September 15th and Peace Piece
Metheny and Mays Moving Tribute to Bill Evans
This “unspeakably beautiful” song played with such tenderness and longing was created as a tribute to Bill Evans, one of the greatest jazz pianist/composers ever, who died 43 years ago today. He played with Miles Davis and Chet Baker before creating his own trio. He greatly influenced the work of many jazz musicians who came after him and who are creating music today.
Bill had this quiet fire that I loved on piano. The way he approached it, the sound he got was like crystal notes or sparkling water cascading down from some clear waterfall. I had to change the way the band sounded again for Bill’s style by playing different tunes, softer ones at first. -Miles Davis
Bill Evans is seen as the main reformer of the harmonic language of jazz piano. Evans’s harmonic language was influenced by impressionist composers such as Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel.
Bach was another huge influence on his music and the way he played. Perhaps it’s these classical influences on his jazzwork and improvisions that move me so much. Below is Evans “Peace Piece” is “an unrehearsed modal composition . . . hailed as one of the most beautiful and evocative solo piano improvisations ever recorded.”
A sweet mellow way to start the weekend. Hope yours is filled with peace and beauty.