Armand Hirsch
Armand Hirsch (born November 20, 1990) is an American guitarist and former drummer, who plays predominantly Jazz and World music. He had his beginnings in rock and funk music, and has recently been focused on the Armand Hirsch Trio, a project that embraces intercontinental sounds and TEXtures.
Hirsch began to play the drums at the age 4, studying under jazz doyen Eddie Locke. He went on to study drums under Sandy Gennaro, at the Drummers Collective in New York City. Hirsch debuted as a drummer at the age of 12, at the Bitter End. He also went on to study under Adam Deitch and Joe Strasser.
For his 12th birthday, he was given a guitar, and quickly began to pursue it on equal with the drums. By the age of 14, Hirsch was already a touring guitarist, traveling around the US and Canada under the tutelage of Charlie Lagond, from Lagond Music School. Since then, Hirsch has appeared at numerous prestigious venues, including North Sea Jazz Festival, Monterey Jazz Festival, Montreal Jazz Festival, Bern Jazz Festival, New Orleans Jazz Festival, Beacon Theatre, BB King’s and others.
As a guitarist, Hirsch has studied under Peter Bernstein, Paul Bollenback, Charlie Banacos, Jonathan Kriesberg, Wayne Krantz and Alec Berlin.
Hirsch has played with McCoy Tyner, Herbie Hancock, Wynton Marsalis, George Mraz, Christian McBride, Terence Blanchard, Frank Wess, Joe Wilder, Roy Hargrove, Terell Stafford, Ravi Coltrane, Maceo Parker, Sam Yahel, Bernard Purdie, Omar Hakim, Dr. Eddie Henderson and others. In 2009, he performed as a member of the Hank Jones Quartet, including a week at Birdland for Jones’ 91st birthday. At the time of Jones’ death in 2010, there were plans for a forthcoming album with that group, as well as extended tour through Europe and the US.
In High School, Hirsch was a two-time member of the GRAMMY Jazz Ensembles and the Next Generation Jazz Orchestra, and also received an NFAA youngARTS Silver Award, an ASCAP Young Jazz Composer’s Award and an Outstanding Musicianship Award at the Berklee High School Jazz Festival.
Hirsch’s latest focus is the Armand Hirsch Trio, a group that consists of Jake Sherman on Organ and Jake Goldbas on Drums and Percussion. From their website: “Having its roots in the New York Jazz tradition, the Armand Hirsch Trio explores Modern Gospel, World Percussion, Brazilian song, Progressive Rock, Classical aesthetics and the lexicon of American Soul music. Emphasizing singable, lingering melodies and frontiers in harmony and rhythm, this group reinvents the organ trio setting.” The group is in the process of recording their first album. A secret track was leaked on Hirsch’s website on December 31, 2010. The track was a version of “My Favorite Things,” featuring Gretchen Parlato.
Hirsch is known for a very rhythmic guitar style, which sometimes manifests itself in a percussive approach to the instrument. He has been known to play solo guitar pieces while playing accompanying rhythms on various parts of the guitar body. Hirsch has also taken an interest in the Baritone guitar, expanding its use beyond the solo acoustic style, and using it to augment the bass sound of his organ trio.
In 2010, Hirsch and his trio were praised in Jazztimes by famous critic Nat Hentoff. The piece, entitled "Armand Hirsch and Other Young Masters," spoke of Hirsch's "ceaselessly original and surprising conception."
Born and bred in New York City, Hirsch can be frequently seen there. He is currently a sophomore at Columbia University, where he studies Neuroscience and Behavior.