Fred Hersch, born in Cincinnati in 1955, is a renowned American jazz pianist, composer, and educator whose career spans over four decades. A prodigy who began piano at age four and composing by eight, he studied at the New England Conservatory with Jaki Byard before emerging as a distinctive voice in jazz. Hersch was the first pianist to play weeklong solo engagements at New York’s Village Vanguard and has released over fifty albums as a leader or co-leader. His honors include multiple Jazz Pianist of the Year awards, seventeen Grammy nominations, and recognition as a Doris Duke Artist. As an educator, he has shaped generations of pianists through his work at Juilliard, NEC, and the Manhattan School of Music.

Openly gay, Hersch has spoken candidly about his experiences living with HIV since the mid-1980s, surviving multiple health crises, and enduring bouts of depression. His memoir and interviews detail how these struggles have shaped his music, deepened his emotional range, and informed his commitment to authenticity on and off stage. He has become a role model for resilience in both the LGBTQ+ community and the jazz world, using his art to explore vulnerability, perseverance, and self-expression.

His two most recent releases reflect the breadth of his artistry. Silent Listening (ECM, 2024) is an intimate solo piano album produced by Manfred Eicher, featuring poetic, nocturnal improvisations that balance lyricism and abstraction. The Surrounding Green (ECM, 2025) marks his return to the trio format after seven years, with bassist Drew Gress and drummer Joey Baron. Together, these works affirm Hersch’s place among jazz’s most expressive modern pianists.

“Detour Ahead” and Herb Ellis

Standards Rating 6 Difficulty Rating 6

Herb Ellis (1921–2010) was a seminal American jazz guitarist best known for his tenure with the Oscar Peterson Trio in the 1950s. Known for blending bebop fluency with a blues-infused swing style, Ellis was praised for his rhythmic precision, melodic clarity, and ability to seamlessly complement virtuoso ensembles. A native of Texas and a student of North Texas State University, Ellis gained early recognition with the Soft Winds trio, where he co-wrote the jazz standard “Detour Ahead.”

“Detour Ahead” is a lyrically rich, harmonically sophisticated ballad that uses the metaphor of a winding road to reflect romantic vulnerability. Written in 1948 with Lou Carter and Johnny Frigo, the tune is structured in a 34-bar AABA form and features nuanced harmonic shifts and melodic tension. It remains a favorite among vocalists and instrumentalists alike, reflecting Ellis’s gift for subtle emotional depth and his lasting influence on jazz composition and guitar artistry.

Soft Winds

Herb Ellis

Jazz Real Book Playlist

Seth Abramson has been appointed as the inaugural Director of Jazz Awards at The Gilmore, where he will oversee the newly established Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Awards for outstanding jazz pianists. A celebrated producer, presenter, and musician, Abramson brings decades of experience discovering and supporting major artists including Jon Batiste, Robert Glasper, Esperanza Spalding, and Jason Moran. He has produced Grammy-winning and nominated recordings and presented concerts for top-tier talent across prestigious venues and events. In his new role, Abramson will lead the nomination and selection process for two major jazz honors: the Larry J. Bell Jazz Artist Award, presented every four years with a $300,000 prize, and the Larry J. Bell Young Jazz Artist Award, awarding $25,000 biennially to promising American pianists aged 22 and under. Funded by an $8 million endowment from Bell’s Brewery founder and Gilmore Board President Larry J. Bell, the first awards will be announced in 2026. Learn more at thegilmore.org.

(E85) “Dedicated To You” and Johnny Hartman

Standards Rating 5 Difficulty Rating 6

Johnny Hartman, born in 1923 in Chicago, was a jazz vocalist known for his smooth baritone and emotional delivery, particularly on romantic ballads. Though underrecognized in his lifetime, he earned deep respect from jazz musicians and critics. His defining moment came in 1963 with the release of John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman, featuring the iconic track “Dedicated to You.” Originally composed in 1936, the song is a 32-bar ballad in B♭ major, rich in harmonic nuance and emotional tension. Hartman’s interpretation, paired with Coltrane’s lyrical saxophone and McCoy Tyner’s piano, brought the tune new artistic depth. The arrangement showcases clever melodic symmetry, expressive harmonic shifts, and subtle use of dissonance and resolution. Despite limited fame, Hartman’s voice found renewed appreciation through film and reissues. His work, especially on “Dedicated to You,” remains a masterclass in jazz ballad performance, securing his place in jazz history.

Johnny Hartman and John Coltrane

Freddie Hubbard

Marel Hidalgo is a 17-year-old jazz guitar prodigy based on the Jersey Shore, already making waves on the global jazz scene. With a sound that blends deep tradition and youthful innovation, Marel has performed at top jazz clubs and festivals around the world. Despite his young age, he’s already collaborated with jazz luminaries such as drummers Billy Hart, Roger Humphries, organist Pat Bianchi, earning him recognition as one of the most exciting young voices in jazz guitar today.

(E84) “Dearly Beloved” and Stanley Turrentine

Standards Rating 5, Difficulty Rating 5

“Dearly Beloved,” composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, is a graceful 32-bar standard known for its memorable melodic patterns and rich harmonic turns. The tune opens with a classic ii–V progression, but cleverly delays resolution, creating subtle tension and release. Its balanced A–A′ form, motivic development, and tasteful chromaticism make it both accessible and musically sophisticated—a favorite among jazz musicians for interpretation and improvisation. Stanley Turrentine’s interpretation captures the tune’s lyrical essence while infusing it with soulful phrasing and blues-inflected lines. Known for his warm tone and melodic clarity, Turrentine brought a unique voice to jazz that transcended genre boundaries. Raised in a musical family and rooted in both R&B and bebop traditions, he became a defining figure in the soul jazz movement. His ability to merge technical precision with emotional depth made him one of the most distinctive tenor saxophonists of his generation and a lasting influence in jazz history.

Stanley Turrentine

Nancy Wilson

Eric Alexander, is widely recognized as one of today’s foremost tenor saxophonists, deeply rooted in the hard-bop tradition. He first gained national attention after placing second in the 1991 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition and went on to study at William Paterson University, where he was mentored by jazz great Harold Mabern. Known for his robust tone, harmonic sophistication, and lyrical phrasing, Alexander has released over twenty albums as a leader and contributed to more than 300 recordings as a sideman. His latest solo project, Chicago to New York (April 2025), features Mike LeDonne, Dennis Carroll, and George Fludas, and highlights his enduring creative vitality and deep connection to swing and blues. Now, Alexander reunites with fellow saxophone powerhouse Vincent Herring for their third collaboration, Split Decision, a fiery live album recorded at SMOKE Jazz Club with an all-star rhythm section: Mike LeDonne on piano, John Webber on bass, and Lewis Nash on drums. Set for release on August 22, 2025, via SMOKE Sessions Records, Split Decision marks the 20th anniversary of their first celebrated saxophone battle and captures the dynamic interplay and intensity that have defined their partnership. To celebrate the release, Alexander and Herring will perform a special five-night engagement at SMOKE Jazz Club in New York City, August 13–17, delivering an electrifying week of saxophone battles and hard swinging music.

(E 82) “Dear Old Stockholm” and Folk-Jazz Connection

Standards Rating 7 Difficulty Rating 6

“Dear Old Stockholm,” a jazz arrangement of the Swedish folk tune “Ack Värmeland, du sköna,” exemplifies the rich intersection of folk melody and jazz improvisation. Rooted in the expressive traditions of rural Sweden, the original melody carries emotional depth and lyrical simplicity—qualities that resonate naturally with jazz. Its transformation into a jazz standard began in the 1940s through Scandinavian musicians and gained international attention with recordings by Stan Getz, Miles Davis, and John Coltrane. Like other folk-based jazz pieces such as “Greensleeves” or “Shenandoah,” “Dear Old Stockholm” thrives on the balance between a memorable, singable melody and the harmonic complexity jazz can offer. Both folk and jazz share oral traditions, adaptability, and an emphasis on personal expression. In “Dear Old Stockholm,” the melodic clarity of folk music merges with jazz’s improvisational language, resulting in a timeless tune that bridges geographic, stylistic, and emotional landscapes.

Miles Davis

Bud Powell

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