Chris Hersch
Encyclopedia
Chris Hersch is a Boston
-based guitarist. Hersch is part of the new "folk jazz
" movement emmerging in the northeast. In 2004, Chris Hersch began collaborating with "Avante-Folk" Boston Saxophonist Daniel Bennett
. In addition to performing full time with the Daniel Bennett Group, Hersch also performs with the well known Indie rock group Oneside http://www.onesidemusic.com, and Girls Guns and Glory (http://www.girlsgunsandglory.com), as well as free lance solo work.
Chris Hersch moved to Boston in 2000 to study Jazz Guitar Performance at the New England Conservatory. There he was a student of John Abercrombie, Ben Monder
, Jerry Bergonzi
, Steve Lacy
, and John McNeil
. During his time at the New England Conservatory, Chris Hersch also began studying banjo
and folk music
. Since that time, Chris Hersch's music has blended elements of the jazz language with the American Roots tradition and banjo playing.
Chris Hersch currently serves as the Chair of the Guitar Department at Powers Music School
, and is faculty at Cape Cod Conservatory, and the Community Music Center of Boston. Hersch has played many venues around the world, including South by Southwest (SXSW) TX, High Sierra Music Festival CA, Austin City Limits TX, Floyd Fest VA, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival NY, Appalachian Uprising OH, the Pocono Jazz Festival, Bethlehem Music Festival, Bennett Alliance
Open Fest
, Jordan Hall
, and Moravian Hall.
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
-based guitarist. Hersch is part of the new "folk jazz
Folk jazz
Folk jazz is a broad term for music that pairs traditional folk music with elements of jazz music, featuring richly elaborated songs whose textures are rooted in both styles....
" movement emmerging in the northeast. In 2004, Chris Hersch began collaborating with "Avante-Folk" Boston Saxophonist Daniel Bennett
Daniel Bennett (saxophonist)
Daniel Bennett is an American saxophonist who lives in Manhattan. Daniel Bennett is best known for his "folk jazz" music. Bennett contends that his music is "a mix of jazz, folk, and twentieth century minimalism." Jon Garelick of the Boston Phoenix wrote, The music has given them a broad...
. In addition to performing full time with the Daniel Bennett Group, Hersch also performs with the well known Indie rock group Oneside http://www.onesidemusic.com, and Girls Guns and Glory (http://www.girlsgunsandglory.com), as well as free lance solo work.
Chris Hersch moved to Boston in 2000 to study Jazz Guitar Performance at the New England Conservatory. There he was a student of John Abercrombie, Ben Monder
Ben Monder
-Biography:Monder attended the University of Miami. He has worked with a wide variety of musicians including Lee Konitz, Toots Thielmans, Paul Motian and Maria Schneider....
, Jerry Bergonzi
Jerry Bergonzi
Jerry Bergonzi is a jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and educator. Bergonzi received a B.A. Degree in Music Education from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and is the founder of Not Fat Records....
, Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy
Steve Lacy , born Steven Norman Lackritz in New York City, was a jazz saxophonist and composer recognized as one of the important players of soprano saxophone....
, and John McNeil
John McNeil
John McNeil was a general in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He was most noted for his role in the Palmyra Massacre and other acts of alleged brutality.-Early life and career:...
. During his time at the New England Conservatory, Chris Hersch also began studying banjo
Banjo
In the 1830s Sweeney became the first white man to play the banjo on stage. His version of the instrument replaced the gourd with a drum-like sound box and included four full-length strings alongside a short fifth-string. There is no proof, however, that Sweeney invented either innovation. This new...
and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. Since that time, Chris Hersch's music has blended elements of the jazz language with the American Roots tradition and banjo playing.
Chris Hersch currently serves as the Chair of the Guitar Department at Powers Music School
Powers Music School
Powers Music School is a musical institution serving New England for over 30 years. The Powers Music School is a community music center based in Belmont, Massachusetts...
, and is faculty at Cape Cod Conservatory, and the Community Music Center of Boston. Hersch has played many venues around the world, including South by Southwest (SXSW) TX, High Sierra Music Festival CA, Austin City Limits TX, Floyd Fest VA, Falcon Ridge Folk Festival NY, Appalachian Uprising OH, the Pocono Jazz Festival, Bethlehem Music Festival, Bennett Alliance
Bennett Alliance
Bennett Alliance is a Boston-based record label and music production company serving Massachusetts and New York since 2003. Bennett Alliance was founded by saxophonist Daniel Bennett in the spring of 2003. The Bennett Alliance Music Fest is a national jazz and folk fest held in Rochester, New York...
Open Fest
Open Fest
Open Fest is now called the Bennett Alliance Music Fest. The jazz and folk festival is held annually in Rochester, New York. Open Fest was formed in the summer of 2003 by saxophonist Daniel Bennett, Andrew Cloninger, and Rich Oppedisano. The vision of Open Fest was to create a platform for...
, Jordan Hall
Jordan Hall
Jordan Hall is a 1,019-seat concert hall in Boston, Massachusetts, the principal performance space of the New England Conservatory. It is one block from Boston's Symphony Hall, and together they are considered two of America's most acoustically perfect performance spaces...
, and Moravian Hall.