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Bill Evans: Touch
by Dave Hughes
Saxophonist Bill Evans' new CDTouchsuccessfully manages to create a contemporary sounding program without falling victim to formula or cliche. All of the songs are Evans originals, and they speak well of his talents as a composer; they are more intricate than standard radio fare yet still approachable, resulting in sort of a "thinking person's contemporary jazz." While he's credited as playing both tenor and soprano saxophones on almost all selections, one or the other predominates on each cut. ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Touch
by Paula Edelstein
Touch, produced by veteran saxophonist-composer Bill Evans for his debut on Zebra Records is one of compositional integrity that continues to explore the melodic themes of his previous release, Starfish & The Moon. His 11th as a leader, Touch exemplifies the personality and depth of Bill Evans’ musicianship on tunes ranging from smooth to straight ahead, charged with soaring soprano and robust tenor solos. The serenely lyrical “In Your Heart” imprints his smooth sax deep within the soul, leaving the ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Touch
by Ed Kopp
Whenever I hear a soprano saxophone played over a pre-programmed beat my attention inevitably wavers, even if the music it is somewhat challenging. I call this condition the Kenny G Syndrome.While listening to Touch I really had to fight through the Kenny G Syndrome on a couple of tracks, but in time I warmed up to most of these 11 tunes.To be fair, Bill Evans is no Kenny G. He's a veteran solo artist with a ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Homecoming
by Douglas Payne
It seems virtually every one of piano great Bill Evans's (1929-80) performances were recorded during the last two years of his life, when he had his last - and arguably superior - trio with bassist Marc Johnson and drummer Joe LaBarbera. As more recordings continue to surface, it is evident that this was a most commanding unit.What makes this November 1979 recording, issued here for the time, so special is that the Evans trio was captured upon the ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Homecoming
by AAJ Staff
“The last two years I was here were perhaps the happiest years of my life.” This was Bill Evans, talking about Southeastern Louisiana College, where he graduated in 1950. You know what happened: he went to New York, had a memorable stay with Miles Davis, and became one of the most influential pianists in jazz. His school also knew; now a university, they gave Bill their first Distinguished Alumnus award in 1969. Ten years later came a special event: a ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Piano Player
by Douglas Payne
At first it's hard to tell if Piano Player is a quickie compilation or a never-issued recording. But it's a bit of both. It's a hodgepodge, really, consisting of eight never-before released songs enhanced by the Miles Davis quartet's 1958 performance of “My Funny Valentine" and two of five tracks from vibraphonist Dave Pike's excellent 1962 quartet record Pike's Peak (which, like Herbie Mann's Nirvana, also featuring Evans, should be released in its entirety).What makes Piano ...
Continue ReadingBill Evans: Half Moon Bay
by Douglas Payne
It's hard to believe pianist Bill Evans (1929-1980) has been gone nearly as many years as his interesting recording career lasted. In that time, Evans's influence has become one of the most pervasive of twentieth century pianists and he endures as one of the most distinctive of jazz practitioners.In addition to the many known and famed recordings Evans made, many more that were taped privately or never issued are now beginning to become available. Half Moon ...
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