by Liam Trawick for NC Jazz Beat
Hirsh’s arrangements, both of his original compositions and of his covers, were all very playful and engaging. His well-thought-out, memorable melodies mixed with elements of odd meter and dissonant harmony came together to create intriguing and pleasing performances that left me humming the whole car ride home. In fact, some of Hirsh’s tunes were catchy enough that I remembered many of them from the last time I had heard him play several months ago. Each composition took the audience on a dramatic journey, illustrating a story that kept us on our toes.