Best Piano Trios in Jazz
Fred Hersch Allstar Trio
The Washington Post describes the trio led by New York jazz pianist Fred Hersch (Thomas Morgan on bass, Joey Baron on drums) as "one of the most important ensembles of our time". Hersch, born in 1955, has already worked with many jazz greats and is celebrated for his lyrical playing. He has recorded dozens of remarkable albums, received countless awards - and is also a highly esteemed teacher who has taught stars such as Brad Mehldau and Jason Moran.
In the 1960s, songwriter Jimmy Webb was driving through American no man's land. Sunset, an endless row of telephone poles - and suddenly Webb recognized a silhouette at the top of a pole in the distance: a technician at work. He memorized the image and wrote a song about the lineman from the city of Wichita. "Wichita Lineman", recorded by country singer Glenn Campbell, became a worldwide success and was subsequently covered countless times. When Fred Hersch plays the song, the story of the lonely technician at the top of the pole is always present, even if the lyrics are not sung. "I hear the words in my head when I play," says Hersch, "it influences my music. When I teach young musicians, I always tell them: learn the words. It's not just words, it's a song."
After starting to play the piano at the age of four, Fred Hersch attended the New England Conservatory in Boston as a young man until he graduated in 1977. He then lived in New York, where he quickly became a sought-after pianist. At this time, Hersch appeared as an accompanist for band projects by Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, Jane Ira Bloom, Toots Thielemans, Gary Burton, Art Farmer and Charlie Haden. Hersch soon attracted international attention with his own compositions, band projects and especially with his solo programs, such as his albums with Monk or Rodgers and Hammerstein interpretations in 1996/97. To date, Fred Hersch has been involved in over 25 albums as a solo artist or bandleader and in over a hundred albums as an accompanying or guest musician. He was the first musician to be given the honor of performing his solo piano program for a week at the famous New York jazz club Village Vanguard. He can also be heard on John Hébert's album Sounds of Love (2022) and Nadje Noordhuis' Full Circle (2022), among others.Hersch is known for narrative melodic improvisation in jazz.[1] Various projects with musicians from the field of classical music - such as concert pianist Jeffrey Kahane or violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg - or solo programs together with various orchestras testify to the versatility of pianist Hersch.
MIKE STERN/LENI STERN BAND
"One of the most influential jazz fusion guitarists of his generation." (DownBeat)
Over four decades, Mike Stern has established himself as one of the central figures in jazz fusion. His career includes more than a dozen independent albums, numerous international tours and multiple Grammy nominations. Early on, he became part of the musical movement that opened up jazz to new influences without compromising its depth. Collaborations with personalities such as Miles Davis, Jaco Pastorius and Billy Cobham were formative - experiences that had a lasting effect on his musical attitude.Stern's playing is unmistakable: powerful and direct, yet harmonically complex and deeply rooted in the blues. Rock energy, jazz harmony, soul feeling and improvisational freedom merge into a language that is immediately recognizable. Influences from Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, Jim Hall or Albert King are palpable, but never quotable - they flow into a personal sound world that has grown over decades.
The current band brings this openness to the stage in concentrated form. The rhythm section of electric bass and drums provides an elastic, powerful foundation that carries both driving fusion grooves and calm, breathing passages. Above this, saxophone lines, guitar colors and African-inspired sounds unfold, expanding the musical spectrum without losing focus. Live, the result is a wide musical journey: from energetic rock and fusion compositions to funky improvisations and lyrical ballads. The permanent interplay is characteristic - an open dialog in which every voice counts. The music does not seek the effect, but the necessity of every single note. This is precisely its strength: experience is not exhibited, but lived.
Line-up:
Mike Stern - electric guitar
Leni Stern - electric guitar, n'goni, vocals
Bob Franceschini - saxophone
Gary Grainger - electric bass
Dennis Chambers - drums
KURT ROSENWINKEL ALLSTAR QUINTET "The Remedy 2026"
Kurt Peter Rosenwinkel (* 28. October 1970 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is one of the greatest guitarists of our time. Kurt Rosenwinkel, who grew up in a musical family, received piano lessons from the age of nine. At the age of twelve, he switched to jazz guitar; his classmates at the Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts included Christian McBride, Joey DeFrancesco and Questlove. After studying at the Berklee School of Music, he went on tour with Gary Burton in 1992. He then moved to New York City, where he played with Paul Motian's Electric Bebop Band (from 1992), Joe Henderson, the Brian Blade Fellowship, Tim Hagans, Seamus Blake, Perico Sambeat and Jochen Rückerts.[3] His own group includes musicians such as Mark Turner, Brad Mehldau and Joshua Redman. In 2013, he played a solo concert at the Montreux Jazz Festival; he also performed with Eric Clapton and with the hr-Bigband. He has collaborated with the Portuguese Orquestra Jazz de Matosinhos for several years.
On June 4, 2019, Eric Clapton invited Rosenwinkel to join him on stage at the Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin to perform the songs Cocaine and Before You Accuse Me. He can also be heard on Joe Farnsworth's In What Direction Are You Headed? (2023).
Rosenwinkel, who was last heard in Basel with the Chopin Project (J.P. Brodbeck), is now coming to Basel with his superb band.
Line up:
Kurt Rosenwinkel (guitar)
Mark Turner (sax)
Jeff Tain Watts (drums)
Aaron Goldberg (keys)
Joe Martin (bass)
Translated with DeepL
