“The Two Lonely People,” from Evans’ 1971 trio LP The Bill Evans Album, was written by the pianist and lyricist Carol Hall, and Evans mentioned how much her words shaped his development of the melody. Over the years, Evans also found inspiration in lyrics. After an impressionistic opening section, Evans and Hall up the pace slightly and begin an extended conversation that finds them working through the implications of the tune to gorgeous effect. “Turn Out the Stars” is an aching ballad Evans’ regularly returned to throughout his career, and you can hear a terrific early version on Intermodulation, his 1966 duo set with guitarist Jim Hall, a kindred spirit. Listen to the best Bill Evans songs on Apple Music and Spotify. And though his work was beloved by his fellow musicians – his breakthrough album, 1959’s Everybody Digs Bill Evans, featured on its cover testimonials from Davis, Ahmad Jamal, George Shearing, and Cannonball Adderley – his music was unusually accessible and is frequently an early stop on a curious listener’s journey into jazz. In his case, his unwillingness to chase trends turned out to be a strength. Instead, he made his way through these tumultuous decades by performing in familiar settings – mostly trios – and continually refining and expanding his approach to jazz standards. But Evans barely touched on these developments. The way he approached it, the sound he got was like crystal notes or sparkling water cascading down from some clear waterfall.” The beauty that Davis describes was present from Evans’ work early until the end.Įvans’ career spanned from the mid-1950s to his death in 1980, a time of rupture in the jazz world that saw the birth of free playing and the creation of electric fusion, among other innovations. Evans was the pianist on Miles Davis’ landmark album Kind of Blue, and in his autobiography, Davis includes an oft-quoted remark that sums up Evans’ sound particularly well: “Bill had this quiet fire that I loved on piano.

His distinctive tone at the instrument allowed him to wring large amounts of emotion from just a few notes. He attained this stature by playing to his strengths. Bill Evans is one of the most important pianists in jazz.

Bill evans transcription peace piece