Fred Hersch - Floating (2014)

Fred Hersch - piano
John Hebert - bass
Eric McPherson - drums


Tracklist:

01. You & the Night & the Music
02. Floating
03. West Virginia Rose (For Florette & Roslyn)
04. Home Fries (For John Hebert)
05. Far Away (For Shimrit)
06. Arcata (For Esperanza)
07. A Speech to the Sea (For Maaria)
08. Autumn Haze (For Kevin Hays)
09. If Ever I Would Leave You
10. Let's Cool One


Palmetto Records, 2014


There's no arguing the considerable merits of pianist Fred Hersch's Alive at the Vanguard (Palmetto Records, 2012) or his Alone at the Vanguard (Palmetto Records, 2011), trio and solo efforts respectively, both recorded live at the legendary Village Vanguard, home of so many classic live sets. Hersch is at the height of his artistic powers in the place. It seems a consensus opinion that "Live" is better, an idea that has picked up credibility with the technical evolution resulting in very nearly studio quality sound for the documentation of concert recordings. No more murky sonics injected with those "tinkling ice, background chatter" crowd noises that can be heard on so many of the live offerings from yesteryear.

But let's not downplay the studio, especially in Hersch's case. His Whirl (Palmetto Records 2010) isn't Hersch's most lauded recording—that accolade probably goes to his ambitious larger ensemble offering Leaves of Grass (Palmetto Records, 2005). But Whirl is a studio piano trio recording put together to perfection to simulate a tight live set. And Floating is more of that, with the same trio—Hersch joined by John Hebert on bass and drummer Eric McPherson—going even deep in that mode of operation.

The trio opens with a touchstone, the familiar "You and the Night and the Music," laid down in an unfamiliar way—spiced up and rollicking. Saucy. A version to bring a smile, that gives way to the title tune, a Hersch original. The sound is a fluid, frictionless momentum that does indeed evoke the sensation of weightlessness, of notes floating on clouds. Music played on the moon.

Hersch is a marvelous tune-smith, writing in a variety of styles and moods, while maintaining the cohesion of the "set." "West Virginia Rose," dedicated to Hersch's mother and grandmother, plays with Appalachian themes. "Home Fries" slides down south to Louisiana with its second line New Orleans feel, and is dedicated to bassist Hebert, who hails from the Baton Rouge. The trio really lets go and lets it rip on the tune, before moving into the wistful, delicately drawn "Far Away," a piece that Hersch wrote for the late Israeli pianist Shimrit Shoshan. The pianist's touch here is deft and delicate beside McPherson's subtle brushwork and Hebert's steady, dreamy patience on the bass.

Three more distinctive originals are played out before the trio shifts back to the familiar, with a gorgeous, understated version of Lerner and Lowes' "If Ever I Would Leave You," and then closing with Thelonious Monk's "Let's Cool One," sounding refined and playful and devil-may-care on this perfect close out to a superb piano trio set.


Review by DAN MCCLENAGHAN
http://www.allaboutjazz.com/floating-fred-hersch-palmetto-records-review-by-dan-mcclenaghan.php#.U83ecuOSyQ4


好調ぶりが続く抒情派ピアノの名匠:フレッド・ハーシュ(1955年オハイオ州シンシナティ生まれ)の、鉄壁トリオによる円熟の快編。

硬質感や重厚さと、流麗さや軽涼感、が絶妙に合わさった、ニュアンスに富む豊潤で陰影あるピアノ・タッチによる、ある時はしっとりと優しく甘美に哀愁を歌い、またある時はダイナミック・ブルージーに凛々しく驀進スイングする、誠心こもった表情多彩なメロディック・プレイが実に爽やかに、そして芳醇に鮮度抜群の絵を飾った快投内容。

一貫してメロディーの美や詩情を大切にした、リリカル派の王道的な親しみやすい行き方が続き、滑脱自在で繊細かつパワフルなベース&ドラムの機動的サポートに小気味よくプッシュされながら、ハーシュの、センシティヴだが決して張り詰めすぎず、適度に肩の力を抜いて伸び伸びと演奏を楽しむ風な、自然体の柔和げな語り口が清々しい好調ぶりを見せてゆく。

エヴァンスやキースらの流れを汲んだ極めてオーソドックスな耽美指向のロマンティック節を変わらぬ根幹として、クール&マイルドにきめ濃やかな詩的情景を描き出してゆきつつ、コード技を活かしたソウルフルなフレージングや殺陣風のハード・バピッシュなダイナミズム表現、も的確に盛り込んで起伏・濃淡をつけ、トータル的にはあくまでシンプルでわかりやすい「エンタテイメント」然たる明快な道筋を、サラリと軽やかに形成しながら結構深い含蓄・余韻も残す、という、そのナチュラルでいて熟成された奥行き豊かなストーリーテリングの妙は、さすが絶品だ。

http://www.catfish-records.jp/product/17744




癒しでくれたわ～