In the following clip, Bill discusses his early influences. The interview was done in May 1980, just months before Bill’s death, by Steve Hillis.
Advertisement
The Influences
25 Monday Jul 2011
Posted in Uncategorized
25 Monday Jul 2011
Posted in Uncategorized
In the following clip, Bill discusses his early influences. The interview was done in May 1980, just months before Bill’s death, by Steve Hillis.
Beautiful to hear Bill’ voice.
Love Laurie
Hi Laurie!
I can imagine how it might bring back memories! Luck you to have had them!
Mike
Interesting how he doesn’t think of Miles as having an influential voice until later in his career. I wonder if that’s his way of saying how much he contributed to the originality brought to Kind of Blue. Early recordings of my father show the modal impressionistic approach to jazz over a decade before the landmark album. As time went on, I wonder if he began to resent not receiving direct credit for changing jazz in the way he had developed for his whole life before that album. I suspect so.
Also interesting to me, is to hear him talk about learning the principles of an idea, rather than the idea itself. This is something I also do. Can a scientific process like that really be genetic (my father died before I knew him)?
I think a lot of traits, including personality tendencies are hereditary. But like anything else you have to examine the traits within you, the way you handle stress, for example, how you might use a flush of creative juices, your perception of different stimuli – then act and work in the specific direction that you are most comfortable with. It’s a difficult process. I hope by the time I expire I have figured it all out.
Hi Evan,
Thanks for your comment. I interpreted what your father said a little differently. He seemed to be discussing “the scene” and how Parker and Gillespie were prominent forces along with Bud (and later Miles).
I found the idea of your father’s approach of learning the principles of an idea intriguing. He seemed to enjoy deep examination of things rather than superficialities. I wonder if he was so analytical with non-musical things.
Your query is very interesting! Can what seems like a personality trait be passed down to other generations? Something to mull over!
I love seeing Evan Evans and Laurie Verchomin commenting on this thread and I thank you both for taking the time. Evan, I don’t think your father was trying to find a way to say how much he contributed to the originality on Kind of Blue. He strikes me as having been too humble to try to stake that claim. That said, I believe that his contribution to that landmark album was and is still underestimated greatly. Kind of Blue could not have been made without Bill Evans, just as it could not have been made without Miles. He should have received credit for not only Blue in Green, but Flamenco Sketches as well. I was commenting to a friend just today that the album should have been a Davis/Evans album!!! I don’t know if he felt resentment about not being recognized as having had such a big effect on jazz; all of his interviews show his appreciation of the fact that he was able to play what he wanted to please himself and have an audience. It’s funny that I also don’t interpret his comments the way Mike Conklin does about Bill just discussing the scene. What I get from his comments is that Bud Powell was more important an influence as a pianist and soloist than Parker and Gillespie (and later Miles). When I read or hear comments by Bill Evans I am blown away by his analytical powers, and I think it’s clear that the answer to Mike’s question about non-musical analysis is a resounding “yes, he was similarly analytical in other respects.” The liner notes on Kind of Blue, with their analysis and comparison of Japanese art with jazz music are an example of his extending his analytical powers into non-musical areas. The introduction to “The Universal Mind of Bill Evans”, with its strong statements about a universal musical mind which all music speaks to, reads much like what Noam Chomsky described as the “invariant properties,” or “linguistic universals,” or “universal grammar” that he theorized underly all of the 4,000 or so known languages. It’s a statment about the hard-wiring of the human brain. Bill Evans was a many-faceted human, and no other musician has touched me as deeply.
Absolutely ~ we are ONE !
Thanks for creating this site. Bill Evans’ influence is surging as more and more become aware of his depth and his approach and musicality. I think of Bill as many do, as being identifiably eternal. It is sites like this one, dedicated to Bill which is helping to bring to light his huge gift to us all. And, thank you to Laurie Verchomin for writing her beautiful book on her life with Bill: totally inspiring and honest.