Tribute Recordings to Bill Evans - Part One

Don Sebesky
I Remember Bill - A Tribute to Bill Evans

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Instead of replicating the familiar, small-combo arrangements that Bill Evans made his stock in trade, Don Sebesky decided to rearrange such Evans-associated songs as "Waltz for Debby," "So What," "Peace Piece," and "Blue in Green" for jazz orchestra, featuring such all-star musicians as Joe Lovano, Lee Konitz, Toots Thielemans, Larry Coryell, and the New York Voices. Consequently, I Remember Bill: Tribute to Bill Evans might not be exactly what longtime Evans fans are expecting, and, truth be told, these arrangements don't always work. Nevertheless, Sebesky's ambitions are admirable, and the tracks that do work — whether it's "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" or the original numbers "I Remember Bill" and "Bill Not Gil" — are quite enchanting. Furthermore, Evans fanatics will be interested in the unreleased interview excerpt with Evans that's added as a bonus track.

Fred Hersch

Evanessence - A Tribute To Bill Evans

by Alex Henderson

Initially released in Japan in 1990, Evanessence didn't come out in the U.S. until the Philadelphia-based Evidence Music reissued it in 1998. This excellent CD finds Hersch (who evolved into one of the finest acoustic pianists of the 1990s) paying tribute to the person he has been compared to more than anyone: Bill Evans. To be sure, Evans has had a major impact on Hersch's crystalline, elegant pianism. But Hersch (whose other main influences include Ahmad Jamal and Keith Jarrett) is far from a slavish imitator of Evans, and the fact that he's very much his own person comes through on both Evans' compositions (including "Turn Out the Stars," "We Will Meet Again" and "Remembering the Rain") and sensitive interpretations of "Alice in Wonderland" and "You Must Believe in Spring." Though Hersch's admiration for Evans (especially his 1970s work) is hard to miss, he comes across as someone who's adamant about being himself. The pianist's thoughtful accompaniment includes Toots Thielemans on harmonica, Gary Burton on vibes, Michael Formanek or Marc Johnson on bass and Jeff Hirshfield on drums. Highly recommended.

Karen Gallinger

Remembering Bill Evans

by Dave Nathan

For her fourth album, Karen Gallinger has taken on the not insignificant undertaking of devoting a program virtually entirely to the compositions of a singularly inventive jazz pianist, Bill Evans. Evans' musical structures can be difficult to deal with just as instrumentals, never mind when lyrics have been added. His music can be jagged and quirky and was usually composed without any idea of accommodating the needs of a lyricist. In addition to being technically intimidating, his music can be brooding, pensive, and introspective reflecting the personal difficulties he faced throughout his far too short life. The obstacles notwithstanding, vocalist Karen Gallinger and her talented cohorts pull off this undertaking with facility and aplomb making Remembering Bill Evans a notable event. Their success was aided and abetted by Evans' widow, Nenette Evans, who provided material giving the performers unique insights on the music. This results in not only excellent interpretations of some of Evans' better-known compositions like "Turn out the Stars" and the jazz classic "Waltz for Debbie" tour de force performances, but lesser-known works like "My Bells" and "Only Child" are made memorable occasions as well. With her dark, deep voice, restrained scatting, and her unusual ability to transform her voice into a stringed instrument like a bass or cello, this becomes Gallinger's finest album to date. Her supporting cast is excellent. Tom Zink's piano, which shows the influence of Evans, along with Larry Steen's lyrical bass and Chris Wabich's restrained drums provide the foundation upon which this session is built. Larry Koonse is on just four tracks, but on those his guitar work is sterling. In addition to her singing, Gallinger also wrote the lyrics to some of the songs. This is a fine tribute album and is recommended.

Luigi Tessarollo & Stefano Bollani

Homage To Bill Evans & Jim Hall

by Luigi Sidero
Ad avere per la prima volta in mano questo disco, il primo ed istintivo pensiero di perplessit, di spiazzamento. Il giovane astro nascente del piano jazz in Italia insieme ad un grande chitarrista in un omaggio a Bill Evans e Jim Hall. Pi nello specifico, insieme in un progetto dedicato ai due album (Undercurrent e Intermodulation), simbolo dell'amato-odiato connubio piano-chitarra. Ancora: rileggendo gli stessi brani affrontati dai due storici musicisti. Mettendo insieme tutte queste caratteristiche i risultati potevano essere soltanto due: un fallimento totale oppure un buono lavoro. Giusto quindi parlarne per sottolineare anche e soprattutto la coraggiosa scelta di Stefano Bollani e Luigi Tessarollo, che va premiata sotto diversi profili. Ottimo l'interplay fra i due, buona la coerenza stilistica di tutto l'album che resta sempre nel buongusto senza mai sfociare nel pericoloso replay sbiadito di opere irripetibili, formidabili gli assoli. La chiave dell'ottima riuscita sta nel reciproco ascolto e nella complicit nell'accompagnarsi, indispensabile in un duo, ancor di pi in una formazione cos rischiosa come il duo piano-chitarra. Veramente apprezzabile, poi, la scelta di inserire brani originali (solo tre, ma sufficienti): un tocco in pi che d spessore all'artista e particolarit al disco. Valutazione: * * * *

Sito di Stefano Bollani: http://www.stefanobollani.com/

Pagina Web su Luigi Tessarollo: www.ejn.it/mus/tessarollo.htm
Elenco dei brani:

01. I've Got You Under My Skin (Porter) - 5:56

02. MY Funny Valentine (Rodgers/Hart) - 4:01

03. Darn That Dream (De Lange/Van Heusen) - 4:58

04. My Man Has Gone How (Gershwin) - 6:03

05. Il mondo di Fabio (Tessarollo) - 10:37

06. Romaine (Hall) - 5:29

07. Border Line (Tessarollo) - 5:00

08. Turn Out The Stars (Evans) - 6:36

09. Il Barbone di Siviglia (Bollani) - 6:39

10. I'm getting Sentimental Over You (Bassman/Washington) - 2:57
Musicisti: Luigi Tessarollo (chitarra) Stefano Bollani (pianoforte)

Roseanna Vitro

Conviction - Thoughts of Bill Evans

by Alex Henderson
When Roseanna Vitro recorded Conviction: Thoughts of Bill Evans during the summer of 2000, tributes to the late jazz pianist were hardly unprecedented in the jazz world. Evans was, after all, among the most influential bop/post-bop pianists of the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s — Chick Corea, Keith Jarrett, Fred Hersch, Alan Broadbent, John Serry, and countless others have been heavily influenced by his work. Hersch, in fact, saluted Evans' legacy on his album Evanessance: A Tribute to Bill Evans. The thing that makes Conviction unusual, as far as Evans tributes goes, is the fact that Vitro is a singer. Although she isn't the only vocalist who has recorded "Waltz for Debby" or "Turn Out the Stars," it isn't every day that Evans' songs become the primary focus of a jazz vocal date. And much to Vitro's credit, Conviction isn't about slavish devotion; the Texas native brings something personal to lyrics that were written by Eleana Dee for "Remembering the Rain," Roger Schore for "In April," and Carol Hall for "Very Early" and "Two Lonely People." Not surprisingly, the CD isn't without its share of Gene Lees lyrics; Vitro also interprets the lyrics that the prolific Lees wrote for "Turn Out the Stars," "Waltz for Debby," and "My Bells." It should be stressed that Vitro is joined by players who obviously know Evans' music inside and out — Eddie Gomez was Evans' bassist from 1966-1977, and pianists Fred Hersch and Allen Farnham have both claimed Evans as a primary influence. This thoughtful, consistently interesting date proves that you don't have to be an instrumentalist to be inspired by one of jazz's most imaginative pianists.