Fred Hersch – Live at the Village Vanguard (Palmetto)

What is it about the Village Vanguard in New York that has resulted in such a plethora of great recordings? Add this Fred Hersch Trio offering to the list. On this date Hersch is accompanied by long-time collaborator, bassist Drew Gress, and the very fresh and exciting young drummer, Nasheet Waits.  Hersch improvises over six originals and some Monk and Shorter with the sharp conceptual clarity of a classical composer. Instead of merely skimming on top of the familiar chord changes on standard songs, he forges them into rigorously restructured, highly personal creations. He demonstrates all the visionary eclecticism of Miles Davis or John Coltrane in jazz innovation.  His lyrical compositions show a disarming combination of quirky ideas and dazzling beauty.

Fred Hersch has proven to be a consistently inventive, sensitive and yet authoritative player.