History Music / BillEvans

* WithLyrics: The version of "Waltz for Debby" recorded for ''The Music/TonyBennett[=/=]Bill Evans Album'' in 1975 featured a set of lyrics penned by jazz critic and historian Gene Lees, alluding to its origin as a piece Evans wrote in honor of his young niece Debby in TheFifties.

* WithLyrics: "Waltz for Debby" had lyrics added by jazz critic Gene Lees for its appearance on ''The Music/TonyBennett[=/=]Bill Evans Album'' in 1975.

* WithLyrics: "Waltz for Debby" had lyrics added by jazz critic Gene Lees for its appearance on ''The Tony Bennett[=/=]Bill Evans Album'' in 1975.

* TokenMinority: Inverted. During his tenure with Miles Davis, Evans was initially the only white member in the band. This could get awkward during gigs in front of predominantly black audiences as he received little or no applause for his solos in comparison to the others.

* BadassBeard: Grew one around the time of his 1970s comeback.

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* TokenMinority: Inverted. During his tenure with Miles Davis, Evans was initially the only white member in the band. This could get awkward during gigs in front of predominantly black audiences as he received little or no applause for his solos in comparison to the others.

* TokenMinority: During his tenure with Miles Davis, Evans was initially the only white member in the band. This could get awkward during gigs in front of predominantly black audiences as he received little or no applause for his solos in comparison to the others.

Bill Evans (1929 - 1980) was a jazz pianist and composer, considered to be one of the greatest and most influential of all time. He is best known for his work with Music/MilesDavis in the development of Modal Jazz and later in his own trios which redefined the role of a jazz rhythm section. He was classically trained and it shows: his playing incorporated contrapuntal and textural techniques from the classical piano repertoire and although he could play hard if he wanted to, his famous group recordings tend to feature collective interplay rather than soloing against a rhythm section.

* ShortLivedBigImpact: While Evans himself had a career spanning 25 years, his most famous trio ended after 2 when bassist Scott La Faro died in a car crash. This trio was one of the most acclaimed ever and is known for promoting interplay between the band members instead of using the drums and bass simply for accompaniment.

* LighterAndSofter: In 1963 Evans' producers forced him to record ''Bill Evans Plays the Theme from The V.I.P.s and Other Great Songs''. It was an ill-conceived attempt to broaden his audience with renditions of TV and movie themes, plus [[CoverVersion Cover Versions]] of recent hits, in GenreMotif/EasyListening style, with an orchestra and chorus and almost no jazz improvisation. After it flopped it was [[CanonDiscontinuity quickly forgotten by everyone involved]].

Bill Evans (1929 - 1980) was an influential jazz pianist, considered to be one of the greatest of all time. He is best known for his work with MilesDavis in the development of Modal Jazz and later in his own trios which redefined the role of a jazz rhythm section. He was classically trained and it shows: his playing incorporated contrapuntal and textural techniques from the classical piano repertoire and although he could play hard if he wanted to, his famous group recordings tend to feature collective interplay rather than soloing against a rhythm section. Probably his most famous composition is jazz-waltz [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin "Waltz for Debby"]].

!!Provides examples of:

Bill Evans (1929 - 1980) was an influential jazz pianist, considered to be one of the greatest of all time. He is best known for his work with MilesDavis in the development of Modal Jazz and later in his own trios which redefined the role of a jazz rhythm section. He was classically trained and it shows: his playing was very soft, melodic and emotional in contrast to the more predominant hard-edged rhythmic playing style of pianists of the time. Probably his most famous composition is jazz-waltz [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin "Waltz for Debby"]].

* LighterAndSofter: In 1963 Evans' producers forced him to record ''Bill Evans Plays the Theme from The V.I.P.s and Other Great Songs'' an ill-conceived attempt to broaden his audience by recording an album of TV and movie themes, plus [[CoverVersion Cover Versions]] of recent hits, in GenreMotif/EasyListening style, with an orchestra and chorus and almost no jazz improvisation. After it flopped it was [[CanonDiscontinuity quickly forgotten by everyone involved]].

* LighterAndSofter: 1963's ''Bill Evans Plays the Theme from The V.I.P.s and Other Great Songs'' was an ill-conceived attempt to broaden his audience by recording an album of TV and movie themes, plus [[CoverVersion Cover Versions]] of recent hits, in GenreMotif/EasyListening style, with an orchestra and chorus and almost no jazz improvisation. Evans was forced to the do the album by his producers. After it flopped it was [[CanonDiscontinuity quickly forgotten by everyone involved]].

* LighterAndSofter: 1963's ''Bill Evans Plays the Theme from The V.I.P.s and Other Great Songs'' was an ill-conceived attempt to broaden his audience by recording an album of TV and movie themes, plus [[CoverVersion Cover Versions]] of recent hits in Easy Listening Pop style, with an orchestra and chorus and almost no jazz improvisation. Evans was forced to the do the album by his producers. After it flopped it was [[CanonDiscontinuity quickly forgotten by everyone involved]].

* TokenMinority: During his tenure with Miles Davis, Evans was initially the only white member in the band. This could get awkward during gigs in front of predominantly black audiences as he received little or no applause for his solos in comparison to the others.

* TearJerker: His music is so beautifully emotional it can bring tears to your eyes. Special mention to "I Loves You, Porgy," and "My Foolish Heart," though pretty much any of the ballads qualify.

* TheWoobie: He lost a lot of people close to him. After La Faro's death at 25, it is believed Evans never quite got over it fully. His brother and girlfriend later both committed suicide within a year of each other.

* BadassBeard: Grew one around the time of 1970s comeback.

Bill Evans (1929 - 1980) was an influential jazz pianist, considered to be one of the greatest of all time. He is best known for his work with Miles Davis in the development of Modal Jazz and later in his own trios which redefined the role of a jazz rhythm section. He was classically trained and it shows: his playing was very soft, melodic and emotional in contrast to the more predominant hard-edged rhythmic playing style of pianists of the time. Probably his most famous composition is jazz-waltz [[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin "Waltz for Debby"]].

Bill Evans (1929 - 1980) was an influential jazz pianist, considered to be one of the greatest of all time. He is best known for his work with Miles Davis in the development of Modal Jazz and later in his own trios which redefined the role of a jazz rhythm section. He was classically trained and it shows: his playing was very soft, melodic and emotional in contrast to the more predominant hard-edged rhythmic playing style of pianists of the time. Probably his most famous composition is jazz-waltz "Waltz for Debby".

* ShortLivedBigImpact: While Evans himself had a career spanning 25 years, his most famous trio ended after 2 when bassist Scott LaFaro died in a car crash. This trio was one of the most acclaimed ever and is known for promoting interplay between the band members instead of using the drums and bass simply for accompaniment.

* TheWoobie: He lost a lot of people close to him. After LaFaro's death at 25, it is believed Evans never quite got over it fully. His brother and girlfriend later both committed suicide within a year of each other.

Bill Evans (1929 - 1980) was an influential jazz pianist, considered to be one of the greatest of all time. He is best known for his work with Miles Davis in the development of Modal Jazz and later in his own trios which redefined the role of a jazz rhythm section. He was classically trained and it shows: his playing was very soft, melodic and emotional in contrast to the more predominant hard-edged rhythmic playing style of pianists of the time.