Apr 29, 2025 11:53 AM
Vocalist Andy Bey Dies at 85
Singer Andy Bey, who illuminated the jazz scene for five decades with a four-octave range that encompassed a bellowing…
Fred Hersch has released a new solo album, Open Book.
(Photo: Jim Wilkie)Pianist Fred Hersch has long been recognized as an extraordinary interpreter of the Thelonious Monk songbook. But, despite including one of the iconic pianist-composer’s pieces in every one of his sets for most of his career, Hersch had never tackled “Eronel,” co-written by Monk and pianist Sadik Hakim—until now.
Monk’s original stride-inflected lines come in for a dizzying array of variations in Hersch’s imaginative version of the tune, which is featured on Hersch’s 11th solo album, the critically acclaimed Open Book (Palmetto Records), released Sept. 8. DownBeat is hosting the premiere of the music video, which was directed by Dylan DeMarko of Film is Animals.
Hersch has also received accolades for his new memoir, Good Things Happen Slowly: A Life In and Out of Jazz (Crown Archetype). The book covers the pianist’s meteoric rise in jazz, from his sideman days alongside masters like Art Farmer and Joe Henderson to his gradual recognition as one of the most innovative artists of his generation. Among Hersch’s honors are 10 Grammy nominations and a 2016 Doris Duke Artist Award.
Good Things Happen Slowly also chronicles Hersch’s story as the first openly gay, HIV-positive jazz musician, tracing his path through post-Stonewall New York City to the dramatic two-month medically induced coma in 2008 from which he emerged to make some of the most stunning and captivating music of his career.
Hersch’s long-time trio, which features bassist John Hébert and drummer Eric McPherson, has scheduled a European tour with appearances in Munich, Germany (Nov. 7); Cologne, Germany (Nov. 9); Rottenburg, Germany (Nov. 10); Strasbourg, France (Nov. 11); Barcelona, Spain (Nov. 14); Badajoz, Spain (Nov. 15); Madrid, Spain (Nov. 16); London (Nov. 18); Paris (Nov. 21–22); Chiasso, Switzerland (Nov. 23); Brussels, Belgium (Nov. 24); and Utrecht, Netherlands (Nov. 25).
For more tour information, visit Hersch’s website.
Hersch and several other artists performed at New England Conservatory’s Oct. 19 concert in celebration of Monk’s centennial. To read DownBeat’s review, click here. DB
“It kind of slows down, but it’s still kind of productive in a way, because you have something that you can be inspired by,” Andy Bey said on a 2019 episode of NPR Jazz Night in America, when he was 80. “The music is always inspiring.”
Apr 29, 2025 11:53 AM
Singer Andy Bey, who illuminated the jazz scene for five decades with a four-octave range that encompassed a bellowing…
Foster was truly a drummer to the stars, including Miles Davis, Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson.
Jun 3, 2025 11:25 AM
Al Foster, a drummer regarded for his fluency across the bebop, post-bop and funk/fusion lineages of jazz, died May 28…
“Branford’s playing has steadily improved,” says younger brother Wynton Marsalis. “He’s just gotten more and more serious.”
May 20, 2025 11:58 AM
Branford Marsalis was on the road again. Coffee cup in hand, the saxophonist — sporting a gray hoodie and a look of…
“What did I want more of when I was this age?” Sasha Berliner asks when she’s in her teaching mode.
May 13, 2025 12:39 PM
Part of the jazz vibraphone conversation since her late teens, Sasha Berliner has long come across as a fully formed…
Roscoe Mitchell will receive a Lifetime Achievement award at this year’s Vision Festival.
May 27, 2025 6:21 PM
Arts for Art has announced the full lineup for the 2025 Vision Festival, which will run June 2–7 at Roulette…