Fred Hersch(pno); John Hebert (bass); Eric McPherson (dms).
(Review by David Brownlow).
This is the
first Fred Hersch Trio studio album in four years after a series of “live”
sessions featuring the same personnel. A
fine player, influenced by some of the “greats” – Evans, Peterson, & Jamal
among them, Hersch has evolved his own style which is highly technical,
imaginative, searching, emotional and inspiring. The CD follows the typical
pattern of a Hersch Trio set when the opener is a standard, followed by some
original music, then a ballad from the GAS book and finally ending with a Monk
piece.
You And The Night And The Music is played in a quasi – classical style with elements of fugue,
minuet and contrapuntal work incorporated. The familiar chords of the song help
the listener to follow the intricately – woven rhapsodic improvisations. The
title track Floating flows gracefully
along, providing harmonic surprises at every turn where Fred resolves his chord
sequences in unexpected ways. The Trio work well together, interplaying with
worthwhile contributions from bass and drums. West Virginia Rose, the first of six pieces all dedicated to
various people, is a through-composed song inspired by Hersch’s mother and
grandmother – with words by our own Norma Winstone who has provided lyrics for several of Fred’s
songs in other contexts. Home Fries
dedicated to bassist Hebert has a
rolling
Far Away is for Shamrit
Shoshan - McPherson’s wife - who shockingly died in 2012 at the age of 29. This
reflective piece is deeply felt – again with unexpected harmonic twists and
turns, each one taking the listener unawares. Arcata, dedicated to Esperanza Spalding, has a restless, driving
quality with a “catchy” melody and sprightly improvising from Hersch. A Speech To The Sea dedicated to Finnish artist Maaria
Wirkkala, gently evolves as an
impressionistic piece ebbing and flowing in a graceful style with a standout
melodic solo from the bassist.
Autumn Haze for
fellow-pianist Kevin Hays has effective
trio interplay throughout ( as in Evans/LaFaro/Motian). Strong minor harmonies
in a descending pattern characterize this song. The penultimate track If Ever
I Would Leave You is performed as a ballad contrasting sharply with
Rollins’ well-known up-tempo version. It’s played in the style of the Keith
Jarrett “Standards” Trio with much filigree decoration from the piano,
root-seeking basslines and tasteful drumming. A standout track! Finally, Monk’s
Lets Cool One taken at a jaunty tempo, is thoroughly
examined by the Trio with humour, invention and vigour.
Overall, a very
enjoyable CD by a major jazz artist whose career continues to evolve in
imaginative settings. Available on PALMETTO from July 8..
Dave B.
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