Customer Reviews

Marian Mcpartland's Piano Jazz

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One feature that is common to McPartland's Piano Jazz series is its superior and little processed sound quality. This is especially appreciated when it comes to artists, such as Bill Evans, who have recorded truly great performances but not necessary in high fidelity as we know today. Together with "Turn Out The Stars" sessions recorded in 1980, this CD presents the best sound quality of any Bill Evans recording. Thank God, it has been reissued. It was becoming a collectors' item among fans.
In addition to the superb sound quality, the music that Bill plays with such tender loving care, the inner feelings that he displays and his own interpretations of his music and technique presented in his won words bring sheer joy for devoted Bill Evans fans. This CD is also special that Evans demonstrates his rare piano duo or interplay with Marian (perhaps the first time since "The Ivory Hunters" with Bob Brookmeyer in 1959). I also made one new discovery that Eddie Gomez used to play with Marian's trio before he joined Evans.
I still cannot believe that then 49 years old Evans, who sounds so intellect in the interview, was seriously suffering from drug problems, which would eventually take his life in less than a couple of years. Together with six legendary Riverside recordings (Portrait in Jazz, two Vanguard live albums, Moon Beams, How My Heart Sings and Explorations), this is another "must buy" CD for Bill Evans buffs.

I had long been aware of the existence of this CD but, as someone quite familiar with Marian's "Piano Jazz" series, I decided I could pass it up. Probably some innocuous chat and a few piano exchanges, with too little of Bill, musically or conversationally, to make for a worthwhile purchase. I'm glad I changed my mind.

Bill is in rare form, not only playing beautifully but offering an abundance of insights into his career and thought process. A few highlights from the conversation:

1. He repeatedly stresses the importance of knowing a tune's "structure," then demonstrates why that goes beyond the number of bars, fake-book chord progressions, and written melody. Everything proceeds from an understanding of "form," prompting Bill to insist that "knowledge" must lead "intuition."

2. He reveals and demonstrates the "anticipatory phrasing" that he had been working on late in his career. I recall Herbie Hancock describing Evans' time as having a "forward lean," with an implication that Bill was a rusher. Nonsense. This disc unveils the "method" behind the urgency and tension in Bill's playing.

3. He surprises by first telling Marian that he prefers solo piano to playing in a trio, then explaining that he doesn't feel sufficiently equipped to go it alone. The subsequent exchange between Bill and Marian captures everything I've discovered on my own (but never had a chance to articulate) about the challenges of playing solo (in fact, Marian's admission that Bill's strategy led her to reconsider her own replicates my own thought process regarding Bill Evans' effect on my left hand).

4. He talks about his influences (not just piano players but big bands and wind instrumentalists), his early musical gigs (polka bands, boogie woogie, society jobs), and reveals that he and I sat in the audience together at a Newport all-star solo piano concert hosted by Marian! (He says Marian was the best of the bunch--"politic" of him because I distinctly remember John Lewis stealing the show.)

I have only one regret about the conversation--Marian's not having the presence of mind to ask him about tone. No pianist plays "deeper" in the keys, extracting a richer, more complex piano sound than Bill Evans. My suspicion is that much of it is biological (mechanically, Evans was born to play the piano--look at his body, shoulders, and the diameter, not just length, of his fingers), but if he has any special tips, I want them.

His playing on this occasion is as powerful as it is sublime, offering Marian quite a challenge because of the turbulent pull of his rhythmic constructions. In her liner notes, Marian confesses to some personal intimidation and to initially having a sense of "playing against the time." Once past this threshhold, she can't contain herself, either in her praise of Bill or her childlike excitement at the very thought of playing with him. The experience clearly represents for her a high-water mark in a many-faceted career. No Bill Evans' fan or pianist can afford not to give acquisition of this session a similar priority.

Although it only has a few selections by Evans, this interview gives some real insight into his approach and thought process. Recorded only two years before his untimely death in 1980, it shows the mature performer at the top of his game.

The beauty of this one-hour program is that Bill Evans sounds relaxed and open, and explains to Marion McPartland many things about the way he plays and what he strives to achieve. The solo and duet performances are excellent. This is not a disc you'll want to listen to often, but it is worth having for all Bill Evans fans.

Jazz fans familiar with Marian McPartland and her public radio interviews with musicians - jazz mostly, but others too - know how provocative and interesting these interviews-slash-jam sessions can be, and those fans also know how relatively placid they were on occasion. I really didn't know what to expect from this CD, because the aura of Bill Evans is one that was built up by his playing, not by his talking about his playing. But fans of Marian's "Piano Jazz" also know that a lot of the show was built on the musicians demonstrating what they were talking about, and when Bill Evans demonstrates a point, some of the most sublime piano playing ever heard comes streaming from his piano. Seriously, in many, many ways and aspects, this is some of Bill Evans' most gorgeous and admirable work. I first listened to it as my "drift off to sleep" music night cap, and I never did drift off to sleep, even after getting to bed a half hour later than usual and a particularly hard day at work. I just couldn't stop listening to what Bill was saying about the structure of songs, building on the structure, and then the utterly beautiful piano passages he played to illustrate his point. McPartland herself seemed a little taken aback by what Bill was producing from his piano. When they play together, Bill shines just a little brighter and Marian is relegated to second fiddle. Bill was definitely in his element and desperate to show the world what beautiful jazz music is all about, and he really pulls it off. This kind of thing (interview radio show) isn't for everybody, but any fan of Bill Evans should be delighted with this CD.

I was never a big Bill Evans fan but after listening to this informative broadcast, I learned alot about what Bill Evans is all about. I can now really appreciate his playing having a deeper undersatnding of what he's doing...Thanks Marion!

Bill Evans is my hands-down, absolute favorite pianist, and maybe my favorite jazz musician ever. I love Marian McPartland's show, and I was lucky enough to catch her in concert last year. Once I discovered that Evans had been on McPartland's show- well, how could I not buy this disc? One of the best of her shows, this is an hour of sheer enjoyment and an education into Evan's thinking about music. Ten stars.

What a find this was! My husband and I are huge fans of Bill Evans' music. We were fortunate enough to see him perform in NYC years ago and have collected many of his recordings through the years. This one, however, is a must-have for any Bill Evans fan. Not only being able to hear his voice and what he has to say about the creation of his music, but to get a glimpse into his sense of humor, not to mention the duets with the always-charming Marian McPartland, is a real treat.

There are very few people that can grab and touch the very essence of your soul and even after they are dead, they can continue to do so. Bill Evans was one those immortals that did just that.I bought this DVD to hear what he had to say about his music. McPartland asked the questions I wanted to hear with the emphasis placed on his technical expertise. Listen to his commentary on "The Touch Of Your Lips". What a mind opener!. Any musician, no matter what instrument can find this DVD most enlightning. It was an excellent DVD, well worth the money and then some.

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