Posted: 07 December 2008 at 4:21pm | IP Logged

Premiere jazz pianist Fred Hersch is an out jazz musician, an advocate for music and AIDS awareness. A longtime AIDS survivor, Hersch’s many recordings include a collection of recordings for Classical Action that benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. 

Hersch's current concert marks a return visit to the Perelman Theatre - two years ago he performed his powerful and elegant setting to Whitman’s’ ’Leaves of Grass’ to much acclaim in the hall.

Was setting music to ’Leaves of Grass’ daunting?
I’m fascinated by Whitman. This was more or less done on a dare. It took almost a year to put the libretto together. Choosing which parts would benefit from the addition of music. Then I wrote the music in less than a month.
It’s scored for two voices (recorded with Kate McGarry and Kurt Elling) and eight instruments. We played 6 halls for that tour and the Perelman Theater in Philly and it was our favorite hall.

Is there such a thing as ’gay’ music?
To me, only if a male character is singing to a male character... is it gay music. Beyond that, nobody gives a sh*t. I’ve been out for a very long time in the music. Nobody asks me if I did Whitman because he was gay, I just like the words and to make a point."
The fact that the composer might be gay... or into bondage or something else is just of secondary importance. There is some sort of style, some might say, a gay musical style? That just isn’t accurate.

I haven’t done a benefit CD for a while. I continue to do things as I can...my schedule is not grueling right now. I’ve been in the hospital for many months, so I’m just getting back in the swing. A couple of concerts a month. It feels good right now, not to do lengthy tours and get my strength back. I still have some problems. In general I’m doing much better and have plenty of energy.

Do you see a rise in the apathy towards AIDS activism?
Yes, definitely. Especially with the economic downturn more an more people are going to need services- food, rides to the doctor, their meds. It going to change for people. In terms of education there is never enough. Hopefully when we get rid of this disgusting administration we will talk about this like adults.

How has the landscape changed being out in the jazz world?
It’s pretty much a non issue. If people don’t like my playing if they are homophobic they are going to try to use that against me.

Michael Moore and Fred Hersch ’This We Know’ is available 
"Let Yourself Go: The Lives of Fred Hersch" a concert DVD

( http://www.edgephiladelphia.com/index.php?ch=entertainment&a mp;sc=music&sc3=category_link&id=84148&pg=1 )