CD Review: Fred Hersch, "Songs From Home"

If you read my blog on a regular basis you know that Fred Hersch is one of my musical heroes.  He is amazing in any environment whether Solo, Big Band,  Piano Trio or other larger configurations.  His Solo recordings are gems!  Speaking of musical gems, Fred's latest solo offering adds to his list of gems!  The idea for his new CD, "Songs From Home" originated from his emotional reaction to our country's lockdown which we are all suffered through.  Fred spent most of the lockdown in his home in the Pennsylvania woods facing what he calls his "Loss of his identity".  Like most professional musicians, performing music becomes more than just their job, it overwhelms their entire identity to the point that a day without performing becomes a giant void.   

Fifteen-time Grammy nominee, Fred Hersch explains why he recorded this CD,  "In the beginning, I think it was a way for me to feel like I wasn't helpless.  I needed to remind myself that music will go on and I'll be able to continue playing the piano for people, even if it's in a new way".   Fred has recently celebrated his 65th birthday while in quarantine and selected a collection of songs he had fond memories of during his long career.  According to Hersch, "It's kind of a comfort food album with a little badass stuff in there too.  I didn't want to make an easy listening record, but I did want to play some music that would make people happy".  Mission accomplished,  "Songs From Home"  is a warm and wonderful example of Jazz interpretation that gives a new voice to some old standards and two Hersch originals.  It illustrates the wide depth of Hersch's musical mind with songs from composers Loewe, Webb, Porter, Mitchell, Ellington and Lennon/McCartney.     

Fred recorded this CD while playing on his 50-year old, seven-foot Steinway Model B inside his Pennsylvania home.  He shared these comments "Any solo record is essentially about the relationship between the pianist and the particular piano.  My 50-year Steinway does certain things extremely well and other things that are a bit more flawed.  Steinways all have personalities; they're very handmade items.  Rather than be frustrated the it wasn't a perfect piano, I embraced the flaws".  I suspect that the any piano Fred Hersch plays will become instantly a better piano!

I have attached two "YouTubes" for your listening pleasure.  The first one is Fred's renditions of the Beatles' song "When I'm Sixty-Four" in honor of what was his upcoming 65th birthday.  The second is Fred's straightforward  emotional rendering of Joni Mitchell's classic "All I Want".  

Thank you Fred Hersch for keeping your music alive for all of us!

PLAYLIST:

1.  Wouldn't It Be Loverly

2.  Wichita Lineman

3. After You've Gone

4. All I Want

5. Get Out Of Town

6. West Virginia Rose

7. The Water Is Wide

8. Sarabande

9. Consolation

10. Solitude

11. When I'm Sixty-Four 

                                                                "When I"m Sixty-Four"

                                                                             "All I Want"