Fred Hersch

The masterful musicianship of the young pianist and composer Fred Hersch has earned him increasing critical praise in the last few years. This Cincinnati native, who has made his home in New York City since 1977, has emerged with a reputation for both impressive technical facility and imagination and has performed extensively with many of the world's most renowned jazz artists.

His Chesky release, Forward Motion, features his compositions and The Fred Hersch Group, a quintet with a front line of saxophone and cello. Other notable releases include The French Collection, featuring Hersch's arrangements of pieces by Ravel, Debussy, Faure, Poulenc and Satie, Short Stories, an album of duets with vocalist Janis Siegel of The Manhattan Transfer (a 1989 Grammy nominee), and Evanessence: A Tribute to Bill Evans. He has released four trio albums. In demand as a sideman, he has appeared on over 50 recordings and over 25 of his compositions have been recorded by noted jazz musicians and chamber music groups. He has also produced and arranged many projects including Eddie Daniels' To Bird With Love, a 1987 Grammy nominee.

Hersch has been a featured soloist with numerous orchestras and performed at many major international jazz festivals. He has appeared on the Today show and VH-1 and has been heard on National Public Radio. Hersch graduated with honors from The New England Conservatory in 1977 and is now a member of its Jazz Studies Faculty.

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