It took pianist Fred Hersch 18 years to headline at the Village Vanguard after arriving on the New York jazz scene. By the time he made it in July 1997, gradually rising from sideman (with Joe Henderson, Art Farmer, Lee Konitz, Ron Carter and Al Foster, all of whom he had previously appeared at the Village Vanguard), he did it on his own terms as leader of his own trio. He could have headlined earlier had he been heading-up an all-star band, an opportunity he declined. He wanted to do it on the strength of his own playing. This album shows why, with eight choice cuts selected by Hersch from the three Friday-night sets that concluded his first week’s run at the club as a leader, comprising a mixture of Songbook standards and jazz compositions. They are the only representation of his trio with Gress and Rainey performing live. Listening to these tracks more than 20 years later, Hersch believes they stack up with his best recorded work, and he’s right. They are a revelation compared to his previous two studio albums with the trio – 1993’s Dancing In the Dark and 1994’s Plays (both Chesky). In fact, for all the praise heaped on his recent Live in Europe, there is the confidence and sparkle about these 1997 tracks of someone demanding to be heard that makes them a comfortable fit alongside the very best of recorded jazz live at this distinguished nightspot.