Bill Evans Jazz625 - Entire concert on Youtube

[burning dog]

[Serial_Apologist]

Fantastic!!!

This'll be one for tonight. Many thanks, BD!

(But when it comes to today's contemporary scene, will we ever see the like of this again?)

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Fantastic!!!

This'll be one for tonight. Many thanks, BD!

(But when it comes to today's contemporary scene, will we ever see the like of this again?)

er ditto does not quite cut it!

[Ian Thumwood]

I've never seen this footage before and even from the opening section it is fascinating. The opening track is called "Five" and although I know this tune through a amazing version by Paul Motians' quartet where Bill Frisell's guitar the drummer's intense playing like a manic buzz-saw, it is staggering to hear Evans play it himself. The Motian track always has astounded me even though the whole of the "Bill Evans" tribute is pretty sensational as it owes far more to the Free Jazz of the later sixties as opposed to the pianist's chamber jazz. I have always wondered how Bill Evans would have tackled his composition and it is interesting to hear that he would take it in a far "cooler" rendition. Odd to hear Bill Evans quote the old Basie tune "Taps miller."

There are also other elements which I find fascinating. I never thought he swung that much but there are moments in "Summertime" where he is far friskier and groovy than you would have anticipated. I still think that he only plays within the middle third of his instrument and doesn't seem interested in the registers either side of this. Tracks like "Elsa" are very close to te recorded versions I have heard. Ditto "Come rain or come shine" and I am intrigued at just how arranged this music is. I don't think it is quite as sponaneous as I would have anticipated.

Evans' playing is also extremely economic too. Having seen many contemporary players perform live and been mesmerised, this trio are far more simplistic and nowhere near a fussy as say Brad Mehldau with whom he is often compared. He has a great technique and theIt is also interesting to see that Israels and Bunker are not particularly independent and the idea that Bill Evans trios allowed the bass and drums greater reign is not quite so obvious with the passage of 50 years. The best aspect of the playing is his touch and the dynamics and the way he uses time. He is far more relaxed than I recollected and has the confidence with time that you find with someone like Ahmad Jamal. I wish he played more of his own tunes as opposed to the standards although I liked the version of "Israel."

[Serial_Apologist]

the idea that Bill Evans trios allowed the bass and drums greater reign is not quite so obvious with the passage of 50 years.

I think it's more a question that B.E. puts in less compared with say Oscar Peterson and therefore the other two can contribute more

[Ian Thumwood]

S-A

I agree in part but then again Peterson was a pianist who tended swamp his fellow musicians including horn players. The role of bass and drums was significantly more enhanced with players like Paul Bley and Herbie Hancock and if you listen to groups like Bard Mehldau's trio today, the bass and drums still do more than on the BE trio even though you could say they are quite similar in some respects. It's really interesting watching Evans' hands as his fingers aren't exactly flying over the keys yet his technique is so assured that he doesn't have do. He can achieve so much without a great deal of physical effort. All the effort his done with his fingers and the technique justs falls underneath his finger tips. I love watching pianists in action and it is staggering watching these programmes to see just how different he is.

When I first heard his music I tended to agree with an article i read about his playing which suggested that his approach was significant as he had rejected what the writer called the "Parker hinges" which I suppose referred to the be-bop phrasing. Listening to Jazz 625, I'm not too sure. There are moments where the lines are still recognisable as be-bop but the phrases are flattened out and underscored with chords so that it is harder to recognise some of the phrases as be-bop.

[Nick Armstrong]

Thanks to burning dog for that precious link. Can't wait to give that a good listen/watch.

The same youtube account contains this documentary about Evans, including interview footage with the man himself which I've never seen before

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nsnh2...0b5Ng&index=17

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

if you dig that you will dig this, every body digs Bill Evans

the remaining parts are well worth catching

[eighthobstruction]

Only got around to listening to this....thanks BD....it's the business!