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Home , Fred Hersch

OCTOBER 2019 AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD PAGE 9

He’s back to playing like Fred Hersch

‘There’s a power to music that’s and occasionally played together on has been prolific as a recording artist. with Hersch. the road. Same thing with [bassist and His most recent album is Begin Again I’m not a scholar of music theory — beyond notes and grooves,’ says the vocalist] , same (), which features it’s hard to verbalize what it is about a acclaimed pianist and composer thing with [vocalist] Cécile McLorin Hersch playing his own compositions musical performance that truly moves Salvant. [Alto saxophonist] Miguel backed by the Cologne, Germany- me — so I asked another one of Hersch’s By MORDECAI SPECKTOR May for the past 13 years he performs a Zenón is another one.” based WDR Big Band, arranged and piano students about what makes this duo series at the Jazz Standard in New Getting back to Lage, Hersch said, conducted by . Hersch artist so special. In his exemplary 2017 memoir, Good York City. “I do a week, which I call “Julian is a total pleasure on every said that, in addition to the album, he In response to an email query, Adam Things Happen Slowly: A Life In and my ‘invitation series.’ It started out as, level, personally, musically. He’s a re- played several European concerts with Birnbaum, a respected jazz pianist and Out of Jazz, acclaimed pianist and com- and it still is… six nights, six different ally talented guy and fun to be around.” the WDR Big Band. composer who recently was hired as poser Fred Hersch writes about his early duo partners.” I recall seeing Lage play with Gary “It turned out to be a very nice survey an assistant professor of jazz studies life in Cincinnati, his musical career, Hersch said that he met Lage in Burton’s group about 10 years ago, of different kinds of things that I’ve at Purchase College, State University and discusses his near death experience: Boston, around 2011, and the guitarist headlining the Twin Cities Jazz Festival written over the past 35 years,” Hersch of New York, replied, “I’d be happy in 2008, a case of septic shock put him asked if he could take commented about the to contribute, as Fred has been a big in a coma for two months. a composition lesson album. “There’s not a lot influence on me and one of my most Hersch, who will turn 64 this month, from him. “He came of super-punchy, typical influential mentors. Fred’s basic ap- describes his health crisis in graphic over and brought his big band stuff — it’s proach to teaching is to help you find detail — it’s not for the squeamish guitar and we played; much more orchestral, ways to push boundaries, break rules reader. He was in a coma for about a and the next year I in- which kind of suits what I and learn to trust your own internal month, he relates, when his companion, vited him to play with do. I think it was a very instincts as you find your own voice Scott, asked the physician, Dr. Astiz, me at the Standard, successful project.” as a jazz artist. He is also probably the about when a change in his medical and we just hit it off. And a brief profile of greatest living practitioner of impro- status could be expected. It was really fun.” one of the most intrigu- vised counterpoint in the jazz world, The doctor replied, “In a case like Then Hersch and ing figures in contempo- and his ability to demonstrate how to this, good things happen slowly. But Lage went into the rary jazz should mention practice improvising in two, three or bad things happen fast.” studio to record an that Hersch, as he writes four voices was truly revelatory for me Hersch came out of the coma and album; “and it didn’t in his memoir, came out in my own development.” began a long period of rehab. He re- really work… no of the closet in 1993, This stuff quickly gets beyond my ceived physical therapy at an outpatient blame or anything, and also disclosed that understanding; however, Fred Hersch facility near his home in New York’s it just didn’t work.” he’d been treated for is one of the great storytellers on the SoHo district. He had tried to play piano So, Hersch booked AIDS since 1984. In jazz scene. He explained his accessible previously at another rehab place, a three nights at a small the intervening years, approach in an interview with Leo “demoralizing experience.” Then he New York club called Hersch has performed Sidran, on the Third Story podcast, tried again at home: “I did better than Kitano. “They had on benefit recordings for earlier this year. I had at the rehab center, but I was no a nice piano, and I groups including Classi- “There’s a power to music that’s Fred Hersch.” said, ‘Can we do a cal Action: Performing beyond notes and grooves,” Hersch Fortunately for jazz fans, Fred live recording there?’ Arts Against AIDS and said. “You want to challenge an audi- Hersch has recovered and is once again So that’s where Free Broadway Cares/Equity ence, but you also want to take them a dazzling pianist. His talent will be on Flying came from.” Fights AIDS. He also has with you…. People can basically hear display Oct. 16, when he plays a duo Since then, Hersch been a keynote speaker what I’m doing. I don’t think it’s stupid Vincent Soyez show with guitar ace at the said that he and Lage at medical conferences — it’s not stupid; but I’ve got to trust Fred Hersch (above) will make his virtual Dakota debut Oct. Dakota in Minneapolis. “try to find time to do in the U.S. and Europe. that that audience is going to hear that 16, in a duo concert with guitarist Julian Lage. Hersch recently talked with the Jew- these duo gigs.” In On a related tangent, phrase and then they’re going to go with ish World. He was at the MacDowell addition to the Dakota Hersch also is a jazz edu- me on my little journey…. I want to Colony, a retreat for musicians, visual show, they will play Grand Rapids, in St. Paul. He was about 21 at the time cator who has taught at New England take them with me; I don’t want to hit artists, writers, etc., in New Hampshire. Mich., and at the Logan Center at the — a relative youngster playing next to Conservatory, The Juilliard School, The them over the head or impress them.” “I’m working on composing some University of Chicago. one of the legendary vibraphonists in New School and The Manhattan School *** material for my next album — I’m not “It’s kind of an ongoing special jazz. A short film, Jules at Eight, which of Music. According to the bio on his Fred Hersch and Julian Lage will sure what that will be,” he commented, project,” Hersch remarked, regarding documents the guitar chops Lage had website, he currently is a visiting artist perform in concert 7 p.m. Wednes- regarding his ninth residency at the ha- the duo shows with Lage. “I did the as a young child, was nominated for at Rutgers University. day, Oct. 16 at the Dakota, 1010 ven for artists. “I’m just trying to write.” same thing with [Israeli-born clarinet- an Oscar. Like Julian Lage, who requested a Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis. For Over the past two years, Hersch ist] . I invited her to the “He was a certified prodigy,” Hersch composition tutorial, prominent jazz tickets, go to: dakotacooks.com or said that he hasn’t had much time for Standard, we ended up doing a live testified. pianists like , Ethan call 612-332-5299. composing. He’s been on the road album [Live in Healdsburg in 2018], Despite his health problems, Hersch Iverson and have studied performing, and also had “a couple of hip replacements” and some other health problems that put his songwriting on the back burner. So, a month at the 612.332.5299 1010 Nicollet Mall MacDowell Colony “is just about me dakotacooks.com Minneapolis, MN jumpstarting my composition process again.” I’ve been a fan of Hersch’s music — his trio, duo and solo recordings — for “The listening pleasure comes many years, but have never seen him from the mutual brilliance of play live. I wondered if he’d played execution and the architecture the Dakota before, and he mentioned and development of musical a date “many, many years ago.” It was ideas. This is co-improvisation a duo with the singer , taken to the highest level.” who’s best known as a member of the –All About Jazz jazz vocal group Manhattan Transfer. The gig, sometime in the 1980s, was at the old Dakota space in St. Paul’s Bandana Square. “It’s almost like I never played there,” Hersch noted. In any case, he hasn’t played the new joint on Nicollet Mall. And Hersch did recall playing a show at Orchestra Hall, which took place after a symphony concert. “They had a late-night recital series and I played a solo concert.” On Oct. 16, Hersch will play in a OCT 16 • 7PM duo with Julian Lage, who is a true veteran of the jazz world at the age of 31. In 2013, Hersch and Lage released an album, Free Flying, which is mainly Fred Hersch & Julian Lage Hersch compositions. ELEGANCE & MASTERY Asked how this musical pairing originated, Hersch explained that every