Fredhersch_esperanzaspalding.aliveatthevillagev... (macOS)

In October 2018, the legendary pianist Fred Hersch invited the multi-talented Esperanza Spalding for a three-night engagement at New York’s iconic Village Vanguard . Hersch, a veteran of the club, expected Spalding to bring her bass. Instead, for personal reasons at the time, she arrived with only her voice.

Hersch had the foresight to record the engagement, sensing they were capturing something rare. The resulting album, released in January 2023 on Palmetto Records , showcases their incredible chemistry across standards and originals: fredhersch_esperanzaspalding.aliveatthevillagev...

The story of the album is a tale of creative spontaneity and a "lightning in a bottle" moment between two jazz masters, Fred Hersch and esperanza spalding . The Unexpected Collaboration In October 2018, the legendary pianist Fred Hersch

Unfazed, Hersch agreed to proceed as a piano-voice duo. What followed was a series of performances with and only a vague sense of the repertoire. They played with a "fearless" energy, treating the stage as a musical sandbox. Captured Moments Hersch had the foresight to record the engagement,