Renowned jazz pianist Fred Hersch plays for charity at The Cooperage in Honesdale on July 2
From a press release:
Renowned jazz pianist and composer Fred Hersch will perform at The Cooperage in Honesdale on Saturday, July 2 at 8 p.m., donating all proceeds from this benefit solo concert to the Wayne County Pantry Program and The Cooperage Project.
Hersch, a member of the pantheon of great jazz pianists, has been hailed by Vanity Fair as “the most arresting [jazz] pianist over the past decade.” An artist of extraordinary range, he has been widely praised as both a soloist and chamber artist.
As a composer, Hersch is known for his innovative chamber settings. His compositions include works for duo, trio, and larger ensembles. They have been described as “explorations” and regarded as having stretched the boundaries of our uniquely American music genre, jazz.
Hersch has received eight Grammy Award nominations and many awards throughout his career, including the prestigious Guggenhiem Fellowship. This year, he was named the Jazz Pianist of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association and the 2016 Doris Duke Artist.
This prolific artist has released over 30 recordings, to the delight of jazz enthusiasts everywhere. “Sunday Night at the Vanguard” (Palmetto), his most recent, features the celebrated Fred Hersch Trio. On this occasion – this time in the company of longstanding partners John Hebért on bass and Eric McPherson on drums – Hersch has given his many fans one more reason to smile.
“I have always been involved in food security, so benefiting the Wayne County Food Pantry was a natural choice for this concert,” Hersch said of his upcoming benefit performance.
“I was fortunate to see The Cooperage in its infancy. It was just a large empty space, but the board had a vision of what it could be. I helped design the stage and had some input into the general design. I am so pleased to see that The Cooperage Project has grown into a thriving community organization for Honesdale and the neighboring area in so many ways.”
The Wayne County Pantry Program, operated under the leadership of the Wayne County Pantry Board, provides nutritious shelf staples to Wayne County residents who require assistance in meeting their monthly food needs and those of their families.
The Cooperage (1030 Main St., Honesdale) is operated by The Cooperage Project, a nonprofit organization whose objective is to cultivate social awareness and foster civic engagement in Honesdale in order to build a strong and vibrant community. The Cooperage Project offers a wide range of activities and events and will use Hersch’s contribution to expand jazz programming at The Cooperage.
To purchase tickets, which are $50, e-mail info@thecooperageproject.org or call 570-253-2020. For more information, visit thecooperageproject.org.
