the venerable Village Vanguard. The music is gripping from the first note. Hersch’s precise, rolling attack on the uptempo numbers and the aching delicacy of his ballads are both exceptional, and his comrades move as one. The program is well balanced between originals and standards. This is first-rate stuff.

All great! Fo’s Picks: Disc I – 1, 3, 4, 8 Disc II – 1, 3, 5

DISC ONE

1. 6:50 – brisk, waltzlike spin with a Latin rhythm, lighthearted but with depth
2. 6:25 – chilled, billowing ballad: classical touch on piano, free-form rhythm
3. 6:50 – uptempo bebop: tripping piano, walking bass, propulsive drums
4. 12:23 – deep, deep Ornette/Miles medley moves from quiet drums to low pulse to soaring heights… gusts of piano, knotty bass solo
5. 6:10 – strolling inversion of “Monk’s Dream,” good bass solo, lively piano
6. 6:46 – gorgeous, gently drifting ballad: wispy, gossamer lines float and fall
7. 5:52 – standard tiptoes and struts, piano gets inventive within the melody
8. 6:45 – bluesy reinvention of a bop classic, gradually picks up a groove

DISC TWO

1. 7:23 – uptempo tune, a showcase for the drums; strong piano too
2. 6:47 – relaxed standard ballad: bass has pensive solo, piano daydreams
3. 6:50 – firm midtempo riffing tune has a stern approach, angular piano
4. 11:11 – fragile ballad: solo piano for 4:00, then breezy, tinged with sadness
5. 5:13 – perky tune repeatedly slides into free improvisation
6. 6:47 – standard has an unusual rhythmic twist, a pendulum swing
7. 13:35 – 1st half achingly tender ballad, 2nd half a skipping Monk tune

[ Fo ] - 10 November 2012