Bill Evans: Essential Concepts. A jazz tutorial on Upper Structure Triads. (part 2) 

Kent, this is a genius tutorial. Thank you so much! Bill was right that you don’t need to immitate a musician, but his work transports a person with similar passion to their own true spirit, such beauty. I recently transcribed his version of “A Child is Born”. Oh Wow! The notes and chords are so “Debussy”. By Showing us this passion, you are not just showing us how to do it, but you are making the world seem like an even better place. Thank you a hundred times.

you have the most authentic best jazz teaching anyone could ever hope for

I love all your tutorials, but your videos on the genius Bill Evans are something special...

Although we as a listener and music lover will never explore the whole world inside Bill's mind, seeing you shed light on just even a glimpse of what makes Bill Evans Bill Evans is really amazing! I''ve been self-learning piano for 4 years and your videos has helped me so much as I'm starting to learn jazz! Thanks a lot, Kent! And also, greeting from Vietnam

Thank you, Kent! love Bill Evans, and love you for keeping the passion for this beautiful art alive and fresh!

Another fantastic video , really insightful , the bit about the dynamics was awesome , thanks for all you do sir , love all your stuff .

Thank you for streaming bill Evans authentic feeling to everyone! No enough words to appreciate your amazing work!

Thank you so very much for continuing this series! You are a fantastic teacher!

Kent, you never fail to deliver the most phenomenal content!

Kent, thanks for sharing your passion for the great artistry of Bill Evans.

I just discovered this channel. Your work is precious, Kent. Thank you. Such a great online teacher.

KH, You are so inspired and inspiring. THANK YOU for this lesson, this music, and the clarity of your PDF. Wishig you as much joy as the abundant joy you share generously. Happy Thanksgiving, KH

This is brilliant, I've been exploring all of these alterations of upper triads just with my ears on the piano, as I've heard them so many times from listening it's all starting to finally flow out of my hands now! they all have their own sound indeed. t's great to have a video like this that presents the concepts in a clear way. Many thanks Kent.

Thoroughly enjoyed this BE tutorial. You are a great teacher along with being an awesome jazz player.

Oh man, this is so thrilling. I haven't felt this excited and inspired to practice in a long time, sir!

Kent, this is really great! The passion and the genius comes through along with the large serving of musical education. Really terrific! Thank You! Happy Thanksgiving!

Amazing thanks KH. Incredible to meet Bill Evans' trio!

Thank you, Kent for this amazing Tutorial! I have always loved Bill Evans Music in such a Special way. His style has always resonated with me an Bill Evans himself might be the reason that got me into Jazz eventually, and that i am so thankful for. Thank you for sharing this Knowledge with us and for putting so much of your heart and soul into it. You have been my teacher for some years know and i have learned so many things from your videos, so i wanted to thank you for that! Keep doing what your'e doing and stay the way you are. Much Love, can't wait for the next one, so keep them coming!

Just what I was looking for! Thanks! Your videos are very accessible and understandable for my playing level.

Incredibly helpful video, I've been struggling with improvising for months and your explanation of upper structure triads has just cracked it for me, thank you!

Straordinario! You was speaking with your heart to our hearts. The very Kent of you! For few seconds I touched you and Bill communicating with me. Thanks for the emotion and teaching. Grazie davvero.

Hi Kent from your New Zealand Student :- Thank you so much for your Bill Evans Tutorial Part 2 Your explanation of I Should Care Re Bill was superb !

That was great! Thank you Kent!

Thank you for all your effort in helping us learn the techniques and artistry of Bill Evans. Those of us who enjoy trying to improve our playing are greatly indebted to you.

I’ve learnt so much from you Kent! I love you so much I hope you can be healthy and happy everyday

Just like music that stirs feeling rises above technical skill, this lesson somehow rises above even the very cool musical theory and the practical ways of using slash chords as mental shortcuts that you gave us. It makes your insights and explanations so very poignant that they are in the context of your deep respect for Bill Evans, for his genius. Your humility in the face of this huge skill, in the face of this long tradition, is a wonderful thing to model. You are a class act, man, and a first-class teacher. Thank you.

"You give up your own personality when you imitate somebody". And you do it! Thank you very much, I'm from Argentina and I love your videos.

This is also a great lesson on how to practice and concentrate on the details of the music 👍

THANK YOU for this, Kent. I'm going to try to apply some of these voicings to my playing, the harmonies here are just beautiful!

Very honest , very moving tutorial bringing the best of Great Bill Evans back for the viewers ... Inspiring , explaining the subtleties and nuances of his way of feeling and playing music. Thank you so much for this.... Nobody else can bring this beautiful harmonies to life in my mind as Yourself Sir. I can still hear them and I want to learn to play them. All the best to you !!!

Kent, I would like to say thank you and commend you on the fact that what you give to us (babes at the piano) is 100% genuine instruction from a pro that is easily understood and beautifully explained.

I am really happy with your Informationen Ken!!!! They are very useful!!! I am a venezuelan musician in Berlín!!!!! Thank you very much brother!!!!!!!

This is a great tutorial! Thank you Kent. Have a great Thanksgiving

Soooo many invaluable techniques from the master, and you're making them accessible and understandable! It's the first time I've seen Bill Evans masterful playing broken down in a way that I can actually to my level understand and start practicing / incorporating. Thank you Mr Hewitt!

"You give up your personality when you imitate somebody" I agree and disagree about this one 😊. For beginners who have no idea how to start, they need a model to look up to and imitate them playing. However, they also need to find their identity once they familiar playing on their own. Combination to Bill Evans and your quote is good match.

Part 1 of this series opened up the outer dimensions of my playing. I know this will more than follow suit. Swing easy!

I first heard Bill Evans when I was about 28 years old. The first song I heard was Here's That Rainy Day. It was an immediate connection with my soul. There are many, many players I enjoy listening to, but Bill Evans is unique. Thanks for the video!

Wow! What an epic video. A true magnum opus! In addition to all the theory, we get a not-so-subtle lecture about being subtle. I've written this comment before, but I'll repeat...THIS IS CONSERVATORY LEVEL STUFF! Education and inspiration in one neat package. Your graciousness in sharing has touched me...and about 122,000 other subscribers! If there really is such a thing as good karma, your cup must runneth over!

totally lovely, Kent! THANKS! 💕♩♪♪♫♭♬♯💕

Thank you Kent very very clear from you

Excellent clarification of Bill Evans concepts plus your beautiful improvisational skills. Bill can not be copied although many have tried...he has his own marked genius capabilities that come from his inner self...only he understood & could demonstrate these superior qualities!! I must say Kent you give us great insight into Bill's brilliance & magnificence...he would have been honored to listen to all your tributes to him i'm sure!!!

Hi Kent, I love your playing and teaching style. Having learned so much from your lessons and receiving so much enjoyment from watching your videos over the years, I am greatly thankful. Bill Evans to me is the most romantic player. I have listened to "I will Say Good Bye" album probably 100 times on my way to work every morning :)

Hi, as a trained classical pianist, i sadly had never any improvisiation learned, but im making tremendous progress with your channel. Thank you!!

Super Kent, thanks Great Jazz Guru

GREAT “how about you” last bars.

This video is really useful. Thank you.

Great video Kent. I’ve watched a bunch of your Bill Evans content and thankfully my algorithm decided to finally show me this excellent 40min video. Thank you for all you do! Btw, I was listening to jazz yesterday and an excellent version of “I could have told you” was playing and I wondered who it was. Lo and behold, none other than the hippest cat Kent Hewitt!

Hi Kent, Marc Johnson went to school with Lyle Mays and played on one of his albums, and he is married to Eliane Elias, so he's been around some of the best. Lyle Mays ,who credits Evans as an early influence , was quoted as saying that he aspires to improvise on the fly with the precision of Glenn Gould, which would be insane!

You are amazing!! And a great teacher.. Thank you .. god bless ❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏

Dr. Kent you are a gentle soul yet a true master. I’ve been now following you for few weeks and I can tell you have resurrected the love of jazz in me. We had Bill evans (RIP) but I am thankful we have you to break down what he presented to us. It’s interesting to know you. I celebrate you maestro Kent. Will see if COVID allow me to make a trip maybe I’ll see you in your programs and have an honor to be directly taught under your tutelage.

Thanks to you i discovered/ i’m going to discover Bill Evans!

Pianists like Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock really impacted jazz by incorporating harmonic aspects of classical music in their playing. The beautiful and complex voicings that you demonstrate are influenced by Chopin and Debussy. Bill Evans, as you so eloquently state, used dynamics to great effect by played softly and loudly. Many jazz musicians ignore this aspect of music which is also derived from classical music. In my opinion, Bill Evans brought these elements of classical music to jazz. But he always retained the most important characteristic of jazz - Swing. “It Don’t Mean a Thing if it ain’t got that Swing”.

the way bill evans does 3 against 4 is always so playful, my favorite of his usages for it is on his solo on "Love for sale" led by Miles Davis (an outtake from the kind of blue sessions). His comping on that track is also brilliant in the way he answers each soloist

fantastic,grazie Maestro.

Kent, youre the man. Keep doing you, you funky cat. Love ya!

Excellent 👍👍

Marvelous break downs Kent. You're handing down a great culture of concepts here, bravo ! Only Upper structure I would have added is the; f#min (2nd Inv.triad)/C7 or (b9,#11,13)/C7 Thanks guy.

Great stuff

Thanks so much Kent ...through the dark nights of Cov-id LOCKDOWN # "9" - a light forces it way to the warmth of human comfort. It's Super Jazzer KENT, with another nifty class from the Jazz Ranch and the Kats, Groovy chicks and Finger Poping Daddies ... !!!! Let's GOoooooooooooooo

Thanx, Maestro. 🌹🌹🌹

Great video.

Hi Kent, thank you very much for another wonderful tutorial. Geeez! I have a long way to go. 😲

Another reason that Bill Evans just stands out amongst jazz pianists... he said the unwritten code of ethics for being a jazz pianist

Parabéns direto do Brasil

Thank you very much

Thank you! 😀

Thanks for another great lesson I wish to comment on your reference to a place in your books to continue the learning process, I have both books I would encourage you to whenever appropriate to include these references

great!

Fine job

I’ve recently been teaching myself Bill Evans version of the Duke’s Reflections in D. It’s taken 6 weeks to get it into my fingers but it’s been in my ears and heart for years. I want to perfect it to Bill’s touch and feel as perfectly as possible. I know he said you lose yourself when you imitate another -and there may be some truth in that. But I also believe I’ve learned a lot by pushing myself to master this beautiful piece. I’ve gained so many new aspects to my musical repertoire by doing this. And from that experience I’ve broadened my own sense and style. I’d be curious to know your thoughts on that Kent. Thank you Kent for this fantastic tutorial. Love your videos!

Thank you，man😊😉

Kent I enjoy your playing more and more over time sir. Somehow I've arrived at the same train station by superimposing maj7+5 chords over roots like for 7#11 chord Bbmaj7+5/C= C7#11 so you get 7,9,#11,13 i.e. Bb,D,F#,A For the Alt chord I might think Emaj7+5/C except perhaps drop the C to Bb just to include the 7 for function sake but maybe not. But the reason for the maj7+5 chords is simple melodic minor modes.

Muito bom!

i mean you look so cool behind those glasses, mister

Would you also say it's about knowing the lyrics? In your example showing dynamics(your style, of course), you seemed to whisper the phrase, "I should care", and then shout the denial:"I should go around..." Great drama and passion. 😎🌹🌹🌹😎

Bliss.

Thank Kent, I've learned so much from you But , I just can't understand Bud Powell, I tried to force myself with constant listening, Bud Powell is a gift to us all, but if you feel like it I'd like to have some small idea of where Bud Powell was at. At this point I can listen to it, enjoy it , but have no clue as to where he's at and how he fit into this wonderfully rich world of jazz!

Could you do tutorial about invitation in4th voicings both hands???

Just show us how to imitate the great master !

Did he ever use cluster type voicings in his upper structure chords?

Brilliant! I wonder what livestock are raised on a Jazz Ranch?

Close your eyes and be transported back to a 1960s coffee shop.

Regarding piano dynamics, what about Beegie Adair?

I wanna know what the song on the intro of the video thanks

I want to email you an improv and potentially hire for lessons or two via video? Curious?

Listening to "You must believe in spring" again made me think, maybe Bills posture while he played had a lot to do with his mastery of dynamics. He would often slouch and completely lean over the piano, using the entire weight of his torso over the keys during his solo parts. I feel like its easier to play different nuances of pianissimo like that, but man i dont think its very good for your back 😂

my Friend Kent! when listen to Oscar Petersons salute to Bach...the waybhe made that woth Oscar I hear is hos personal sound in my ears thatbyechnique was sonsublime and thenfingetsmsonlight....are you teaching us that there were things as dynamics whete BILL Evans is still nevet.hears again...I hear a lot of his Greatneasmin yournway of playing...that mixing ofnyechniquesnand.alsoninna way the sound of the piano..is already on a far out advanced level I didnstudynclassicalngiitar played a lot of Bach on guitar well tempered Claviet even.Goldbwrgvariations as a hole concert.now I am studying piabo forn12 years...and I wrote simple stuff.and often not.cos.It maybebreminds me too much of classiacal and.I wannambe free but you make me think Oscar was.my 1st reason and Waltz for Debby myb2nd tostudy the piano enigma....Thank For Your LessonnInspiration Guidance

I would bet that the dynamics as you show them were a result of Bill's having been influenced by the composer Erik Satie.

second inversion is definitely my favorite for upper extensions, the fourth makes it a lot more tasteful both voice leading into other shapes, or even just moving it around