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Fred Hersch (born October 21, 1955) is an American , composer, and a 17-time nominée. He was the first person to play weeklong engagements as a solo pianist at the in New York City. He has written and recorded more than 75 original compositions.


Early life
Hersch was born in , Ohio, to Jewish parents. He began playing the piano at age four, under the tutelage of . He began composing music at eight, and won national piano competitions starting at the age of ten.

Hersch first became interested in jazz while at in Iowa. He dropped out of school and started playing jazz in Cincinnati. He continued his studies at the New England Conservatory under , attracting attention from the press ("a fine showcase for Fred Hersch") in a college recital."the third stream" (January 20, 1977) Bay State Banner, Boston On graduation, he became a jazz piano instructor at the college."Jazzman on Classic Path To Wider Audience: Pianist Fred Hersch" (July 9, 1989) San Francisco Chronicle p. 42

In his 2017 autobiography, Good Things Happen Slowly: A Life In and Out of Jazz, Hersch talks about seeing and his Intergalactic Arkestra at Gilly's, a now-closed jazz club in , . He recalls being in the audience when bandleader kicked the pianist hired for the occasion off the stand and asked if there was anyone in the audience who could sit in—an offer Hersch took up, which essentially launched his career.


Career
In 1977, Hersch moved to New York. One of his earliest professional engagements was with in Los Angeles in 1978. Jazz critic wrote that Hersch "showed his ability as an accompanist and soloist at the out-of-tune piano"."Art Farmer Plays at Memory Lane" (November 9, 1978) Los Angeles Times p. H20 He played with Farmer again in 1981."Art Farmer Plays It Cool; Art Farmer - With Fred Hersch, Piano; Bob Bodely, Bass; And Billy Hart, Drums; At Tinker's" (September 26, 1981) The Boston Globe p.1 In 1982, the album A Work of Art (Art Farmer Quartet, Concord Jazz CJ-179), was released, with Hersch on piano, including two of Hersch's own compositions; Leonard Feather gave it 3½ stars."Jazz Album Briefs" (April 18, 1982) Los Angeles Times p. K59

In 1980, the Fred Hersch Trio played at B. Dalton Bookseller, one of many fringe events that were an offshoot of the Newport Jazz Festival."Going Out Guide" (June 30, 1980) The New York Times p. C.17 The next year, his trio played for singer , who was making a comeback after completing a recovery program for alcoholism."Chris Connor's Comeback" (January 16, 1981) The New York Times p. C1 Hersch also played at the Kool Jazz Festival that year,"10th Jazz Festival Goes Singing and Drumming In" (June 26, 1981) The New York Times p. C1 and with in the New Jazz at the Public series."Joe Henderson in Sextet In Jazz at Public Series" (November 1, 1981) The New York Times p. A70

In 1983, Hersch played a duo session with bassist Ratzo Harris at the Knickerbocker Saloon, New York. The New York Times wrote: "Mr. Hersch is a romantic. He is openly involved in what he is playing and projects this involvement with body English and facial expressions that subtly underline the sense of his music. His lines often become gently billowing waves of sound, and he rises and falls, tenses and relaxes along with them.""Jazz Fred Hersch, Pianist" (March 26, 1983) The New York Times p. 1.19

In 1983–84, Hersch played many sessions with Jane Ira Bloom in several venues, and with whom he recorded the album, ."The Pop Life" (April 13, 1983) The New York Times"Jane Ira Bloom Plays in Fast Company" (April 15, 1983) Philadelphia Daily News"Here and There" (January 20, 1984) Philadelphia Daily News p. 43 In 1985, he played with the Jamie Baum Quartet."Regattabar to Launch 7-Nights-a-Week Jazz" (March 1, 1985) The Boston Globe

In 1986, he played with at the Great Woods jazz festival."Thielemans Whistles for Fun, Profit" (July 11, 1986) The Boston Globe He played with him in several sessions the following year,"AROUND TOWN Bridging the Seasons" (September 9, 1987) Newsday p.14Leonard Feather (September 21, 1987) "JAZZ REVIEWS THIELEMANS ON TOP", Los Angeles Times p. 5 and again in 1987, receiving special attention for his solos."Toots Thielemans Plays a Hot Jazz Harmonica" (February 5, 1987) The Boston Globe In 1986, he taught at Berklee College of Music."Schools Offer the Mechanical While Fostering the Spiritual" (July 13, 1986) Chicago Tribune p.8

He was the pianist for the quartet in 1987 and appeared on his album, To Bird with Love."Critic's Choice: Jazz" (May 17, 1987) The New York Times

In 1988, Hersch played in Somerville, Massachusetts with his quintet at the . The Boston Globe described him as "an elegant, highly melodic player.""Fred Hersh Quintet at Willow Jazz Club" (September 16, 1988) The Boston Globe

In 1989, Hersch played with of The Manhattan Transfer and they recorded together in a studio set up in his home."A Solo Detour On this route, Manhattan Transfer's Janis Siegel's only harmony is with a piano" (June 4, 1989) Newsday His first solo piano recording came in 1993: Fred Hersch at Maybeck.

(1996). 9780140513684, .

In 2006, Palmetto Records released the solo CD Fred Hersch in Amsterdam: Live at the Bimhuis,Fred Hersch (2005) Fred Hersch in Amsterdam : Live at the Bimhuis, Palmetto Records () and released his eighth solo disc, Fred Hersch Plays Jobim, in 2009.Fred Hersch (2009) Fred Hersch Plays Jobim, Sunnyside Communications ()

In 2024, Hersch played with and at the Teatro Mario Del Monaco, in , in North East of Italy. The concert was part of the festival Treviso Suona Jazz Festival.


Composing
Hersch's own compositions feature prominently in nearly all of his concerts and recordings. He has received commissions from the Gilmore Keyboard Festival, the Doris Duke Foundation, the at Columbia University, the Gramercy Trio and the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. A disc of his works, Fred Hersch: Concert Music 2001-2006, was released by .

Many of Hersch's compositions have been transcribed by music publisher , including Valentine, Three Character Studies, Saloon Songs, and 24 Variations on a Bach Chorale.Dariusz Terefenko (2012) "JAZZ PIANO", Notes ( New England Conservatory Notes) Vol. 68, No. 3

Hersch was awarded a 2003 Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship for composition. In the same year, he created Leaves of Grass (), a large-scale setting of 's poetry for two voices ( and ) and an instrumental octet; it was presented in March 2005 at Zankel Hall at as part of a six-city U.S. tour."Songs of Whitman; Jazz pianist Fred Hersch crowns a lifetime of achievement with Leaves of Grass" (April 1, 2003) The Advocate Vol. 886, p. 50


Accompanist
Hersch has worked with instrumentalists and vocalists in the worlds of jazz (, , , , Jay Clayton, and ), classical music (Renée Fleming, Renée Fleming, soprano and Fred Hersch, piano - New York City (June 12, 2003) (Michael Palm Series) Broadway Cares, Events Archives , , Classical Action's Fifth Anniversary Celebration at the Brooklyn Academy of Music , featuring violinist Joshua Bell, pianists Fred Hersch and Ursula Oppens, dancer/choreographer Bill T. Jones, bassist Edgar Meyer, the Orion String Quartet, clarinetist David Shifrin, soprano Dawn Upshaw, Ida Nevasayneva of Les Ballets Trockadero of Monte Carlo; hosted by Madeline Kahn and Nathan Lane - New York City (January 10, 1998) Christopher O'Riley, Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg), Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, violin and Fred Hersch, piano - New York City (June 13, 200) Broadway Cares, Events Archives and Broadway (). He has accompanied jazz vocalists such as Nancy King, and .

Hersch has taught at The New School and Manhattan School of Music, and conducted a Professional Training Workshop for Young Musicians at The Weill Institute at Carnegie Hall in 2008.


Awards and honors
  • Académie Charles Cros
  • Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship in Composition, 2003
  • Coup de coeur for Alone at the Vanguard, 2011
  • Grand Prix du Disque for Alive at the Vanguard, 2012
  • Pianist of the Year, Jazz Journalists Association, 2011, 2016, 2018
  • Pianist of the Year, magazine Critics' Poll, 2015
  • Artiste étranger de l'année, Jazz magazine in France, 2015
  • Grand Prix du Disque de l'Académie du Jazz, Solo, 2015
  • Honorary Doctor of Musical Arts, Northern Kentucky University, 2015
  • Doris Duke Performing Artist Award 2016
  • Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters, , 2016
  • Prix Honorem in Jazz and Coup de cœur jazz, 2017
  • Book of the Year about Jazz, Good Things Happen Slowly, Jazz Journalists Association, 2018
  • Hersch has been awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship, grants from Chamber Music America, the National Endowment for the Arts, Meet the Composer, and seven composition residencies at the .


Grammy Awards nominations
Art Farmer's A Work of Art in 1983 and two of Eddie Daniels' albums with Hersch in 1986 and 1987 preceded Short Stories, a collaboration between and Hersch, co-led and co-produced with arrangements by Hersch, that got a nomination for her vocal performance in 1989. In 1992 finally Dancing in the Dark, his seventh trio recording and second for Chesky Records, was nominated for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance. Hersch is one of the artists with the most nominations (17) without a win.
  • 1992: Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group for Dancing in the Dark
  • 1995: Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group for I Never Told You: Fred Hersch Plays Johnny Mandel
  • 2005: Best Instrumental Composition for "Valentine" (on In Amsterdam: Live at the Bimhuis)
  • 2011: Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Alone at the Vanguard, and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "Work"
  • 2013: Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "Song Without Words No.4: Duet" with Julian Lage
  • 2014: Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Floating (as the Fred Hersch Trio), and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "You and the Night and the Music"
  • 2016: Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Sunday Night at the Vanguard, and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "We See"
  • 2017: Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Open Book, and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "Whisper Not"
  • 2018: Best Jazz Instrumental Album for Live in Europe and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "We See"
  • 2019: Best Instrumental Composition for Begin Again
  • 2023: Best jazz vocal album for Alive at the Village Vanguard and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for But Not For Me


Critical response
magazine described Hersch as "one of the small handful of brilliant musicians of his generation." The New York Times described him as "singular among the trailblazers of their art, a largely unsung innovator of this borderless, individualistic jazz – a jazz for the 21st century."


Influence
Hersch's influence has been widely felt on a new generation of jazz pianists, from former Hersch students including , , , and to his contemporary Jason Moran, who said: "Fred at the piano is like on the basketball court. He's perfection."


Personal life

Illness
In 1993, Hersch as gay and that he had been treated for HIV since 1984. He fell into a coma in 2008 for two months. When he regained consciousness, he had lost muscular function as a result of his long inactivity and could not play the piano. After rehabilitation, he was able to play again. In 2011, he performed My Coma Dreams, a stage show written and directed by about the contrast between dreams and reality.


Charity work
Hersch has been a spokesman and fund-raiser for AIDS services and education agencies since 1993. He has produced and performed on four benefit recordings and in numerous concerts for charities including Classical Action: Performing Arts Against AIDS, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, which had raised over $250,000 as of June 2013. In April 2016, he played a benefit concert for Buddhist Global Relief. He has also been a keynote speaker and performer at international medical conferences.


Autobiography
Good Things Happen Slowly: A Life In and Out of Jazz, published in 2017
(2026). 9781101904343, Crown.


Discography

As leader/co-leader
(Artists and labels are linked only once, at first appearance. Lineup can be sorted by "solo", "duo", "trio"... All trios are classic with (grand) piano, upright bass and drum kit, except for the trio Thirteen Ways, with saxophonist Michael Moore.) Discography, Fredhersch.com. Retrieved January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019
1984-091985Duo with Jane Ira Bloom. live.
1984-101985Trio with Marc Johnson and
1986-12Sunnyside1987Trio with and Joey Baron
1988-051990Trio E.T.C. with and
1989-12Sunnyside1990Trio with and Jeff Hirshfield
1989? Angel1989Trio with Steve LaSpina, Joey Baron and guests: , , ,
1989?1989Quartet co-led by plus (bass) and Kris Yenny (cello); Siegel was a Grammy nominee for Best Jazz Vocal Performance
1990-081991Trio with Michael Formanek or Marc Johnson, Jeff Hirshfield and guests: , Toots Thielemans
1991-031993Quartet, trio E.T.C. with Steve LaSpina and Jeff Hirshfield plus (tenor saxophone). live.
1991-071991with The Fred Hersch Group featuring (tenor sax), (cello), (bass) and (drums)
1992-09,
1992-10
EMI Angel1993Trio with Steve LaSpina, Jeff Hirshfield and guests: James Newton, Toots Thielemans, , Erik Friedlander
1992-12Chesky1993Trio with and Tom Rainey; Grammy nominee for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group
1993-07Concerto Pour HarmonicaTCB1994with Toots Thielemans, Christian Gavillet, Big Band de Lausanne, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Roby Seidel
1993-10Concord Jazz1994Solo piano, in concert
1994-02Chesky1994Trio with Drew Gress and Tom Rainey
1994-05Sunnyside1995Duo with Jay Clayton (vocals)
1994-09Varèse Sarabande1996Solo piano; Grammy nominee for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Individual or Group
1995-031995Trio with Drew Gress and Tom Rainey, and quintet adding Dave Douglas (trumpet), Rich Perry (tenor saxophone) on half of the tracks
1995?Varèse Sarabande1995Duo with Janis Siegel, and quartet with and Ralph Penland added
1995-06GM1997Trio Thirteen Ways with Michael Moore and
1995-06,
1995-08
1996Trio with Drew Gress and Tom Rainey plus string orchestra conducted by Eric Stern; one track is a duo with Nurit Tilles (piano); (vocals) added for one track
1996-01Nonesuch1996Solo piano
1997-02Nonesuch1998Solo piano
1997-072018Trio with Drew Gress and Tom Rainey in concert
1997-07Classical Action1997Duos with Gary Burton, Joe Lovano, Diana Krall, Tommy Flanagan, Andy Bey, Tom Rainey, Lee Konitz, Jim Hall, Drew Gress, Kenny Barron, Tom Harrell, Janis Siegel
1998?Nonesuch1998Duo with (guitar)
1998-10Let Yourself Go: Live at Jordan HallNonesuch1999Solo piano, in concert
1999?Palmetto1999Trio Thirteen Ways with Michael Moore and Gerry Hemingway
1999-10Village Life2000Quartet with (vocals), (trumpet) and (percussion)
2001Nonesuch2001Solo, with few duo, trio and quintet tracks.
3CD Vol. 1 with originals, 2nd with standards and 3rd tributed to .
2002-05Palmetto2002Trio with Drew Gress and in concert
2002-07Sunnyside2003Duo with ; three tracks with Gary Burton added
2003-05Palmetto2005Solo piano, in concert; Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Composition for "Valentine"
2003-09Palmetto2004Quintet with Drew Gress, Nasheet Waits plus (trumpet, flugelhorn) and (tenor sax)
2003-10This We KnowPalmetto2008Duo with Michael Moore
2003?Sensory Resources2003Solo piano
2004-102006Duo with Nancy King; Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album
2005?Palmetto2005Octet with four horns featuring vocalists and ; lyrics by
2006-12Palmetto2007Trio with Drew Gress and Nasheet Waits
2007-062007Solo, duo and trio interpretations of compositions by Hersch with pianists , Blair McMillen, the Gramercy Trio, and Hersch himself with cellist on one track
2009?Sunnyside2009with the Fred Hersch Pocket Orchestra featuring (trumpet), (percussion) and (vocals)
2009?Sunnyside2009Solo piano
2010-01Palmetto2010Trio with John Hébert and Eric McPherson
2010-05Everybody's Song but My Own2011Trio with John Hébert and Eric McPherson
2010-11,
2010-12
Palmetto2011Solo piano; Grammy Award nominations for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "Work"; named it one of the Best CDs of 2012
2012?Bee Jazz2012Duo with Nico Gori
2012Palmetto2012Trio with John Hébert and Eric McPherson. 2CD
2012?Two Hands/Ten Voices2012Duos with , , Ann Hampton Callaway, , , , , , ,
2012-05Fun HouseSonglines2013with Benoît Delbecq and Fred Hersch Double Trio
2011-06,
2012-05
2013Duo with Ralph Alessi
2013-02Palmetto2013Duo with (guitar), in concert; Grammy Award nomination for Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "Song Without Words #4: Duet"
2014?Palmetto2014Trio with John Hébert and Eric McPherson; Two Grammy Award nominees for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "You and the Night and the Music"
2014-08Palmetto2015Solo piano, in concert "Windham Chamber Music Festivals 2014"
2016-03Sunday Night at the VanguardPalmetto2016Trio with John Hébert and Eric McPherson; Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "We See"
2016-03Palmetto2017Solo piano
2016-06Live in HealdsburgAnzic2018Duo with , in concert "Healdsburg Jazz Festival"
2017-11Palmetto2018Trio with John Hébert and Eric McPherson; Grammy nominee for Best Jazz Instrumental Album and Best Improvised Jazz Solo for "We See" (again)
2018-10Alive at the Village VanguardPalmetto2023Duo with Esperanza Spalding
2019?Begin AgainPalmetto2019with WDR Big Band, arranged and conducted by
2020-08Palmetto2020Solo piano
2021-08Breath By BreathPalmetto2022with Crosby Street String Quartet, Drew Gress, and Jochen Rückert
2021-11The Song Is You2022-09Duo with
2023-04Silent, ListeningECM2024-05Solo piano
2024-05The Surrounding GreenECM2025-06Trio with Drew Gress and Joey Baron


As sideman/featured soloist
with
Grammy Nominee for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group
with and
with The London Philharmonia; Grammy Nominee for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist
Grammy Nominee for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Soloist and Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Group
with Marc Johnson and
1987PalindromeMoprowith Michael Moore and
1988Meredith D'AmbrosioThe CoveSunnyside
1988Round & RoundMusicmasters
1988Into The LightV.S.O.P. Records
1989Michael BocianGo Groove
1990Grammy Nominee for Best Traditional Pop Performance
1990Long As You're LivingFreelance Records
1992Suitcase
1992Ramboy
1992Harumi Kaneko
1993The Matt Kendrick UnitComposite
1993A Blue Deeper Than The BlueAccurate Records
featured with an original composition accompanying baritone William Sharp
1994Various artistsMemento BittersweetCatalystfeatured on "Tango Bittersweet"
1994Michael MooreChicotoumiRamboy
1994Byron OlsonSketches of Coltranefeatured on tracks 6-11
1994Various artistsLast Night When We Were Young: The Ballad AlbumClassical Actionfeatured on tracks 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13
1995 With StringsWaltz for DebbyPaddle Wheel
1995Paul SundforNascencyNine Winds Records
recorded on September 25, 1981
1995Dick SistoAmerican Love Song
featured on three tracks
1996The QuartetWhat is This?
1996Bonnie LowdermilkThis Heart Of MineAxolOtl Jazzwith and
1996LegacySignificant Other Recordsfeatured on three tracks
1997When The Wind Was Coolfeatured on tracks 3, 4, 6, 8, 10, 11
with , and
featured on two tracks
1997Various artistsSeptember Songs: The Music Of Kurt Weill featured on "Speak Low"
1998Michael Moore TrioBeringRamboy
1998Kelley JohnsonMake Someone HappyPipe DreamChartmakerfeatured on tracks 1, 3, 5, 9, 10, 13
1998Distant DreamStepplechase
1999Oh, What A Thrillfeatured on tracks 3, 8, 12
featured on four tracks
recorded 1986
1999The Tender TrapMonarch Records
2000Mary PearsonYou And I
featured on tracks 2, 3, 8
2001Various artistsThe Richard Rodgers Centennial Jazz Piano Albumfeatured on tracks 5, 6
featured on one track
featured on tracks 4, 5; Grammy Nominee for Best Jazz Vocal Album
2003Andrew StermanBlue Canvas with SpiralBreath River Music
with
2005Mercy Streetsfeatured on tracks 6, 9
2006Build A Bridgefeatured on track 6
with , Avishai Cohen and
2014C harmsPink Recordsfeatured on "Lonely Eighty-Eight"
2014BridgesFiveCut Recordingsfeatured on tracks 1-8
2014Scott MorganSongs Of lifeMiranda Music
2018Math CampRelarion Inc.featured on tracks 2, 3, 5, 9
2019Adrian CunninghamAdrian Cunningham & His Friends Play Lerner & Loewe
2020For Now
2020Four Forty OneWhirlwind Recordingsfeatured on "Work"


See also
  • LGBTQ representation in jazz
  • List of jazz pianists


External links

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