Hersch and spalding in step during Longwood performance
On Saturday evening, legendary pianist and composer Fred Hersch and vocalist, bassist, and songwriter-composer esperanza spalding were just two friends on stage performing for a sold-out audience at Longwood Gardens’ Exhibition Hall.
The duo were touring in support of their newest collaboration album, “Alive at the Village Vanguard,” recorded live at the renowned New York City jazz club in October 2018 and released in early January on Palmetto Records.
Hersch and spalding, both headliners in their own right, joined creative forces over the weekend to perform a 90-minute set of intricate improvisation on a stage set among the floral extravagance of Longwood.
Collaboration is what helps these artists thrive, and it was evident throughout the set that Hersch and spalding were in tune with each other beyond just the music.
The duo’s ensemble included Hersch on piano, the masterful collaborator who kept the music in balance throughout the set.
Well known as a bassist phenom, spalding presented herself in a new but familiar way during Saturday evening’s performance, accompanying Hersch exclusively on vocals and getting lost in her friend’s playing.
Early in the set, the duo featured the melodic “Little Suede Shoes” and “Dream of Monk,” both off the new album.
On “Dream of Monk,” Hersch described how the song evolved out of a dream, where he was challenged to write a song under pressure alongside a caged Thelonious Monk.
The pair also featured, “Girl Talk,” a song written in the 1960s by Neal Hefti with lyrics by Bobby Troup. “Girl Talk” is as relevant today as it was then, with lyrics complex in its character that uniquely underscore feminine equality while presented as satire.
Midway through the set, Hersch and spalding featured “Prelude to a Kiss” by the great Duke Ellington, a highlight of the performance.
Featuring this standard was a nice injection of jazz’s history, and at this point in the set Hersch and spalding shifted into a more traditional jazz accompaniment.
They also performed a rendition of Brazilian singer-songwriter Milton Nascimento’s “Bridges” which struck a chord for unity in a time of great uncertainty.
Through their performance on Saturday, Fred Hersch and esperanza spalding showcased as two creative minds who think and play in a complimentary way.
Spalding, the more physically expressive of the pair, is a life force who performs in a way that invites the audience to come in, get comfortable being uncomfortable, and experience the moment.
Meanwhile, Hersch is the trailblazing perfectionist who for decades has consistently been atop the jazz world.
Combined, the two bring an innovative and conversational approach to the jazz duo, and the audience at Longwood seemed to love what the two were creating.
Upcoming performances at Longwood including Delfeayo Marsalis’ From Beet to Bird on Feb. 24 and 25, Joey Alexander on March 24, and Kat Edmonson on April 1.
Longwood is also preparing to announce its Summer Performance Series in the next few weeks. Tickets and information can be found at www.longwoodgardens.org.