Listening to Bill evans music is like watching the rain. Sometimes we feel sad, other times we are calmed by it, but mostly we are entraced in the beauty of it.
Bill Evans is soul. He didn't seem to live much, he was just procrastinating his death. This is the work of a troubled mind. Pain never sounded so beautiful without words. Greetings from Argentina
I think he exaggerated his pain he called love. I think he felt more pain from others than towards himself. I think he felt shame he couldn't cause happiness. His reality was simple. That all people, will go through pain. That you will be shamed, you will be cheated on. Beat up. Stole from. But really, he gave us classics on the jazz world.
My father passed away under tragic circumstances in October 2020. He was a marine biologist, but he loved jazz, progressive rock and many interesting artists from all genres. He was very much into strong individuals with a strong sense of groove and beauty. He himself was a sensitive man full of life and inner conflict. He loved listening to Bill Evans during the last years of his life. I hope he is at peace and I hope he is somewhere out there enjoying this beautiful music. I will join him later in life.
I’ve had a terribly horrific day and I know no one is listening to this but I just want to put it out in the ether that this absolutely makes my heart sing . Thank you Bill
The more you learn jazz and study his work the more you appreciate him and realize his genius. We are truly honored to be able to view this, one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century.
I'm only just getting into music theory, but i can feel the complexity and profoundness of his compositions, timing and the velocity (not sure if that's the commonly used term) with which he plays each note. there's always so much dynamic range in bill's compositions :D I'm gonna really take note, i'm very very passionate about music and sound design and it's very good to have such a good source of inspiration and insight!
***** Ahh well people get what i mean :P And conceptually, dynamic range does apply to this aswell right? Or is dynamic range not the diversity and movement between high and low volumes to form a dynamic sound? But thanks for telling me the correct terminology either way man. And yeah i'm a producer haha
Jynx MSC The amazing thing is that Bill Evans didn't believe himself to be talented and attributed his abilities to hard work and study. Well there's plenty of pianists who've studied as much as him and most of them don't even come close. A musical genius, and with all the problems and issues that came with genius unfortunately.
James Anderson Yeah the most talented people are often the humblest haha, and it's indeed sad he had such a hard life. I love peace piece and all the other pieces of his that seem to be based around it by the way :D It's perhaps less overwhelming to look at that one first, thanks for the suggestion. I wish i could talk to him to have him explain the reasoning behind his compositional decisions, as far as those are concious atleast.
After being exposed to jazz in the last few years, I've come to appreciate just how valuable a good drummer is. It's not about how complex, loud, and syncopated your rhythms are. It's all about how much you can back off while keeping the beat and adding to the mood.
Exactly! Drummers, to be effective, must be *active listeners* to their musical peers. Too many people think that drummers must "lead the beat". Not so! The "beat" is fluid.
That's Larry Bunker man, not Paul Motian. This is a later trio, after LaFarro's death and Motian's leaving. With Chuck Israels...who's still alive!! :)
I love Bill's posture. It's not what any classically trained pianist would call proper, and yet it shows how dedicated he was to his craft. He doesn't hunch over for the simple iconography of it; rather it's a sign that he's fully engrossed in what he's playing. Moving stuff.
It’s not called proper because it doesn’t give any added benefit or advantage (maybe even do the opposite by small amounts) and in the long run can harm your neck (not just playing piano but in general a hunched position is bad, which is happening now with phones)
@@liljs4189Your reply, while a bit tone deaf lol, is 100% correct, and I’ve heard at least one jazz pianist, Aaron Parks, say that he had recurring carpel tunnel/tendonitis issues that went away forever after he fixed his playing posture with the help of a new teacher. If Bill ever had any issues of this kind we can probably guess how he “treated” them :\
I can't imagine playing so effortlessly and playfully while nodding in-between keys in chin-to-chest rest. Ol' Bill definitely had a posture which reflected his lifestyle. Chin down, eyes closed or half-lidded, right hand typically limp yet impossibly dextrous. Bill Evans exuded an effortlessly cool, note perfect brand of narcotic-tinged excellence.
My Dad played just like Bill Evans until he had a stroke 5 years ago. Devastating and tragic for a pianist. But I have beautiful memories. When I hear Bill Evans, I can hear my Dad playing. Same touch, & feel on the keys. Amazing!
따분한 하루가 될 거 같아 인생이 갈수록 좁아지고 만날 사람도 없어져 마음을 나눴던 사람들이 있었던 거 같은데 어떤 이유에서 우리들은 서로를 떠났고 때로는 그리움으로 미안함으로 애잔하게 흘러가는 이 시간을 그냥 흘려보내며 오늘도 아무 일이 일어나지 않는 하루에 마땅히 몸을 비비며 적적한 마음을 달랠 일 없이 뜨거운 햇빛에 넋을 놓고 생각도 사라지고 감각도 둔해지듯 즐거움이 무엇인지 모를 옹알옹알 마른 입만 익어간다.
There is this kind of deep sadness in Bill Evans playing the piano, that somehow is, at least for me, and perhaps because of my tendencies for sadness, very contagious. I find myself listening to the same song many times, even in a sunny day.
+Mauricio Forero Life can be scraggly on this planet, yet some artists can reach a very high level of perfection and beauty. Why can't it always be?? That is bittersweet! Sacred moments, rarely found.
+John Lindstrom -- Life for a sensitive soul can be a very lonely experience. The artistic performance or product is at best an imperfect communication of what is seen or felt on a deep level. Many of us have had this happen to us: we want to share something that means everything to us, and then the best we can get is incomplete empathy. Ah... life and love.
The way he keeps his head low when he plays. It is as if he carried a huge burden, the keys feel so heavy and gentle all at the same time. Love this soul's music. It has helped me through many
To me, his head just a few inches from the keys represents a person who is indeed a part of that piano. Yes, just maybe there was an autistic spectrum incident happening when he was at the keys. If that was the case, it was an incident or episode of which produced an orchestra with a piano. I as well as others are forever grateful for Bill Evans Dean Seattle
I'd like to think that somewhere on this world there is always at least one person, that listens to Bill Evans. I hope his music gets preserved for a very long time
When those drums come in it always reminds me of the bustling white noise of everyday life, and a lonely yet dignified melody living its life in the midst of it.
Drummer, Larry Bunker was very prominent on LA's West Coast jazz scene & He worked with countless vocalists from Billie Holiday to Diana Krall Incl. Peggy Lee on Her 1956 "Black Coffee" recording with pianist, Jimmy Rowles on Decca & Larry was on many Film scores & Television series themes as well
@michaelchapman4955 what a wonderful way to relate to this music. I never realized it until reading your comment but sometimes, you do hear white noise and a contrasting melody in real life and in music
Bill Evans playing draws out all of one's hidden pain and bliss, every second we felt almost complete although it all vanished shortly after. “My foolish heart” leaves you feeling something was lost and will never exist again.
"My Foolish Heart" makes me have a melted heart. I've never studied jazz or the piano but I've been a fan of jazz since I was a teen. The melody and chords of Bill's rendition strikes something deep in my heart and soul. I close my eyes and let each note pierce my heart and go to a place where there is peace and tranquility. Thank you Bill for leaving such a great legacy and record of your expertise.
Beautiful music like this can reduce one to tears - it is so profound - rather like your gratitude to Bill - it is almost as if you have chosen your words as carefully as Bill chooses his phrases
It sounds like you are well on your way already to doing some great things with the piano. From what you said re chords, melody, and your inherent ear for it all, chord progressions, etc., you better get some basics down and go for it. You Got Talent already!
All he's doing is running up the pentatonic scale while comping on every note. However, the lengths of the notes alternate between 8th note and quarter note. That's called a 2-against-3 swing (quarter note is equivalent to an on-beat 8th note; the 8th note is equivalent to an off-beat 8th note, which is shorter because of the swing). However, he starts with an 8th note-so it's a reverse 2-against-3 swing. However, the actual 8th notes are still swinging-which means while each quarter note stays the same, the lengths of the 8th notes alternate by a factor of 2. So his final rhythm (in terms of triplet 8 notes) is 2 - 3 - 1 - 3 repeating. If anyone needs an auditory explanation I can make a quick video about it.
I didn't really "learn" it-that's just what he played. More than anything else (except maybe playing!) just keep listening to everyone you can! Make it a regular part of your day!
im leaving my footprint here so i can one day get reminded of the undeserved nostalgia i feel when i hear this piece. one could not call themself a musician without admitting the truly beautiful nature of this art.
I think Bill Evans made me realized that the constant present of the 7th in jazz harmonies creates this deep longing and pull toward the next harmony and the next, just like in Scriabin which is why he is my favorite composer.
When I listen to this beautiful arrangement by Bill, I become calm and peaceful in listening to it. I never tire of listening to this piece; soothing and heavenly.
Many comments here saying how they'd have loved to hear him live, and I absolutely concur- one of the very few moments when I actually wish I was older than I am. At the same time, however, I feel we should be happy and grateful that there exists such an abundance, in audio and video of his legacy for us to still enjoy...again and again.
We are truly living in the best time, we can listen to any kind of music, anytime, anywhere, as long as youve got the internet, with most of it being hq
I was lucky enough to have heard him play at Shelly's Mannehole in Hollywood in the early 1960s, and again at the Great American Music Hall in San Franciso sometime around 1979. His mood was very different. He was just becoming popular in the early 60s, and was, quiet and introspective. However, in SF, at the Music Hall he was upbeat and vivacious, seemingly aware everybody loved him..
When he played live he would go way beyond what microphones could capture. Pianissimo for long periods of time, at the absolute threshold of audibility. Each note was distinct and clear no matter how fast he played, like church bells.
Incredible to witness how deeply he can immerse himself into the musical consciousness-into this almost enlightened state of presence-and then return to ordinary reality when the piece is concluded.
On top of how beautiful this performance is musically I also love the recording quality and the distortion that happens when they play louder. It's so expressive, I think it's tape distortion which gets replicated a lot these days to give mixes/masters more character. This is a pretty extreme amount but it's still so musical.
Wow you just keep thinking about the sad story this song is telling until your heart leaps at 2:39 and there is just a little moment of bliss in that melancholy ballad
That ending. Wow. No other musician can take me to another world quite like Bill can! Love the bass in this recording too. Glad this video has over 2 million views so people can see the genius that Bill Evans truly had. This is from 1965 in London if anyone is interested.
This is out of this world. Such a genius mind and talent. Every time I listen to Bill Evans, I feel like I am being transferred to another reality so deep and pure, that cannot be found elsewhere. Astonishing!
On the late evening after Christmas, I drank with my friend and listened to Bill Evans' music on the subway back home. When I come back home, I look into his musical history and go to sleep while listening to his music. He's a great man.
we are so lucky that people recorded Mr Evans.. so many thousands of hours of his playing, in late nights in his home or in clubs when only the staff were there setting up, that we will never hear but echoed out into the universe once upon a time
Honestly all of his music is so beautiful every time i listen to Bill his music brings tears to my eyes and i feel his energy that he put into these songs
The opening notes to this piece are totally amazing. This totally compresses the feeling of sadness, often brought up by a failed relationship, a break-up or even a discussion. This is basically a way to capture the pain that's bringed up by failing your own feelings.
+Ennui Escape think the dick who put this up with a thousand commercials is going to get rich. Oh I miss my Grooveshark. Fuckign youtube can make all they want and the real music channel gives us shit. I liked the days of torrents. I could get anything for free.
Be still, oh foolish heart of mine Look before you leap You will sow what you reap If you step out of line A chance encounter that was all A happenstance A dormant romance A windy day in fall She smiled, i returned it Perhaps her smile is what i needed Perhaps her love, i conceded Can relieve me of my burdens My heart, oh so broken So frail Like a frigid icy hale Thrown about with a word unspoken Perhaps she could break this spell I hope she does I hope, because For long have i been unwell Yet i stop and start I stick to my walls Safe in my halls That stop my foolish heart
My God! hadn't heard this in years. Just played it for the 5th time in a row. As always like his heart is in his hands. Quite moving-brought tears to my eyes.
I absolutely adore Bill Evans....his harmonic genius...the impressionist of jazz, his touch... the spaces between notes, his sensitivity... a brilliant gift to us from the heavens xoxoxo
Sweetness, light, shadows, memories, thoughts, recalling times, little aches, love remembered, dawns and noons and sunsets, cold nights, firesides, a warming drink, hope and love and worry and despair, but, always, the great infusing beauty of music and playing, and songs to maintain our balance...
Wow. This is powerfully compelling. I was entranced in the track as soon as it began, what an interesting video to get recommended. However, this sure is a welcome one. To all who read this, have a beautiful day 😊
My Foolish Heart was written for the film (1949) of the same name by Victor Young. The film was (loosely) based on a short story by J.D. Salinger entitled Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut. Salinger was outraged by the bastardization of his story, and by the fact that the film received two Academy Award nominations ... one for Susan Hayward and the second for this song. This experience with Hollywood is the reason Salinger never allowed a film to be made of his book: The Catcher in the Rye.
@@iltromboncini32 What "book"? "Nine Stories"? "Uncle Wiggly in Connecticut" was from a collection of short stories by Salinger, and quite remarkable they were--and influential too. If you're talking about "Catcher in the Rye"--over-rated? Perhaps somewhat, but actually rather a wonderful book, in my opinion Too bad it was assigned in schools. When I read it, it was an "underground" book and I found myself in it. I respect Salinger for not wanting it Hollywoodized. But, I would say Truffaut's "Four Hundred Blows" did the job beautifully. Anyway, are you a literary critic or just a random Philistine?
@@princeandrey Catcher in the Rye, obvs. It's a half-digested peanut in the glistening turd that is white American literature. Steinbeck, Miller, Scott Fitzgerald etc. Would happily never read another word from these yawnfest hacks.
@@iltromboncini32 If you include Fitzgerald on your s--list, you're not being objective. Otherwise I--and many others--would include Steinbeck, Miller, and Salinger as second-raters, though I have a special fondness for Salinger...
This music hits me real deep. I really love the chords and how he arranged it. I don't know much about jazz yet, but I'll definitely keep looking for more of these!
Brings tears to my eyes too, Anna - it is almost unbearably beautiful - rather like Bill's short time confined to this world - this goes very deep - this is deep time. . . . .
I find myself here again after 3 years... Finally free from my shackles and I still a have never given up on my dream. I wonder if one day I'll come back and reminisce at my struggles...
Nasty and foul mouthed reply by +Ronnie Hernandez, all directed at a pleasant and inoffensive comment by +Jay Jade. Unfortunately there are some really nasty and unpleasant characters to be found spreading their hate messages on social media.
How have I never seen this video of Bill Evans at the height of his power and emotion? Maybe the most musical work in his fantastic career laid out with zero embellishment or distraction. Magic.
I don't think anyone has ever topped the quality of a Bill Evans trio. I hate comparisons, but there is something unique here- such high level music. The more you know, the more you can appreciate it.
