Evans, Bill

Evans, Bill

 orig. William John Evans

(born Aug. 16, 1929, Plainfield, N.J., U.S.—died Sept. 15, 1980, New York, N.Y.) U.S. pianist and composer, one of the most influential musicians in modern jazz. Evans was classically trained and influenced by pianists Bud Powell, Horace Silver, and Lennie Tristano. His subtle harmonies and lyrical melodic sensitivity were particularly well suited to modal improvisation, demonstrated on the landmark Miles Davis recording Kind of Blue (1959). As leader of his own trio, Evans established extraordinary communication with his fellow musicians, creating music of rare depth and introspection. His best-known composition is “Waltz for Debby.”

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Evans, (William John) Bill (1929–80) jazz musician; born in Plainfield, N.J. He was a classically-trained pianist whose delicate, introspective style established him as one of the few major white innovators in jazz history. Beginning in 1955, he played with George Russell, Charles Mingus and Miles Davis, collaborating on the latter's historic 1959 recording "Kind of Blue." From 1961 until his death, he led a succession of highly interactive trios.