Jeira Ace J.

Gonzales Jazz Literature

IV

THE BILL EVANS LEGACY

First before going to the musicians that Bill Evans influenced, I feel the need

to list some of Bill Evan's influences on playing. As Evan's mother is an amateur

pianist, Bill had the luxury to explore piles of sheet music available to him. This

made his musicality broad. A few particular influences on Bill were Debussy,

Stravinsky, Petrouschka, and Millhaud. Bach's works contributed greatly to his

beautiful tone and physical contact with the keyboard.

Moving on to the time where he joined Miles Davis' group, Evans introduced

Rachmaninoff, Ravel, and Khachaturian to him revealing new scales and

expanding his appreciation for classical music. At this point I consider Miles to be

influenced by Evan's classical background and giving more light into Davis'

musicality as well.

Evans is one of the most articulate jazz musicians on the jazz scene. He had

a deep understanding of every music available to him at that time. It comes to a

point where Evans reformed jazz voicings on the piano. Evans abandoned roots

almost entirely thus transforming jazz piano from his classical influences. Finally,

he had his own stylistic identity in which musicians after him began studying and

playing his style. Because of his very unique play style, he had left is mark on

notable players like Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin, Chick Corea and Michel

Petrucciani who, on another paper will be discussed.

Of the greatest things he had left behind to those influenced by him is his

intimate playing, his artistic improvisation and accompaniment. Because of Evans,

the people mentioned above strived harder to top that of Evans' fluency, facility,

fluidity, and expressiveness. This is one legacy in music that I'll surely cherish

forever.