Fred Hersch, a highly acclaimed jazz pianist, has released a stream of live and studio recordings over recent years. His duet recording, Live in Healdsburg, with clarinetist Anat Cohen, was lauded in this editorial space last March. His most recent record, Fred Hersch Trio ’97 @ The Village Vanguard (Palmetto Records), reaches back to live recordings from 21 years ago at the legendary New York City jazz club. The eight songs, a mix of standards and originals, on the album were culled from three Friday night sets performed by Hersch, bassist Drew Gress and drummer Tom Rainey. The trio had been playing together for five years at the time of the club dates, and the songs here display the musicians’ wondrous interplay and joyful explorations. Music fans can give thanks that those moments on the bandstand were preserved for this worthy addition to the Hersch discography. — Mordecai Specktor
