Bill Evans’s jazz

background, influences, works and compositional style

Authors

Keywords:

Eclecticism of Bill Evans, Hybridism in music, French music and modal jazz, Music transformation and improvisation, Influence between classical and popular music

Abstract

Style study on the music of American composer and pianist Billy Evans. It includes a historical context on pianists, composers (both popular and classical) and the jazz theorist George Russell who influenced his music. The analysis of 19 selected works of Bill Evans. reveals traits related to style/tempo, time signature, tonality, form, length, harmonic chord pace and harmonic language and some other relevant details.

Author Biographies

  • Joseph William (Bill) Murray, Towson University, Maryland (EUA)

    Pianist, composer and arranger J. William (Bill) Murray graduated with a Bachelor of Music and a Master of Music (Composition and Jazz) from Towson University in Towson, Maryland, USA. In addition, he earned an MBA in Economics with honors from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management and a BA in Economics with special honors from the University of Colorado. As a performer, he is active in the Baltimore area as a soloist and arranger for jazz groups. He has recorded his works on two CDs Billy's touch and Moving On Currently, he is President of the Baltimore Chamber Jazz Society and a board member of the Towson University Foundation, University System of Maryland Foundation, and Center Stage Theater.

  • Fausto Borém, University of Minas Gerais (Brazil)

    He is a Professor at UFMG, where he created the Master's program and the Per Musi magazine. CNPq researcher since 1994, he has published two books, three book chapters, dozens of articles on performance practices and their interfaces (composition, analysis, musicology, ethnomusicology of popular music and music education) in national and international journals, dozens of editions of scores and recitals in major national and international events of double bass. He has received several awards in Brazil and abroad as soloist, theorist, composer and teacher.

References

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DOERSCHUK, Robert L. 88: The Giants of jazz piano. San Francisco: Backbeat Books, 2001.

EVANS, Bill; EVANS, Harry. Bill Evans and Harry Evans: the universal mind of Bill Evans: Jazz Pianist on the Creative Process and Self-Teaching. Direção de Louis Carvell. Eforfilms, 2004 (DVD).

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La VERNE, Andy. Bill Evans’ Twelve-Tone Tune. In: Letter From Evans. v.2, n.2. Nov./Decz, 1990. p.8-10.

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Mc PARTLAND, Marian. Interviews with Bill Evans. In: Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz with Guest Bill Evans. The Jazz Alliance, TJA-12038-2, 1978 (vídeo).

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MURPHY, Tim. Entrevista pessoal de Tim Murphy a Bill Murray. 4 de Novembro, 2008.

NETHERCUTT, Ron. The Early years. In: Letters From Evans. v.1, n.2, Nov/Dez., 1989. p.4-5.

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______. Bill Evans: everything happens to me: a musical biography. San Francisco: Backbeat Books, 2002.

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WILLIAMS, Martin. Homage to Bill Evans. In: Bill Evans: The Complete Riverside Recordings. Notas de encarte. Berkeley, CA: Riverside Records, 1984.

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Published

2013-11-10

Issue

No. 28 (2013): General Topics

Section

Articles in Portuguese/Spanish

License

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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How to Cite

“Bill Evans’s Jazz: Background, Influences, Works and Compositional Style”. 2013. Per Musi, no. 28 (November): 1-14. https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/permusi/article/view/39475.