Pianist Fred Hersch picks his high collaborations : NPR

What does musical versatility sound like? Within the arms of pianist and composer Fred Hersch, it is fearless, intimate and consistently evolving. Over a profession spanning greater than 4 a long time, Hersch has constructed a legacy via adventurous collaborations — with jazz legends, boundary-pushing vocalists and rising stars.

On this episode of Jazz Evening in America, Hersch celebrates his upcoming seventieth birthday by curating a few of his most significant musical partnerships. He shares songs from throughout his profession, together with tales behind his work with artists like Charlie Haden, Kurt Elling and esperanza spalding. And he displays on the significance of connection, spontaneity and inventive belief.

We additionally hear music from Hersch’s newest trio album, The Surrounding Inexperienced, and discover the enduring artistry of considered one of jazz’s most expressive pianists.

Set Checklist:

1. “Enfant” (Ornette Coleman) from the album Sarabande with Charlie Haden and Joey Baron (Sunnyside, 1986)
2. Track With out Phrases #4: Duet (Fred Hersch), from the album Free Flying with Julian Lage (Palmetto, 2013)
3. “Loro” (Egberto Gismonti), from the album Alive on the Village Vanguard with esperanza spalding (Palmetto, 2023)
4. “There’s A Small Resort” (Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart), from the album Nancy King Dwell at Jazz Normal with Fred Hersch (MAXJAZZ, 2006)
5. “The Sleepers” (Hersch, Walt Whitman), from the album Leaves of Grass with Kurt Elling, Kate McGarry and the Fred Hersch Ensemble (Palmetto, 2005)
6. “Out Someplace (Blues for Matthew Shepard)” (Hersch/organized by Vince Mendoza), from the album Start Once more with The WDR Massive Band  (Palmetto, 2019)
7. “Improvisation” from the album The Track Is You with Enrico Rava (ECM, 2022)
8. “The Surrounding Inexperienced” (Hersch), from the album The Surrounding Inexperienced with Joey Baron and Drew Gress (ECM, 2025)
9. “We See” (Thelonious Monk), from the album Dwell in Europe with the Fred Hersch Trio (Palmetto, 2018)

Credit: Trevor Smith, author and producer; Sarah Geled, producer; Christian McBride, host; Ron Scalzo, episode combine; Nikki Birch and Mitra Arthur, video producers; Steven A. Williams, government producer; Suraya Mohamed, government producer of NPR Music