There’s a special sort of magic that manifests itself whenever the Fred Hersch Trio settles in to play a set. Their latest apparition, Live In Europe, documents the penultimate performance of their fall 2017 tour, in Brussels, where according to Hersch, “the acoustics were perfect, the piano was outstanding” and everything came together just right. The band didn’t know that a recording was being made, eliminating that source of possible nervous tension. Bassist John Hébert and drummer Eric McPherson have been working with Hersch since 2009 and the trio’s established rapport makes listening to them a deeply satisfying experience. This is the unit’s sixth CD, and the third to present the group in a live setting. The program is an array of Hersch originals, old and new, plus two tunes apiece from Wayne Shorter (Miyako and Black Nile) and Thelonious Monk (the opening We See and the solo piano encore dissection of Blue Monk). Favorites include Newklypso, a dedication to the inimitable Sonny Rollins, and the occasion for a masterfully constructed drum solo by McPherson; The Big Easy, dedicated to author Tom Piazza, a down-tempo New Orleans-styled blues featuring an artfully architectural piano solo; and the sheer energy of their version of Black Nile, first heard on Shorter’s Night Dreamer Lp for Blue Note. Hersch, a pianist of myriad influences, sounds a little like McCoy Tyner as he burns through this piece. Sure enough, Tyner was on the original 1964 recording. While listening to the trio’s live discs, it’s always seemed to me that what we’re hearing was actually performed in the same sequence. Illusion or not, it reveals, in a carefully paced program, the range of feelings, tempos and instrumental routines that makes it such a delight to spend an hour or more with Hersch and friends. Heartily recommended.
Palmetto PM-2192; Fred Hersch (p) John Hébert (b) Eric McPherson (d); Brussels, Belgium, November 24, 2017; We See/ Snape Maltings/ Scuttlers/ Skipping/ Bristol Fog/ Newklypso/ The Big Easy/ Miyako/ Black Nile/ Blue Monk; 64:01. www.palmetto-records.com
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