Fred Hersch Trio
"The most innovative jazz pianist in the last ten years" – that's how Vanity Fair described Fred Hersch.
After many attempts, Moldejazz's finally succeeded in getting Fred Hersch. One of today's great pianists who is finally getting the attention he deserves, being chosen as Jazz Pianist of the year – in both 2016 and 2018 – by the Jazz Journalists Association.
Despite numerous Grammy nominations, dozens of solo, duo and trio format albums as well as prestigious prizes, Fred Hersch is still relatively unknown in Norway. Also in the United States, it took sometime before he got a name and his autobiography, published by Random House, was aptly called "Good things happen slowly". The Biography tells of his life as a musician, his struggle as a young Jew in his birthplace Cincinnati and as an openly gay HIV positive jazz musician. It was honoured as "One of Five Best Memoirs of 2017" by the Washington Post and the New York Times.
Gradually things have started to happen – a duo album with guitarist Julian Lage, got a rare five-star (highest rating) in jazz magazine, Down Beat. His regular trio, with bassist John Hébert and drummer Eric McPherson, became #2 Jazz Group of 2018 in the Down Beat Critics Poll. Now Fred Hersch and his trio are en route to Moldejazz.
What can we expect to hear from the trio? Music from the intense and virtuoso to the quietly lyrical, performed by a band that's played together for 10 years and developed an intuitive, almost telepathic interaction.
Fred Hersch, piano / John Hérbert, bass / Eric Mc Pherson, drums
Storyville, Thursday 18 July at 16 pm.