Fred Hersch - Fred Hersch Trio +2 '2004

Tracks list

Tracklist

01 - A Riddle Song
02 - And I Love Her
03 - Miss B.
04 - Black Dog Pays a Visit
05 - A Lark.mp3
06 - Down Home
07 - Rain Waltz
08 - Marshalls Plan
09 - Lees Dream
10 - The Chase

After primarily concentrating on solo and trio recordings for an extended time,
pianist Fred Hersch opted to expand his group to a quintet for this outstanding
session. With Nasheet Waits on drums and longtime bassist Drew Gress, Herschs
choice of trumpeter and flügelhornist Ralph Alessi and tenor saxophonist Tony
Malaby proves to be an inspired one. Other than a gorgeous interpretation of the
Beatles timeless ballad And I Love Her, whose arrangement has the flavor of an
impressionist like Satie, the songs are all originals by the leader. Herschs A
Riddle Song, which is made up of intervals of perfect fifths, is an infectious
post-bop vehicle created to feature the phenomenal Waits, though the pianist has
his say with some wailing choruses of his own. Miss B is a funky off-kilter tune
with a call-and-response between Alessi and Malaby. Black Dog Pays a Visit
(whose title was inspired by Winston Churchills term for depression) is a
complex moody work that packs an emotional punch. The intricate Marshalls Plan
hints at the influence of Bill Evans. Lees Dream, which honors Lee Konitz and
owes its creation to the chord changes of You Stepped Out of a Dream, is a
fascinating duet by Hersch and Malaby. This is yet another highly recommended
addition to Fred Herschs vast discography as a leader.

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