Fred Hersch Trio '97 @ The Village Vanguard

It seems like 2018 was the "Year of Re-discovering Fred Hersch." I reviewed two of his albums during the year including the superb Live in Europe for Positive Feedback. As I've mentioned before, pianist Fred Hersch was someone I discovered back in the '90s--he and his trio were treasured by the audiophile crowd. I bought a couple of his CDs from that period and then promptly forgot about him for many years. Despite some health issues over the years, Hersch has steadily recorded, and I just haven't been an ideal fan. So it's a pleasant surprise that 2019 is starting out with yet another classic live album.

Fred Hersch Trio '97 @ The Village Vanguard is special for a number of reasons. First of all, Hersch was well-known for his association with the Village Vanguard, and his performances there helped to establish him as a modern jazz master. His first performance dates back to 1979, when he was working under bandleaders Joe Henderson, Art Farmer, Lee Konitz and Ron Carter. This recording from 1997 is also Hersch's first at the Village Vanguard--as a bandleader. They played three Friday night sets, and all were recorded "for posterity." 21 years later, Hersch went back and chose his favorite moments from those shows which are included here.

In '97, the Fred Hersch Trio included Drew Gress on bass and Tom Rainey on drums. By this time the trio had been playing together for about five years, but they had never been recorded live. That's another reason why this recording is special--all others were captured in the studio. While five years really isn't that long to be together--look at the Modern Jazz Quartet--these performances are electric, filled with an energy that comes from knowing everyone else on stage is at least as good as you are. Hersch, in particular, has such a unique style full on unexpected twists, but those same risks always pay off when the other two jump in and underline what he has done.

It's not the first jazz trio to hum along like this, and it won't be the last, but if you need a textbook example of three young cats making their mark on the world you can start here. It also helps that it's a Fred Hersch album, which means it's going to have spectacular sound quality. Hersch knows his audience, and it isn't just typical audiophiles. Hersch's performances approach the legendary, and no one sounds like he does. Plus you have the Village Vanguard, which is a pretty good place to capture a live performance. If you're one of those jazz fans who think Fred Hersch at the top of his field, and I do, then hearing the performances that helped to create the legend should be mandatory.