How Bill Evans Practiced Harmony

In this video Adam and Peter talk about Bill Evans' approach to practicing harmony. Adam has a few hot tips to get your playing on track to sound like the jazz legend we all know and love.
↓ Links from the pod ↓
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Fred Hersch's Course at Open Studio
www.openstudiojazz.com/hersch
Harmony of Bill Evans
www.amazon.com/Harmony-Bill-E...
GALA - 4 • 12
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0:00 Intro jam
2:23 Show intro
2:43 You'll Hear It LIVE! in NYC
4:52 Lou Donaldson story
6:00 SATB for piano
7:41 Stella example
27:31 GALA!

[@thomasbrzezina8206]

One of my favorite parts of your shows is your opening jam. You guys should seriously consider making a duet album.

[@johnsaade3300]

Agreed! They should also make a closing jam. The album is a fantastic idea, i really think they could take jazz piano to a new horizon with some funk, bee bop and soul mixture

[@khadijahsimon7998]

I second this!

[@kenkinnally6144]

​@@johnsaade3300Bee Bop. Live at the Hive!

[@stevemiller6321]

Useless dead air.

[@khadijahsimon7998]

@@stevemiller6321 Hey, don’t talk about yourself like that!

[@walkercatenaccio]

When I studied Bach in college, they made us learn to play any three voices of the chorale and sing the fourth. Maybe the best single exercise I've encountered. This is like that.

[@musical_lolu4811]

I just played hymns in church. Done.

[@ALIENGOATMESSI]

​@@musical_lolu4811😂😂😂

[@kaviththanthulage3456]

You guys are so ridiculously good at jamming together...

[@chiefhaddon1913]

Adam is becoming TOO powerful now. Going punch for punch with Peter is no joke - not like there’s many who can even do that in the first place 🔥🔥 beyond inspiring. You guys continue to read my mind and tackle all the jazz piano topics and questions I’ve always wondered about but didn’t know how to articulate. It’s eerie. Thank you for this unbelievably high quality info and insight you guys share with us on a regular basis.

[@palmiras100]

Now, that's rapport and easy friendship. That just feels great.

[@christophergray6609]

Opening jam always killing

[@pnojazz]

Peter was playing so well and then he starts talking!😂

[@rongreg7160]

I'm from Europe. I follow you for some time. I l'm a Jazz Enthusiast. Your show is great! Pls just continue!!!

[@carolradoi2693]

i honestly get so upset with the like count. i think these guys deserve so much more attention

[@christophueberhorst7924]

Wow, gorgeous duo playing!!!!

[@drshanemaule]

Just recently discovered the channel and I'm loving all the videos/podcast. Just wanted to say thanks for all you guys do! After music school, I ended up getting a more "normal job" (dentist). After graduating and finishing all my school, I realized how much I was missing the jazz hang. But jazz cats be cats and can be a little vibey these days. Nice to hear others talking about something I'm still passionate about. Listening to you guys makes it feel like I'm back in the community.

[@chasinright]

Guys, the improv cold opens are gold! Keep ‘em coming!

[@L0uish10]

This is probably my favourite ever episode. I would love to see a whole course teaching this concept on a bunch of tunes!

[@guymann7614]

You guys sound great !❤

[@JJBerthume]

That opening was 🔥🔥🔥

[@Mezzomusicltd]

great find!

[@Mildly_Unsuccessful_Individual]

Thanks, guys 🙌🏼

[@elidranow]

Loving it 🎉🎉🎉

[@adamrafferty]

Great Stella you guys!

[@AllIn1Studio]

What a blast. Gorgeous! Tasteful trading!!

[@SissyBoy-ey6mg]

Nice to know Paul Schaefer got another gig after Letterman.

[@gfirester]

Killer playing , Adam!!

[@tomsiegel9759]

I always love the instructional episodes. I generally get a nugget of something to work on. I'm glad I watched this one rather than caught audio only. The checked version of Peter is comically uncomfortable to watch! I totally know the feeling! Maybe it's an interesting practice for those of us whose brains move a little fast. Peter, don't sweat too hard bro! We love you.

[@EtiKai13]

I´m practising Beautiful Love a lot at the moment for my conservatory auditions in about a week, so this opening jam was super inspiring!

[@Kaimusic0]

That opening was amazing man

[@SamJeffersonMusic]

I can't get over Peter saying "bottom" for bass 🤣

[@dallasmtrumpet]

I have so much work to do! Thanks for the inspiration, time to practice!

[@JohnColerMusic]

Y’all crushed that intro. So many Bill Evanisms in there.

[@showrunner2183]

I love this

[@KAMOYA17]

I’m watching from South Africa. Lovely stuff gents

[@maciekwoo]

"You start soundin' like Haydn" :D I love the show - thank you for your awesome work Peter and Adam

[@s.webbsentell1411]

you guys are great!...so great...I catch some of your individual stuff but there is somethings here in this joy of synergy thing guys...Namste!

[@brandex2011]

Great intro jam on "Stella". Thanks for that!

[@tomaspuente2457]

As a guitar player, I love listening and learning from piano players and their mindset regarding harmony and melodies. Loved this video! Thank you. P.S: masterful and tasteful opening jam

[@monoswinger]

Stella

[@fritzfischer3648]

The u in Fux is like the oo in book. Greetings from Germany and thanks for all the great content.

[@clintjones9848]

You guys are shredding! Imo, you guys are part of the jazz lineage.

[@stevemassengill9236]

Awesome

[@DovidM]

Albert Riemenschneider has a harmonized edition of Bach chorales for the piano. It is a good introduction to understanding chorale writing for pianists.

[@tomwhaley3335]

Killed the intro

[@LostSoulAscension]

GALA, you got me on my knees, GALA

[@albertocorrea5536]

Great!!! ❤

[@joelgevirtz6181]

This was a great episode. I got a lot out of it...

[@raneyjr]

Love these discussions. I think Evans has mentioned really being into the great arrangers, Herbie too. I think that helps with imagining voices creatively and independently. His rendition of Goodbye which takes some things from the original arrangement comes to mind. Herbie’s intro to Stella on Miles in Concert also is great example of the rootless idea. Those 6ths in the beginning, wow!

[@Meuszik]

lol you didn’t have to go that hard off the bat but you did and that’s why we love you

[@musiccreation1198]

Stellar musicianship...smh...well done!!

[@johnchapman5037]

Clare Fischer books: Harmnoic Exercises for Piano and Alone Together/Just Me

[@KyleWhitlock-Music]

Just delicious, simply delicious!

[@DeepCrossing1]

I just learnt this place existed 😮 holy fk that was some fantastic analysis, thanks boys 🙏

[@mauryallums2898]

This was 👍🏽

[@CWBella]

Would love for you to come out to the West Coast for a live YHI. 😊

[@veim22222]

Jesus christ 😂😂They spazzed on the intro 😂😂😂 So fire

[@williamclark9973]

Bleecker Street is in the heart of Greenwich Village. Downtown is something else.

[@arkeys74]

Great episode guys! I feel inspired 😃

[@peterarmstrong6624]

As a jazz aficionado and clergyman, I think I need to come on the pod and teach them about Fulton Sheen, the namesake of their nyc venue (which I lived a block away from for 6 years) 😂

[@etiennekambara7814]

Jfc

[@geocosmicvalentine]

GALA 4-12 😎👍🏽🎹🌍💖

[@arthurroschbooksandmusic7700]

My granma used to own two buildings on Laclede. I lived in one of her apartments for a while after high school. The view outside your window reminds me of the area. I know you guys are near there. I think the neighborhood has changed. You guys are there!

[@hank1519]

Where is this?

[@arthurroschbooksandmusic7700]

@@hank1519 St. Louis in what is or was the Chase Hotel Building on Grand Ave. I think.

[@hank1519]

@@arthurroschbooksandmusic7700 Thank you so much!

[@MasonnYu]

Totally unrelated but every time I see this thumbnail I think Pokémon STAB. Great vid guys! Commenting for the algorithm 🎉

[@angelvoicemusic]

Love to hear you both playing. Can you please tell me, what gear you play in this video? Are the sounds software? Keyscape? Or are those Digital Pianos with internal sounds? I play softwarepiano, but still am not satisfied with timing behaviour of the whole system. Transporting MIDI- Data to the DAW is critical. It sounds like your systems work quite fast and precise.

[@rodrigomunozmarmolejo9337]

would love to go to the gayla 😪 but I'm exactly 5125 miles away from NY. Greetings from Santiago, Chile 🖖🎹🎶❤‍🔥

[@bluntonaut]

I must try this! Also, what is Peter playing at 24:30?? Soo nice

[@janbellemans308]

Hi guys, may I ask what Rhodes & piano instruments or plugins you're using for the opening jams? They sound very good.

[@BruceCassidy]

Bach breaks your heart when he breaks the rules!❤

[@jazzman1945ify]

Very good exercise! I recommend that every pianist learn them not on the piano, but on a keyboard with good Strings sound, in order to truly appreciate the movement of each voice.In this way I play vocalized pieces by Tchaikovsky for piano.

[@armloumelanson7160]

Great lesson - Kevin Hays does a reharm of Stella called Twilight on his album The Dreamer (Doug Weiss & Bill Stewart) - they just destroy on this! There used to be a video of them doing Twilight at Smalls (or 55Bar) but sadly disappeared from utube. Hays was playin a Rhodes with some hvy distortion - magnificent organic playing and band just smokin...

[@DndndjJehee]

Couldn’t find your event at Sheen on their website 😢

[@aeroprojects]

Anyone knows which keyboard / VST Adam plays in this video ? The Rhodes sound is so nice !

[@icarusi]

Where can I get a 2-sided musical table?

[@benjaminwilkens9582]

"You know what our language is? Monneeeeeeeey!" this got me ahhaha

[@Paulabird7]

Is Peter wearing merch? Where can we get us some?

[@lawrencetaylor4101]

These guys are out of my pay grade, but I did buy a Bach Chorale book and am trying to learn to sightread using it. Have they tried Baroque Bebop?

[@abrahambhonkar3150]

Hi Adam/Peter what digital piano are u both using

[@KeithHutchinsonYT]

Hi Guys, at 10mins+- you say your playing an Em7-5 but the chord on the chart shows E G D A which is Em7(sus4)..... me finks! I think I hear your little finger play the upper Bb just before the chord. OK....Nuff said.... thanks for all the great stuff you share. Cheers

[@amileoj9043]

GALA (wish I could be there 4 GALA 4/12!)

[@Pastas666]

GALA 420

[@DoktorAgan17]

Great stuff! By the way, the correct pronounciation of (johann) fux is "fooks" as in "books". Greetings from germany!

[@walkercatenaccio]

And Victor Young was a serious classical composer.

[@BoWadeOnDrums]

🤩🎹

[@ElbowsUnique]

GALA

[@BarschZander]

You are so cute and entertaining. You are the first to do something like that. I think so. You are such a holy thing. Thank you very much.

[@barryoverstreet4876]

Hey guys! So, im guessin' nobody mentions interrupting in connection with your playing together..... they better NOT! Groovin' as ever.... not sure about that piano sound, though! 😂

[@SteveCrozier]

What the hell is that beautiful dual piano??

[@keyboardtek]

Stella By Starlight chords?

[@unintendedinfo2239]

Jesus fucking christ please record an album of a compilation of your jams over the years, you guys with w tasty drummer would be fantastic

[@lorddoom9855]

STELLLLLLLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA by starlight

[@AndreasDelleske]

To the top you go!

[@kellmerWF52]

He sat at the bench?

[@federicomelo1853]

This seems like the (lost) jazzy episode of Statler and Waldorf.

[@MrFedemoral]

you are better duo than batman and robin

[@sanferrera]

Can anyone please tell me the name of the song they played in the intro?

[@AndreasDelleske]

Stella by Starlight

[@sanferrera]

@@AndreasDelleske Thank you, Andreas.

[@le_jaivan]

Video starts at 9:25

[@caidencollins7696]

who was the saxophonist they were talking about?

[@DovidM]

Lou Donaldson.

[@jordanjacques8463]

Those Stella by starlight solos were so good

[@MarkEisenman]

Question...in bar 14.... do you guys ever play (G7 C7) to Aø7 or (G7 C7-Bbo) to Aø7 or (G/B Bbºmajor seventh) to Aø7 or (Bø7 Bbo) to Aø7

[@lisovyk]

Frankly speaking, the BboMaj7 and Bbo are just rootles A7alt

[@lisovyk]

G/B is also not something to play when you have a bassist. in solo sounds nice though!

[@MarkEisenman]

But that (or something like that) is what bass players that I play with, play. (G7-C7)...or a variation (Bø7 - Bbdim) definitely NOT (Eø7-A7).... The former (G7-C7)...or a variation (Bø7 - Bbdim)--- root motion is so much more elegant than the latter (E-A) in my opinion. Just try it against the melody.

[@Apriluser]

Ah. You forgot the greatest hymn tradition…the English/Anglican tradition! “Brightest and Best”, “How Shall I Sing that Majesty”, “JERUSALEM” (hymn tune), etc. So many of these hymns are already rich in harmonic movement and would be a fun challenge to take in other directoons harmonically.

[@ShoelaceWarHawk]

Fux (usually spelled Fuchs today) rhymes with Books, but with the ch-sound in Bach (called ach-Laut)

[@ValirAmaril]

in the case of 'fuchs' the 'ch' is actually a 'k' sound, same for fux

[@tetraqartet6798]

Glad the original Stella Bdim.starting chord was mentioned, suddenly my mind went back to what Barry Harris was teaching us, recalling his workshops in Rome some years ago❤

[@skoto8219]

@@ValirAmarilyep, because the ch precedes an s. a distinctive feature of dutch (as in, what they speak in the netherlands lol I’m not confusing it with deutsch) is that they *don’t* do this, even at the beginnings of words. So the first two sounds in “school” are a regular s and an ach-Laut. I imagine that this is how “sch-“ words were originally pronounced in German and English too, and only the Dutch preserved the original pronunciation.

[@rmcphedr]

For a moment i thought that was Luka Doncic shredding

[@impeter3719]

I was thinking, what the heck is Adam drunk, they I realized I was listening at 0.75 speed

[@nilkilnilkil]

Sometimes you shouldn't bother with the theme tune me thinks ...

[@le_jaivan]

So... How did Bill Evans practice harmony?

[@MarkTheStudiousOne]

Nice to see Peter making strides in his non-interruption. Still a way to go but hey