Every time FRED HERSCH sits down at the piano is an act of revelation, discovery, confession and evolution. An exploratory artist, eloquent composer, outspoken activist, influential educator and possessor of one of the most personal and expressive pianistic styles in improvised music, Hersch has led a singular life that has shaped one of the most acclaimed and influential voices in modern jazz. At the forefront of the music for more than three decades, he has earned countless awards and accolades including ten Grammy® nominations, numerous acknowledgments from the jazz world’s most prestigious institutions and publications, and such recent distinctions as being named a 2016 Doris Duke Artist and the Jazz Journalists Association’s 2016 Jazz Pianist of the Year.

Hailed by Vanity Fair as “the most arrestingly innovative pianist in jazz over the last decade,” Hersch stands as a defining figure in several different contexts, from breathtaking solo recitals and compelling duos to his gold-standard trios and innovative chamber pieces. With more than 40 albums to his credit as leader or co-leader, Hersch can claim one of the most highly praised and consistently striking discographies in jazz history. His latest release, Open Book (Palmetto Records) is his 11th solo recording, capturing the vital essence of the bold adventurousness and intense beauty that have made Hersch one of the music’s most renowned solo artists while continuing to discover new areas of inspiration and depths of feeling.

Full bio available at fredhersch.com
Image: allaboutjazz.com