Styleforum › Forums › General › Entertainment and Culture › Bill Evans
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Bill Evans

post #1 of 53
4/12/08 at 10:15pm
Thread Starter 
As some of you know, I've always been a devoted Oscar Peterson superfan. Obsessed may be the word for it. He's always sat at the top of the heap for me when it comes to jazz pianists and, in terms of technique, he is still there. But Bill Evans is right next to him. I've had the standard Evans discs for a while (Sunday at the Vanguard, Explorations, etc.) and certainly realized his prodigious playing. But recently I got my hands on copies of the performances that were recorded (respectively) 3 months before his death and about 7 days before his death. Never in my life have I heard so much emotion poured into music. These sets combined are I believe 24 discs and I've obviously only listened to a portion...but my, what a ride it's been. Evans' touch on the piano is like nothing I have ever heard before. It is so clean, so perfect, that you have to wonder if a human being is really doing this. His "soft" technique is the best I have ever heard, bar none. AFAIC there is simpl no comparison. The emotion in these final recordings is absolutely electric. You cannot listen to this music without crying, smiling or staring into space slack-jawed. The man is a god. There's something kind of morbid about these discs...as the dates grow closer to his death (culminating with the second 8-disc set recorded about a week before he succumbed to his drug-ravaged body) the music becomes more and more evocative, more magical. It's really hard to put into words. Oscar, I still love you more, but Bill has captured quite a big piece of my heart.
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 53
4/12/08 at 10:44pm
I've just recently heard one of these last concert recordings and was blown away as well. To me, Evans has a very impressionistic style whereas Oscar is more technical and rhythmic. Both are amazingly gifted musicians whom I equally enjoy. What I love about Evans is that his ideas and style are really about the musical moment and sensitive interaction between players. It really shines in his early trio recordings, and I think he got it back for these final ones.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 53
4/12/08 at 10:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Parker View Post
I've just recently heard one of these last concert recordings and was blown away as well. To me, Evans has a very impressionistic style whereas Oscar is more technical and rhythmic. Both are amazingly gifted musicians whom I equally enjoy. What I love about Evans is that his ideas and style are really about the musical moment and sensitive interaction between players. It really shines in his early trio recordings, and I think he got it back for these final ones.
Yeah, "impressionistic" really describes Evans. If he could swing during a solo like Oscar did, he would be the greatest jazz pianist ever. But a flawed diamond is better than a perfect penny, eh?
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 53
4/12/08 at 10:50pm
Have you read this? It's quite wonderful:

http://www.amazon.com/Bill-Evans-How.../dp/0300081138
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 53
4/12/08 at 11:02pm
Conne... do you have Portrait in Jazz? While not at the same level as OP, there's definitely some swingin'. It might be my favorite Evans album.

The biography looks great.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 53
4/12/08 at 11:07pm
Thread Starter 
I need that book. Yeah, I have Portrait. I'll listen to it again tonight.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 53
4/13/08 at 3:50am
Thread Starter 
I cannot emphasize enough the perfection of the fina l Village Vanguard recordings. Absoltueyl mind boggling.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 53
4/13/08 at 11:52am
The "original" Village Vanguard sessions were from 1961. I recently came across the "Complete Bill Evans on Verve" box set and they have 2 nights from the 1967 Village Vanguard shows. You should check these out too:
* The Complete Bill Evans On Verve (Verve 314 527 953-2)


Bill Evans Trio
Bill Evans (p) Eddie Gomez (b) Philly Joe Jones (d)
"Village Vanguard", NYC, August 17, 1967
\tHappiness Is A Thing Called Joe\t
\tIn A Sentimental Mood\t-
\tRe: Person I Knew\t-
\tAlfie\t-
\tIn Your Own Sweet Way\t-
\tYou're Gonna Hear From Me\t-
\tEmily\t-
\tI'm Getting Sentimental Over You\t-
\tYou're Gonna Hear From Me\t-
\tG Waltz\t-
\tCalifornia Here I Come\t-
\tSpartacus Love Theme\t-
\tAlfie\t-
\tWrap Your Troubles In Dreams\t-

"Village Vanguard", NYC, August 18, 1967
\tIn A Sentimental Mood\t
\tCalifornia Here I Come\t-
\tG Waltz\t-
\tWrap Your Troubles In Dreams\t-
\tIn A Sentimental Mood\t-
\tCalifornia Here I Come\t-
\tYou're Gonna Hear From Me\t-
\tAlfie\t-
\tGone With The Wind\t-
\tEmily\t-
\tG Waltz\t-
\tWrap Your Troubles In Dreams\t-
\tOn Green Dolphin Street\t-
\tYou're Gonna Hear From Me\t-
\tWrap Your Troubles In Dreams\t-
\tGone With The Wind\t-
\tEmily\t-
\tG Waltz\t-
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 53
4/13/08 at 5:33pm
You may want to check out the website of Chuck Israels, who played bass for Bill Evans at various times in the 60's.

He writes,
"Another remarkable aspect of Evans' playing was his command of tone color. With fingers like pistons, poised a scant millimeter over the keys, he dropped into the depths of the action as if propelled by steel springs, or he would caress the keys with the stroke of a loving mother touching her baby's cheek."

http://www.chuckisraels.com/articleevans.htm
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 53
4/13/08 at 9:33pm
I just got the Bill Evans Explorations SACD on Fantasy.

If you don't do SACD then look for the excellent K2 masterings.
Reply
Reply
post #11 of 53
4/13/08 at 9:46pm
May Bill Evans RIP.

But Conne are you the SF undertaker. It seems every time that I blink you have posted another thread about someone dying (sometimes famous and sometimes obscure).

You will have much time to scan the obits when you are my age
Reply
Reply
post #12 of 53
4/13/08 at 10:24pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by rnoldh View Post
May Bill Evans RIP.

But Conne are you the SF undertaker. It seems every time that I blink you have posted another thread about someone dying (sometimes famous and sometimes obscure).

You will have much time to scan the obits when you are my age

Bill Evans passed away in 1980.
Reply
Reply
post #13 of 53
4/14/08 at 12:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by tlmusic View Post
Bill Evans passed away in 1980.
Hey, when you are rnold's age everything seems like it was yesterday
Reply
Reply
post #14 of 53
4/14/08 at 12:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Connemara View Post
As some of you know, I've always been a devoted Oscar Peterson superfan. Obsessed may be the word for it. He's always sat at the top of the heap for me when it comes to jazz pianists and, in terms of technique, he is still there. But Bill Evans is right next to him.

I've had the standard Evans discs for a while (Sunday at the Vanguard, Explorations, etc.) and certainly realized his prodigious playing. But recently I got my hands on copies of the performances that were recorded (respectively) 3 months before his death and about 7 days before his death. Never in my life have I heard so much emotion poured into music. These sets combined are I believe 24 discs and I've obviously only listened to a portion...but my, what a ride it's been. Evans' touch on the piano is like nothing I have ever heard before. It is so clean, so perfect, that you have to wonder if a human being is really doing this. His "soft" technique is the best I have ever heard, bar none. AFAIC there is simpl no comparison. The emotion in these final recordings is absolutely electric. You cannot listen to this music without crying, smiling or staring into space slack-jawed. The man is a god.

There's something kind of morbid about these discs...as the dates grow closer to his death (culminating with the second 8-disc set recorded about a week before he succumbed to his drug-ravaged body) the music becomes more and more evocative, more magical. It's really hard to put into words.

Oscar, I still love you more, but Bill has captured quite a big piece of my heart.

It's a pleasure seeing you folks react to this post, and I must say, you all have superb taste if you enjoy Mr. Evans lush notes. He tragically left the scene far too soon. I agree with Connemara - some of his pieces are impossible to listen to without a handkerchief within arm's reach. Take his interpretation of Bacharach's "A House is not a Home". Devastating.
Reply
Reply
post #15 of 53
4/14/08 at 2:11am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by c3cubed View Post
It's a pleasure seeing you folks react to this post, and I must say, you all have superb taste if you enjoy Mr. Evans lush notes. He tragically left the scene far too soon. I agree with Connemara - some of his pieces are impossible to listen to without a handkerchief within arm's reach. Take his interpretation of Bacharach's "A House is not a Home". Devastating.
I'll give it a listen. The "Theme from MASH (Suicide is Painless" cut on his The Final Village Vanguard performance is equally heartbreaking.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Entertainment and Culture
Styleforum › Forums › General › Entertainment and Culture › Bill Evans