Leaves of Grass finds pianist
Fred Hersch and a stellar ensemble of musicians performing Walt Whitman's classic poetry to music.
Hersch has long displayed an organic mix of
Keith Jarrett's blissed-out focus,
Bill Evans' epic patience, and
Tommy Flanagan's straight-ahead sense of swing. Combine all that with a deft post-bop harmonicism, classically trained technique, and finally the epic poetry of Walt Whitman and you get this gorgeously cerebral album. Interestingly,
Hersch has apple picked from various parts of
Leaves of Grass, only including certain parts that truly spoke to him. The result is a semi-classical-sounding oratorio that makes room for spoken word sections, sections done in vocalized song, and outright improvisation. Giving life to Whitman's actual words are singers
Kurt Elling and
Kate McGarry, who instill each phrase with precision and eloquence. Similarly,
Hersch's backing ensemble, including trumpeter
Ralph Alessi, tenor saxophonist
Tony Malaby, trombonist
Mike Christianson, clarinetist
Bruce Williamson, cellist
Erik Friedlander, bassist
Drew Gress, and drummer
John Hollenbeck, helps deliver an atmospheric and nuanced backdrop for Whitman's poetry.
Hersch's
Leaves of Grass will certainly not be to everyone's taste -- poetry and jazz rarely are -- however, as an exercise in combining the two mediums,
Hersch has not only succeeded, but also created one of the best albums of his career.