Bill Evans



Bill Evans (Plainfield, New Jersey, August 16, 1929 - New York City, 15 september 1980) was an American jazz pianist. ==Career[Edit] == Already at a young age he played piano(classical), as well as flute and violin. In 1950, he graduated from the Southeastern Louisiana College in Hammond (Louisiana) as a classical pianist. He also attended composition at the Mannes College of Music in New York.

After a brief stint in the army in 1956 came his first record: New Jazz Conceptions, with Teddy Kotick on bass and Paul Motian on drums. Only two years later appeared a new plate, Everybody Digs Bill Evans, this time with bassist Sam Jones and drummer Philly Joe Jones. In the same year, he was asked by Miles Davis to join his sextet. The group consisted of Miles, John Coltrane, Cannonball Adderley, Bill, Paul Chambers and Jimmy Cobb. Evans remained but one year at the Group and was already resigned to own trio starting in March 1959, when Miles asked him for the record Kind Of Blue, who became famous. To a large extent certain Bill Evans the color and the concept of this plate, the witness by him (and not by Miles Davis) composed Blue In Green. Blue In Green was already previously recorded entitled Some Other Time, that later appeared on the cd version of Everybody Digs Bill Evans.

In 1959 formed his most famous Bill Evans trio with Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motianon drums. The trio had a very distinctive sound and characteristic was the interaction between the three musicians. The trio took four LPs on: Portrait in Jazz (1959), Explorations (1961), Sunday at the Village Vanguard (1961) and Waltz for Debby (1961). In particular these last two albums have marked a new era for the jazz trio. Beyond has also worked to an innovative concept Bill Evans. That can be found on plates as Conversations With Myself and Further Conversations With Myself. Evans made this use of overdubbing. So he was able to speak two, three or more times to play a recording, so it looks like there are multiple pianists play at the same time. However, the concept was not entirely new, as previously, pianist Lennie Tristano here already.

On the lp As Falls Wichita, So Falls Wichita Falls by Pat Metheny and Lyle Mays from 1981 is the September Fifteenth number dedicated to Bill Evans.