Bill Evans
Source: Wikipedia: Bill Evans
Arts & Music • Historical Archive • 🇺🇸 United States • 3 views

Bill Evans 🇺🇸

William John Evans
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Born Aug 16, 1929 🇺🇸 Plainfield, United States
Passed Away Sep 15, 1980 New York City, United States
Lifespan 51 years old
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Notice / Correction
"Jazz is not a what, it is a how. If you do things according to how it has to be done, you're doing jazz."

Archival Overview

American jazz pianist and composer whose impressionistic chord voicings, lyrical touch, and modal harmonies reshaped modern jazz, celebrated for 'Kind of Blue' and Village Vanguard trios.

Biographical Record

Bill Evans transformed modern jazz piano through his deep immersion in classical masters like Ravel, Debussy, and Chopin. Joining the Miles Davis Sextet in 1958, Evans was the indispensable harmonic architect of the best-selling jazz album of all time, 'Kind of Blue' (1959), co-composing 'Blue in Green' and crafting its serene modal landscapes.

With bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian, Evans pioneered the modern egalitarian jazz trio, replacing simple rhythm-section backing with three-way conversational counterpoint. His landmark 1961 recordings live at the Village Vanguard remain the supreme gold standard of lyrical jazz piano.

Key Life Milestones

1959

Miles Davis's Kind of Blue

Served as the pianist and primary harmonic architect on Miles Davis's immortal modal jazz masterpiece.

1961

Sunday at the Village Vanguard

Recorded the historic live trio sessions redefining modern jazz trio interaction and harmonic nuance.

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Final Resting Place

Perpetual Memorial
Memorial Location
New York City, United States
Archival Standards PastLegacies adheres to strict neutral biographical guidelines and legal standards of remembrance. Next-of-kin may request modifications or removal at any time via our expedited process.