Manana Jakeli - Bill Evans - People

Album-Alone Again, 05-People...by Manana Jakeli.

[@SuperMelomanka]

Bill Evans forever... The great jazz- impressionist...

[@Portia...]

Thanks a lot!!

[@caponsacchi]

Warning: what you hear here sounds plenty accessible. So why is that only Bill could pull it off? Break it down and you have a song that's as much a nice "phrase" as a complete 32-bar pop song. But it's sufficiently captivating to catch Bill's attention (after all, Jule Styne wrote it), and he proceeds for almost 15 minutes with an improvisation that ranges from poignant, quiet meditation to bold and passionate declaration. Bill has always been exceedingly modest about his abilities as a solo pianist (no where will you hear a stride left-hand rhythm like Tatum's and Oscar's or a walking bass line like McKenna's). But he compensates by "internalizing" the meter and continually displacing the time through "anticipatory phrasing." What sounds like "rushing" to some musicians is Bill's version of creating tension through expectation and its postponement.. The structure is pretty straightforward--the alternation throughout between the home key of Bb and some contrasting key (Bb is such a familiar key, I don't need my pitch pipe; one of the "alternate" keys is Db, but best bring a pitch pipe to your next time playing of the recording). But key changes can be mere substitutes, or even "excuses," for a poorly written strong or for genuine invention on the part of the improviser. Bill uses them not so much as "devices" intended to hold the listener's attention (which is the case in most Broadway musicals after Rodgers and Hammerstein), but as opportunities for a different "perspective" on the tune and its possiblities. Regardless of key, Bill harmonizes the melody with thickly textured chordal voicings incorporating the upper extensions of each chord. He avoids stasis, creating instead a sense of continual motion through his anticipatory devices, such as "lunging" repeatedly into the a measure before it's "expected time has come." And his left hand is frequently an active player--not as a time-keeper--as is the case with stride piano--but as a bold, sometimes thunderous, counter-voice in the bass rregister (one almost wishes he had used the Royal Bosendorfer with its extra keys in the bass). Finally, and perhaps most importantly, is the Evans' touch. With his powerful shoulders and "huge" weighty hands (look for a picture that reveals the enormous thickness of his fingers) he plays "deeper" in the keys than any other pianist who comes to mind. (Many pianists glide lightly on the keys, part of the secret to their pyrotechnics.) Whether playing ppp or fff Bill Evans' touch and control enable him to "match up" the dynamics of the sound in the right hand with that in the left--an equinimity rarely heard in some players who were influenced by, and are frequently compared with, Bill. (Jarrett often positions himself--by standing up to play (!) or going through the gestations of a "performance artist"--so that only his righted-handed jabs at a single-noted melody are heard.) Even Bill's fast runs are characterized by evenness and a fullness of sound created by fingers that don't, for an instant, "cheat"--every note receives the same value. The combination of Bill's heavy hands and dead accurate fingers ensures that each depression of the keys is a perfect strike of the hammer, which in turn hits squarely all 3 strings essential to producing the fullness of sound that we hear. In fact, because of the soundness of his mechanics, a mere "touch" of the keys produces a fullness of expressive sound that other pianists foolishly and futilely seek to approximate through "pounding" the instrument. As a result, the listener remains unmoved, unconvinced that the sound comes from the emotional being, or very "soul," of the player. Apart from Bill's conceptual and interpretive genius, he was a physical-mechanical specimen perfectly matched with the complex mechanics of the piano. Whether Evans was born to play the piano, or the piano was engineered to be played only by a special match such as Bill--that's a question I can only ask.

[@laurieverchomin3570]

yes!

[@directline9545]

Little to none of this was improvised.

[@johnthompson478]

well there is the pedal that allows the hammer to strike two strings instead of three, its called the' soft" pedal by some and emphasises the piano in the name "pianoforte".

[@johnthompson478]

i tend to agree, this was contrived to a great extent and hence its consistent beauty of quality, not leaving much to chance. Improvisation is playing more with element of chance in your members.Though chance is never totally eliminated , premeditation can render it less inclusive.

[@jofinsky8400]

Good points about Evans' mechanical execution and timing. There is also a beauifully complex harmonic genius that animates his playing. Inner voices add color and movement like a Bach invention. Modal influence and upper chord extensions (as you mention) add to the overall effect.

[@bobke114]

This is beyond words...

[@paulh9277]

Extraordinary depth..........as always!!

[@michaelcosta9069]

The Chopin of jazz

[@donaldscherzi169]

How can it be possible to play so well. God's gift.

[@kenmannes2612]

wonderful interpretations of a very pretty song. His left hand adds so much texture and drama.

[@lazlotooth8931]

Jadubar, that would be Bb. This rendition is soooo beautiful! God Bless Bill Evans!

[@Waschbaernie]

People (Bill Evans) Arrangement by Maurizio Marrani in Solo in Oslo...Amazing... :-)

[@jeanfrancoispary3629]

Totally hypnotic and fascinating rendition.

[@Jadubar]

Can anyone please tell me what key this songs begins in AND what key it finishes in?

[@simahalpern]

And he starts and finish at the same key... After playing around the various modulations.

[@eleanorjones2773]

I love his music.

[@TouchNGo99]

This will always be the saddest song i know

[@Portia...]

OMG!!!

[@Portia...]

❣️❣️❣️

[@simahalpern]

Bill Evans is a lover for the theme and the piano...

[@mercedesparteli7365]

Amo esta música, vale la pena escucharla una y otra vez,alza el espíritu!

[@hustlerwhite6918]

would sound better with the full version of photo dvd maker professional

[@Flamencanta]

hahahah

[@tessamurray1725]

this guy is really annoying the way he looks down all the time

[@Portia...]

It's very sad that this is the only thing you have to say about this thrilling music and this wonderful "guy"

[@jond532]

it's cool af

[@maisqpoesia9999lcg]

Fascinating!!!!!