i've been listening to a 6 cd box set of bill evans (the pianist bill evans, not the sax player) this weekend. he is definitely one of the most melodic pianists ever. for those not acquainted with his stuff, he was the pianist for miles davis for 1958 and most of 1959 and is featured on the landmar lp kind of blue. he is the one who wrote the orginal liner notes for kind of blue as well.

his best solo work was in 1961 with a trio that would be hailed by all the critics as one of the greats, but tragically the bass player (scott lafaro) died in a motor vehicle accident after they had only recorded 2 albums. a few other works that were in the can were released after his death.

today, switzerland 1975 is in heavy rotation with eddie gomez on bass.

Lucky you! I can't afford the new Bill Evans "package" but I am a fan and have some of his old stuff including some on vinyl. He was all hunched over that piano playing his ass off!

He´s probably my favourite jazzpianoplayer.
He´s most famous effort is probably on
Miles Davis Kind of blue album,
but everything I´ve heard is really great.
Sad how he fell down so deep into his drug addiction.
He did a great album in Sweden in 1964 I think
with the singer Monica Zetterlund
/peace Manki

Good thread. Bill one of the most emotionally compelling and influential pianist in the history of jazz. Interestingly enough, one of my all time favorite artists Pat Metheny, along with his piano player and co-composer, Lyle Mays from one of my favorite groups the Pat Metheny Group wrote and dedicated a song to him called September 15th{the day Bill departed from this plane in 1980}. September 15th has become a fan favorite over the years, plus I get my screen name from this PMG song which just happens to be the day I came to be.
[This message was edited Wed Apr 23 8:04:46 PDT 2003 by Brother915]

i really love pat, as well. i'll have to start a metheny thread.