Thirteen Ways

The ensemble uniting pianist Fred Hersch, clarinetist Michael Moore, and percussionist Gerry Hemingway takes its title from Wallace Stevens' poem "Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird." Their refined sound leans more toward melody than much of the work Hemingway has contributed to over the years, yet registers as more restrained than several sessions Moore has joined, including those with the ICP Orchestra. Blending self-penned pieces with outside material, the trio completed a couple of tours and issued two discs of lovely music on the GM Recordings and Palmetto labels.