The recently completed four-season HBO series Treme brought post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans, and the city’s deep musical history, back into the spotlight. Appearances by New York City-based jazz pianist and vocalist Jon Batiste also elevated the stylish young rising star a rung higher, something that’s no coincidence, since Treme was partly based on his own family’s … [Read more...]
Jazzman Fred Hersch survived ‘coma dreams’ for a comeback
If any musician gets chesty enough to think their work approaches impressionistic art, that they’ve overcome insurmountable obstacles to reach that plateau, and become a cultural icon in the process, you can bring them down to earth by matching their life against that of pianist Fred Hersch. The 57-year-old native of Cincinnati was writing symphonies before high school, and … [Read more...]