Bill Evans, My Foolish Heart, Art of the Rootless Voicing, chord analysis 

Thank you for posting this! SO gorgeous and interesting! Wish I had studied music theory instead of business management....

For the 2 thumbs down, was it the wall color or the drapes?

I’m so grateful you are posting on RU-vid. I’m 74, retired registered nurse after graduating college at 50, and wanted a new hobby. At 71, the age I retired, started teaching myself chords and progressions. I did have piano lessons and bass lessons in high school and played with a dance band when I was a kid. After the Army, played a little bass with a piano player in Chicago, but wasn’t willing to put in the work. 50 years later now it seems I am. I am playing better now, self taught with chord and progression book and videos online and because of the time I put into it. I started watching your videos about 6 months ago and they make a huge difference. I played a two hour gig at a coffee house two weeks ago and had a great response from audience. I can play many tunes from Real books and use iReal pro as well. Thanks for the instructions I will purchase your book and hopefully will live long enough to get through it.

How spoiled I am to have such great info right at my fingertips. You're a saint for putting these videos online for all to learn from. Thank you.

60 years after the original recording and still discovering the magic of Bill Evans. I think 60 years from now people will still be appreciating his contributions to jazz piano.

The loveliest rendition I have ever had the previlege to sing along with .. You are a Master, like the GOAT pianists, Bill Evens. Thank you!

First of all, I have a feeling that Bill Evan's heart will be warmed in light of the delight that has been generated amongst so many who have watched this video - particularly those who, later on in life, have realised that they can gain much pleasure satisfaction and fulfilment through the sheer love of music. Bill often spoke in ways that showed great respect for the musical lay person, in fact he once said he would like to reclaim the naivete of those who have a profound appreciation of music, regardless of whether or not they are players. Bill attached equal importance to the capacities of those who listen and those who perform. In this sense, he was a true egalitarian and he harboured a deep regard for those who had presented him with opportunities to develop his art. Whilst his amazing legacy has proved his genius as a composer, interpreter, harmoniser and Improviser, it is his humane approach which brings a warm glow to all that he does, whether that is performing at the piano, or even just sitting down and discussing music and life with others who share his interest. Once I heard him say that he didn't regard himself as being gifted with any special talent and that he had only got where he was by hard work and assiduous application. I am sure that many may disagree with Bill's assessment of himself as not being possessed of any special talent by virtue of the fact that over many years of painstaking work he had developed his aural facilities to such a degree that he could develop the most encyclopaedic knowledge and understanding of the liberties one can take with chord voicings - furthermore that this was no mere theoretical construct but was something that is clearly evident in his practical mastery of his instrument. In this respect, his use of rootless cluster voicings could be attributed to the fact that he truly understood the function of the double bass in his trios, and of course with the likes of Scot LeFaro, Eddie Gomez, Chuck Israels and Marc Johnson he could, for the most part, free himself from such concerns and play in such a way that implied the bass notes of his extraordinary and audacious chord voicings, which is just one aspect of his playing that sets him apart from any other jazz pianist. It could also be said that this approach has influenced many guitarists although the possibilities of the piano transcend the limitations of the guitar. Finally, I feel that it is in the true spirit of Bill Evans' magnanimity that Mr Hewitt has offered us the rewards of his analysis and insight into Bill's beautiful interpretation of a tune that has touched the hearts of many. Thank you Bill and thank you Ken for all you have done for us. I am profoundly grateful.

Such a beautiful song I was 17 years old when I bought the Waltz for Debby CD from Tower records in South Philly

Beautifully explained! One of the best jazz piano educators on this planet ( and the neighborhood)!! Thank you Kent!

Wow. I have been in love with Bill Evans rendition of My Foolish Heart ever since I first heard it in the 60’s. Kudos to you sir for nailing the exact voicing of Evans’ interpretation so exactly. I am very impressed since I have been trying to do it by “EAR” for 50 years. Now I’m gonna have a blast learning the song the correct way thanks to you. Great job !!!!

Great video. Us young jazz learners need people like you

Thank you so much for this wonderful tutorial. I've been wanting to learn more about how to play these rootless left-hand voicings, and this video popped up -- perfect timing. I love the artistry of Bill Evans, and I really appreciate the pace with which you teach each chord on camera with thorough explanations. I'm happy to have landed on your YT channel and will explore it further. Because of this video, I'm newly inspired to better my skills so that I can (I hope!) play these tunes with more richness.

Really great analysis; I've watched this a few time over the years I love Ken's transcription.

So beautiful. Thank you for showing us the inner workings of this tune.

Thanks so much for this. There are lots of videos for the total beginner, explaining what a triad is, but not that many that take it up to the next level as this video did. Just what I've been looking for. Thanks again.

Very cool! Thanks for your efforts. I am a guitarist of 40 years, but hearing such a thorough analysis of such wonderful and complicated music in pianistic terms really takes it to another level.

Thanks Kent. Very appreciated it...Great harmony and you did a great job transcribing these !!! Beautiful.

Amazing lesson! I used to mindlessly read music and now I finally understood what I'm playing. Can't thank you enough for this!

Great analysis of a signature tune Bill did so many times from his beginning to the end, though it did evolve .. thank you.

Kent just loved your analysis of Bill Evans left hand chord movement ...what a master craftsman. If you can, I'd love to here more of these as learning from people like Bill can really open up one's understanding of the use of unusual harmony and technique. tks Jake

Tremendously helpful video. How dude can play this intricately arranged piece & give realtime analysis is impressive asf. Modern day composers of all genres wud greatly benefit from listening to evans & applying even jus a bit of his chordal ideas. It wud enrich their sound & help them break free of predictable & clichéd harmonies. Much thx for this.

Great Explanation! Even helped me out as a guitar player! Thank you!

Thank you!!! I can't even begin to describe how wonderful this was. I often wonder, what is going on in Mr Evans mind, where he first hears this, and then transfers it to his hands/ fingers finally to the keys, where we get to enjoy this wonderful combination of chord changes . . . tremendous, I guess less is more . . .

This lesson is also amazing!!! Thanks for every single lesson!!! Mr.Hewitt. Playing the jazz piano is so difficult. I mean playing the piano like jazzy. There are so many lessons to learn for playing the jazz. When I faced to many information to memorize for playing the jazz music. Sometimes I was so devastated.

Amazing job, one of my favorite interpretations of Bill Evans highlighting his genius for color and harmony, you're doing good works, thank you !

thank u so much for that kent! i got no words to describe my grateful

Just watched this again. The analysis is terrific.

I've got to say how much I enjoy the pacing of your videos. not too slow, not too fast.

I am a pianist with some classical training. My jazz knowledge came through reading books. I am virtually a self-taught jazz pianist. I am trying to gain as much knowledge as possible Thanks for the explanation. Hope that you post more videos.

I'm in awe. I love Bill Evans. Thank you very much for showing the technical construction of this beautiful tune.

Thank you it's such a privilege to have you explain the chord changes and how Bill Evans plays. You are an exceptional tutor a true inspiration. I wish you well. I am learning so much, your lessons are rich, deep and consistently full. A great help in learning to play jazz. Best wishes Bernard.

I can't find the lead sheet on your website.

Thank you Mr Hewitt. This music is a blessing

Nicely done, thanks for putting this out there,

WOW that was spectacular! The song and the chords are truly beautiful and you played it with such passion and tenderness..I'm in awe of everything you do.....

Kent you show us what a genious Bill was, may he delight the Gods with his music in heaven....

I love Bill Evans music and this album has a special place in my heart.

I just lost one of my Keyboard idols in Keith Emerson....but now I have a new one. Thanks for all you share.

This is just fantastic. Incredibly helpful, and also played very beautifully Kent. Much appreciated, thanks

I am a pianist with some classical training. My jazz knowledge came through reading books. I am virtually a self-taught jazz pianist. I am trying to gain as much knowledge as possible Thanks for the explanation.

Hi Kent- greetings from Frisco, NC. Just discovered this tuto. of yours, which has made my summer! Serious appreciation and many thanks.

What an incredible lesson! Thank you for running it again. Again, I'll be months learning this tune, but what an education in jazz harmony I'm getting while doing it!

Thank you so much for this tutorial. I'm a bass player trying to improve and enjoy the piano. This is great and fun too learn ! You are a great teacher !

As a bass player trying to understand Scott's parts in context with Bill's arrangements and voicings, your videos are a godsend. I can't thank you enough!

I too feel pampered & lucky to have found the Hewitt tutorials, esp. this gripping Evans rootless chord demo. Thanks Kent once again.

Kent, you have no idea how great these videos are. Being able to learn Bill Evan's chords and play a bit of his gorgeous music is amazing. Super helpful videos. Thank You!

2nd viewing already! I know you did this 6 years ago Kent but just like to say it's great the way that you have broken down the arrangement of this tune. I used to be reluctant to be overly analytical but it pays off big time to understand what's going on in a piece and learn from it. This song has amazing harmony and the arrangement is wonderful. Thanks again.

Amazing Kent greatness from you.

Thanks Kent.. informative and inspiring!

This is an awesome tutorial. With a little patience, I think I can learn this. Thanks!

Nice tutorial, Kent!! Very well explained and informative.

Kent: This video is like a dream come true. Not only Bill's interpretation of this song, but how you perform as well as explain the voicings of the chords and the transitions. Very inspiring indeed. Now to see if I can interpret this piece and your explanations for guitar. Thanks very much for posting a masterpiece.

Thanks much for sharing your great knowledge of piano and for focusing on this beautiful standard piece. At 54 I am just now learning Piano and this is the 2nd tune I am learning. I've loved it for so many years and now to be able to play it makes me feel wonderful. And in the words of Bill Evans, you first have to play for yourself [what you love] and then your true feeling can come out. At my early level, I'll need to practice a tune a couple hundred times to get it where it needs to be. So you really must love the music you're playing or otherwise it would seem to be a chore. I'll never grow tired of this tune. Thanks again.

Thank you for your wonderful interpretation!

I learned something from you again, not the first time - thank you.

Great job, Kent. I am looking this music sheet in Bb (half key up from your sheet which starts with Bbmaj7) Is it possible to get one in Bb scale?

Thank you Kent

amazing work ill be watching this over and over mind blowing thank you.

I love how you retained to play the basses in certain passages. The hand flew there but you stopped it

do you know i have watched this video over 20 times. you know i watched the live performance of this by the Bill Evans trio on youtube and i thought to myself what a lovely piece. I never imagined that i myself would be actually able to learn and play this. i practice three times a day and im halfway thru learning this piece. Thanks for the clear explanation

Awesome thanks, learned some cool stuff from this

Kent this is absolutely superb and clearly i am not alone in this opinion. Thank you so much.

Tanks for your generosity.

Hey, I know this video is really old, but I have a question about the chord at 8:26. Is it a E minor 13. So it has the minor seven and the natural six and the nine. So when this chord moves to the A7, there is half step motion in the left hand from the b7 of Eminor to the 3 of A7, while in the left hand the melody C# stays the same. Is this a common thing thing to do with minor 13 chords? Thanks for the great video, I learned a lot!

wonderfully beautiful

Thanks Kent, this is one of my favorite Bill Evans pieces. So sad losing Scott LaFaro so young, it effected Bill greatly.

10/10.. ty for uploading these

I can't thank you enough for this lesson

Very good explanation of Bill Evans piano voicings.

Thank you very much for this amazing post: very clear and interesting. Your are a very generous teacher. Thank you again for shearing your knowledge. (and your piano has an extraordinary sound!)

Fabulous video, sir. Thank you so much for your time and for sharing your knowledge.

Great break down, Kent

Beautiful work. Thank you!

Thank you! This is what I was looking for.

dear Kent many thanks for this wonderful tutorial you are amazing piano player and excellent teacher. I have admired Bill for his music and he is a big inspiration for me. I hope you can post more of Bills music. God bless you.

Brilliant. Thank you, Kent.

I enjoyed that. It has made me more alive, when arranging, to using semitone movements in the inner parts.

Thanks so much for that. Fantastic analysis perfectly explained. Regards

Glad you picked this song I think it has amazing harmonies that never stop coming. Amazing how such magic can come from 4 or 5 notes. Maybe my favorite thing of his harmonically for me. Amazing how you figured it out to a non player like me it is like an amazing blur. Who knew such beauty could be produced in the universe if not for bill and some of his impressionist parents.

Thank you kent Spieghi benissimo e solo in un paio di sere ho potuto suonarlo

Hey Kent, I cannot even begin to explain how helpful your videos have been, specifically this one in particular. I've looked all over the internet for tutorials or lessons on bill evans pieces and haven't been able to find any that are in as much details as yours are and I thank you for that! As a huge bill evans fan and somebody who really wants to learn and understand more I was wondering if you wouldn't mind trying to upload some more Bill Evans lessons -- It would mean the world to me and I'm sure a lot of other people too! anyhow thanks again Kent, Love the work! ps. A lesson on Ellingtons "In a sentimental mood" would be fantastic too!

Great videos! Not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but I find it very helpful when you have the notes/chords pictured above! On some you do, on others you don't. Anyway, thank you for posting all this!

Yet another fantastic tutorial!! All your tutorials (including YOURSELF!) should be put under the UNESCO!!! I love the patience you take to explain in details, the accuracy of your explanations and also your amazing ability to convey what goes on in the author's mind while he composes the piece, is a mix of piano technique, tips, thoughts and music history altogether!!! If you have time I would love to see a little video where you spell out the scales to improvise on this wonderful chords!

RU-vid is the best thing since the invention of the phonograph. Not only do you get these great instruction videos, you can also hear the original recordings of so many great players going back to Parker, Lester Young, Fats Waller. And learn how to fix your washing machine too.

Hi Kent, thanks for the tutorial and sheet music arrangement of this Bill Evans classic. I think I have the Bill Evans hunched-over-the keyboard posture down but still have to work on his timing and touch a bit.

I printed the pdf. I have the chords down. Trying to get a good solo line to match the dissonant chords. (6:21)(m5)(m 16) Nothing I play on top of the G#13 to G# (#5) sounds good. What scale works with the F moving to E, or do you even need to include the counter movement in the solo (m5, m9, m11, etc.)? (7:08) "which means, ...It's moving up a b5 and it's going to resolve down a half-step". You just defined a tri-tone in terms of what it does instead of what it is. That is very helpful. It gives the tri-tone a purpose. Instead of instructors saying (dryly) "you can use it as a substitution," which leaves the student to ask, "for what purpose?" you give a dynamic definition in terms of movement and purpose. That is an entirely different approach imo. That means I can now think of tri-tones in terms of what I want to do with the music. i.e. If I want to approach a chord from a half-step above, "see if a tri-tone substitution for the previous chord helps you do that." Great stuff Kent. Very helpful.

fantastic job, thanks very much!

I love those piano voicings. One of my greatest wishes is to play piano like that.

Made my day man, nice breakdown. Love how you dealt with this, thank you.

beautiful ... thanks for breaking it down

One of my favorite songs. His chord voicings are so tasty. How I wish I could play like this. Thanks for posting.

This video is wonderful, though way ahead of my ability, but i have hopes. Thanks for all your up-loads, please keep them coming! best kevin

Using it for my learning of this wonderful tune

Im not sure if this is accurate but I seemed to have stumbled across something in my mind while playing some chords. Is it true that an Edim7 chord is, in a way, a rootless C7b9 chord? and that this sort of concept could be applied to many different chords as well? Is this a useful way to think about it, such that many different chords can be insinuated with a single voicing of one chord?

Beautifully played, explained and taught Kent. Thanks !

This was absolutely phenomenal! Kent, I'm very grateful for your work. I found your channel about a year ago when I was first starting out on jazz piano and you were useful then, but this video is damn sure useful now in my stage of the musical journey. Swing loose brother!

All i can say is that I can see Bill Evans is playing. 😊

amazing take

Love Bill Evans better yet moreso love seeing and hearing it played from above the full breakdown teaching at its best .. Need better understanding of tritone meaning going to look.

Thanks much for this one, Kent (better late than never!). What a great exposition of Bill's playing. You piano guys have ALL the cool chords. I'm a long-time guitarist who wishes he had played piano instead. It always amounts to some sort of compromise between two notes (with both being essential!) when trying to play some of these great piano voicings on guitar. Incidentally, l tune my guitar down a half step and l play the tune in Bb and you do it in A, so our instruments sound the same pitches bit you are naming the chords a half step lower than what I'm playing on the guitar . . . Many times I was either going to throw myself or my guitar out the window. Btw - really dug that tritone sub C7th/9 chord! I have to play it up high on the neck with an open string but, cool! I never would have thought of it either. Thank you Bill and thank you Kent!