Bill Evans (1929–1980) is one of the most influential jazz pianists of all time.
A new DVD bio, “Bill Evans: Time Remembered/Life and Music of Bill Evans,” presents an overview of his life and contribution to music.
There are remembrances from family members, friends, and fellow musicians who knew him, as well as from some who came afterward. The DVD is filled with excerpts of his recordings and television performances.
Director Bruce Spiegel spent eight years tracking down all the people with memories of Evans. It’s a good thing he did, because a number of them (such as Billy Taylor, Paul Motian, Jim Hall, Bobby Brookmeyer, and Orrin Keepnews) have since passed away.
Evans was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, and started playing piano when he was 6 years old. His main interest was initially classical music, primarily Russian. When he was about 13, he discovered jazz and became obsessed with the music.
He continued his music studies at Southeastern Louisiana College, where his older brother (with whom he was close) joined him as a student. After serving in the Army, Evans lived in New York and performed with various musicians in the area. Jazz guitarist Mundell Lowe called producer Orrin Keepnews at Riverside Records and played a piece of Evans’s over the telephone. It was enough to convince the producer to sign up the unknown musician.
