Fred Hersch (Pt. 3)
This is really hurried. I have to run and meet him in a half hour. I will make up for this with a legitimate summary later in the weekend. For now, here are yesterday’s highlights:
1. Fred taught improvisation at Capital (which I missed)
2. Fred taught Audiation (ear training) at Capital, which consisted of him playing tracks from his laptop for us to digest and discuss. Selections included a Sonny Rollins hit at the Vanguard with a young Elvin Jones, Miles Davis at the Blackhawk (with Jimmy Cobb, Hank Mobley, Paul Chambers, and Wynton Kelly), a Kenny Wheeler track from Music for Large and Small Ensembles, a Don Cherry/Ornette Coleman track from Tomorrow Is The Question!, and a ridiculous tune from a Brazilian pianist whose name escapes me, named Egberto Gismonti (NPR has an article on him up today, here, as luck would have it. Note, he is also apparently brilliant at the guitar).
3. Fred taught a masterclass on improvisation, which covered solo piano playing and student questions on topics from listening, to learning tunes, to practicing, to metric modulations.
More with Fred today. My lesson, a composition masterclass, a piano masterclass, a small group ensemble coaching, and finally the concert on Sunday.
