Customer Reviews

Live at Maybeck 31

5 star:		(1)
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3 star:		(2)
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This is my favorite Fred Hersch CD, and I have many. This is an exquisitely paced and realized program, flawlessly played. "Embraceable You" distills itself from the ether, gradually taking form, and dances crystalline and joyous. Fred gets way, WAY inside, remarkably deep into the ballads "You Don't Know What Love Is" , "Haunted Heart" and "If I Loved You" and plays these jewels with incredible feeling. Amazing, amazing renditions. Swing numbers like "In Walked Bud" round out this stunning recital. Heartily, highly, enthusiastically recommended by an appreciative fellow jazz pianist.

I own many Fred Hersch CDs and I still can't describe his style except in relation to other great pianists. It's surprising how varied his approach or attack can be. That's speaks to his remarkable range and also makes it difficult to discuss "consistency" since he's always challenging himself (and on this CD, at times, the listener). The results are a matter of taste. To my taste, his deconstruction of some of what's here can be jarring and edgy. There's also great music here, to be sure.

There's a fine tradition of pianists in the Live at Maybeck Hall series, and on this Cd I can't place Mr. Hersch in the same company as Hank Jones. I also give my highest recommendation to Tommy Flanagan's Lady be Good. Those are simply essential to lovers of virtuoso piano jazz. I'm not discussing Bill Evans because you've probably been listening to him for years and already know.

Getting back to Mr. Hersch, I'd highly recommend his latest CD: Live from Amsterdam, as well as Live at the Village Vanguard and Live at Jordan Hall. He also provides ideal accompaniments to Rene'Fleming on her Haunted Heart CD.

Overall the CD is quite good. Only a few of the numbers were really excellent.
Arnie Fox-author of "Compendium of Over 2000 Jazz Pianists"