New Jazz Conceptions

Bill Evans

Product Details

• Audio CD (July 1, 1991)
• Original Release Date: September 18, 1956
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ojc
• ASIN: B000000Y1E
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #97,108 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remarkable Debut, December 26, 2001

By	Samuel Chell (Kenosha,, WI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Bill's first album under his own name, recorded when he was 26, is of primary value to the Evans' collector, who can read about the album's background in Peter Pettinger's "How My Heart Sings." More than the personal expression of the artist, it's a revealing, extrovertish "statement" by the newest young pianist on the block, eager to prove he's a major contender in a field of few giants and many pretenders.

Evans' own composition, "Five," disguises rhythmic complexity within a simple Monkish melody. And on another original, "Displacement," his breathless, dazzling bebop lines evoke the melodic/rhythmic complexity of Bud Powell played in the flawless, incisive technical manner of Lennie Tristano. By contrast, the two takes of "No Cover, No Minimum," a simple blues in G, find Bill struggling a bit to contain his technique sufficiently to produce a Horace Silver double-time feel.

But there's also some hint of what's to come--Bill's "Waltz for Debbie," played more floridly here than on the later recordings, and "My Romance," which he would return to again and again during the final year of life.

An album such as this exposes the rugged machinery, the technical mastery, that serves as a foundation for many of the most original creative artists--from Coltrane to Schoenberg to Picasso. It's that rock-solid inner core that permits the groundbreaking artist to expose his vulnerability and at the same time inspires our trust.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Evans' Debut Album, February 25, 2001

By	M J Miller (Park City, UT, USA) - See all my reviews

I was first exposed to Evans through his work with Miles Davis, particularly the classic "Kind of Blue", on which his contribution equals or exceeds that of Davis himself. This is a fine album, and might be a highlight in the discography of a lesser keyboardist. But by Evans' standards, this album pales in comparison to those that would soon follow, including "Everybody Digs...", "Portrait in Jazz" and "Waltz For Debby". This should not be your first Bill Evans purchase, but you will appreciate it's historical significance if you are an Evans fan.

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Music from Bill Evans, September 30, 2008

By	Andrew C. Smith (Ann Arbor, Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This CD is a clear turning point in the history of jazz. Many pianists have spent their careers trying to sound like Bill Evans. The trio format showcases his work well, and keeps the texture of the music from getting too thick.