It was Friday night, and I just had to be there — not only to hear Fred Hersch, the fantastic, Cincinnati-born jazz pianist, play a concert at NKU, but also to witness the inaugural class of the Cincinnati Jazz Hall Fame.  It turned out to be a very moving evening indeed.

NKU was congratulating its 43rd graduating class, and Hersch was in town to be the Commencement keynote speaker. By now, he is Dr. Fred Hersch, as he was awarded an honorary doctorate on Saturday. But on Friday, at a little reception thrown by NKU’s President,  Geoffrey Mearns, he was fresh off of 22 planes and 12 countries, trailed by his biographer (the book is coming out in 2017), and schmoozing with old neighbors from North Avondale. I think every jazz pianist in town was there, too.Read More »