
Good Things Happen Slowly
A Life In and Out of Jazz
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Narrated by:
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Steven Jay Cohen
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Fred Hersch
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By:
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Fred Hersch
About this listen
Jazz could not contain Fred Hersch.
Hersch's prodigious talent as a sideman - a pianist who played with the giants of the 20th century in the autumn of their careers, including Art Farmer and Joe Henderson - blossomed further in the '80s and beyond into a compositional genius that defied the boundaries of bop, sweeping in elements of pop, classical, and folk to create a wholly new music.
Good Things Happen Slowly is his memoir. It's the story of the first openly gay, HIV-positive jazz player; a deep look into the cloistered jazz culture that made such a status both transgressive and groundbreaking; and a profound exploration of how Hersch's two-month-long coma in 2007 led to his creating some of the finest, most direct, and most emotionally compelling music of his career.
Remarkable and at times lyrical, Good Things Happen Slowly is an evocation of the twilight of post-Stonewall New York and a powerfully brave narrative of illness, recovery, music, creativity, and the glorious reward of finally becoming oneself.
©2017 Fred Hersch (P)2017 Random House AudioListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
What listeners say about Good Things Happen Slowly
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Norma Miles
- 07-25-21
"I'm a very lucky man."
I have loved jazz since the late 50s so could not resist Free Hersch's memoirs. He did not disappoint, charging not only his own musical career and the influences which helped inspire him but also giving insight into what it must have been like to live through those early and terrifying years of AIDS. He writes with a subdued passion and Steven Jay Cohen gives voice to his narrative with beautifully narrated sensitivity. At the end, there is a brief contribution from Herschel himself, and it is apparent that his voice must have been similar to that of Cohen before the illness which later assailed him and, for a whi!e, took away his ability to speak.
It is a wonderfully evocative story of music and also very life affirming. My only personal regret is that a little more of Hersch's work was not included, especially in sections where he was explaining his personal deve!opments. There are, however, two musical inclusions. This is a book to be enjoyed by so many, not only those who love of have loved jazz, but all who have found themselves struggling to survive, whether because of illness or emotionally. Times and certain attitudes have changed but people stay the same.
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- Jerry Richard
- 05-13-21
Wonderful
Mr. Cohen did a fine job with Mr. Hersch's story. Both the addition of music from Leaves of Grass (why don't memoir productions from musicians do this?) and actually hearing from Fred Hersch himself were very memorable moments. I would also add that I really enjoyed the chapter that describe the physicality of piano playing.
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- Amazon Customer
- 03-01-18
a wonder and a delight
Very well written. This book allowed us non- musicians an introduction into the process. Beautifully done! an inspiration to read.
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