nice intro from steve allen. looks to be an unusually thoughful jazz documentary. too often modern jazz docs are too scattershot in their approach - 'talking heads' being used merely to deliver fairly obvious factual snippets or unsubstantiated opinions, with short bits of music that aren't given time to breathe amongst the commentary. no such compromises here. it's willing to be slow and to give time for actual thought about jazz as a serious artform.
Such a great point about jazz documentaries, postmeback. I'm very interested in the life of Bill Evans, but I haven't found a biography for him that is satisfactory. I fear that as his contemporaries grow old we may never get a full and complete picture of the man and the musical giant. Thanks for the great comment.
Miles Davis chose Evan's for his musical expertise and his vision on where jazz was to go. It wasn't about race in that band it was about the music. Real musicians realize this and Miles and Evans were real musicians. Yes, and while Art Tatum was playing unbelievable things, he didn't stretch music as Mile's group had, he did lay the foundations for where jazz was to go, but Miles was teh real inovator in mainstream jazz in the 50's and 60's.
gave it confidence to become a significant contemporary musical force. african culture? the whole Davis sextet defended Evans from fans branding him the "white pianist" in a dominantly black band.
let's not forget.. its not about a racial theme on Evans mentality of life and music. you should know that Miles Davis sought the importance of Evans's thoughts of music and jazz. he did this because Davis wanted jazz to be considered intellectually.
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Sorry man I don't remember Miles saying that.Miles just liked his style.I hate when guys go on about Jazz like they understand it.The only reason Jazz may not have been thought of as 'intellectual' was that the racist powers that be could not accept it.I love Bill Evans but musicians such as Art Tatum were playing unbelievable things while he was still in nappies.Shame that prick presenter couldn't demonstrate some Tatum instead.
Apples and oranges. Brubeck & Socrates have nothing to do with my point. You were being disrespectful of a musical genius and your critique was flat wrong: Evan's philosophical discussion of music was actually very nuanced and relevant to the overall goal of playing, creating, and experiencing music. Alot of what he said in reference to a "universal mind" falls nicely in line with many of the cornerstones of Eastern philosophy. You're were wrong. Now go along and stop being a bitter know-it-all.
What a stupid remark. Don't put down what you can't understand. If you listened harder, or perhaps read and learned more of what Evans said over the years, you'd realize that, as many others have already said- that he was one of the most articulate and intelligent musicians in all of jazz history.
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
If jazz has a philosophy, you have to talk about African culture's meeting with the West. Talking about Chopin and "universalizing" is this man's way of de-historicizing and re-historicizing/ abstracting to make it "proper". This is what I mean by rotten philosophy
Fair enough. Thank you for clarifying. I respectfully would disagree with your premise. I think Evan's intent was not to make it "proper," but rather, to genuinely describe this existential feeling that all listeners and creators have felt: this very real feeling that music comes from some kind of universal wellspring. Musicians of all stripes and colors have described this phenomenom, and one need look no further than Coltrane's own spiritual journey towards the end of his life as an example.
One last note: I agree with your overall premise that there are academics and some musicians who attempt to whitewash jazz and make it "proper." I just don't think Evans was doing this. That is an academic topic to be discussed amongst musicologists and historians. Evans was coming at it from a completely different and ultimately more spiritual place imho.
I have my differences with Steve Allen's interpretation of Errol Garner's influence. For example, Garner influenced Red Garland, the pianist in Miles Davis' quintet of the fifties. That style was a dominant style for quite a while after.
The song is the"Spartacus Love Theme." You can find that recording on the album "Conversations with Myself," which was released in 1963 by Verve Records.
thank you so much..i can't believe you knew that..isn't that kind of a random fact..either way..since you seem to know about it..was this recorded on any of his albums
Yes. It was on one of his overdubbed solo albums. I believe it was "Further Converations with Myself". Most Bill Evans fans have this album, ironically I don't even though I'm a big fan.
I met a man who was his roomate in college. He never once had to study for his music exams...he already had it in his head. A true genius. GOD touched him on the forhead....thank you Bill for all that you did.
He has bad teeh so what, leave the man alone. Look at all he accomplished in his life, look at what he has done for Jazz and all you care about is the man's teeth. That's like commenting on Jesus's dirty robes. Grow up man
This is a fantastic documentary. Steve Allen is the perfect person to host. However, Steve Allen's hair looks really silly...worse than Trump. Pulling down his hair over his head in a little curl is silly looking..much better to just put straight to side on top of head. Thanks for this excellent video.
I can watch anything with Bill Evans 100 times a day. I have nearly every recording and I've listened to them constantly for 25 years and never tire of them. Thank you for this video.
I cant believe Steve Allen is hosting this program and I can't also believe that steve is also a big fan of the great Bill evans. I haven't seen Allen for quite a long time. He's a famous TV personality and I'm also a fan of his piano playing. Its great that his hosting this very wonderful documentary!
Yes absolutely, I agree with all your comments here, guys. Very inspiring to see Bill in this footage. Its very rare that you see clips of Bill in this setting. I guessed this is the first and only documentary video of his. I'm not a pianist but his musicality has influence a lot of famous jazz cats of the past decades you would care to name. Thanks a lot!
Can anyone tell me what Allen plays at 3:32?
woozawozzle 2 years ago
nice intro from steve allen. looks to be an unusually thoughful jazz documentary. too often modern jazz docs are too scattershot in their approach - 'talking heads' being used merely to deliver fairly obvious factual snippets or unsubstantiated opinions, with short bits of music that aren't given time to breathe amongst the commentary. no such compromises here. it's willing to be slow and to give time for actual thought about jazz as a serious artform.
postmeback 2 years ago 10
Such a great point about jazz documentaries, postmeback. I'm very interested in the life of Bill Evans, but I haven't found a biography for him that is satisfactory. I fear that as his contemporaries grow old we may never get a full and complete picture of the man and the musical giant. Thanks for the great comment.
BoozehammerOfGalem 2 years ago 8
Nicely put! Really!
NYCBG 2 years ago
Agreed. It seems that modern documentries tend dramatize and sensationalize more than actually informing the viewers.
ShredST 2 years ago
More docs should have been made on the late great Bill Evans. He was one of the most talented and innovative jazz musicians that ever lived.
creolelady182 2 years ago 3
good book about him though
Bone666Dust 2 years ago
Dude - thanks so much for postijng this - it's a real gem boosting both my opinion of Allen (an uncelebrated genius of early TV) and Evans himself.
chasbown 3 years ago 5
thanks man , this is amazing !! thanks from argentina for this piece of knowledge
Hugonete 3 years ago 4
2:32 Shostakovich
IIIIdeadmanIIII 3 years ago
This is one of the best contributions I have seen on YouTube. Thanks for this gift!
ZackFishman 3 years ago 3
Genius
vontetzianos 3 years ago 2
its not pretentious phychobabble dude, if you listen to what hes saying is actually the opposite,
but i agree you should let music speak for itself
talking to much=your not confident in your music
spoot088 3 years ago
What a treasure. Thanks for posting.
BocaFriend 3 years ago 4
Miles Davis chose Evan's for his musical expertise and his vision on where jazz was to go. It wasn't about race in that band it was about the music. Real musicians realize this and Miles and Evans were real musicians. Yes, and while Art Tatum was playing unbelievable things, he didn't stretch music as Mile's group had, he did lay the foundations for where jazz was to go, but Miles was teh real inovator in mainstream jazz in the 50's and 60's.
ouch580 3 years ago
excellent, thanks
alexvdbroek 3 years ago
thx for this video
kmbackid 3 years ago
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Pretentious psychobabble, folks - let the music speak
slinkyoz 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Totally agree with you
ronpolla 3 years ago
anyone want to chat
why cant i see the video Ke
Dicen17 3 years ago
gave it confidence to become a significant contemporary musical force. african culture? the whole Davis sextet defended Evans from fans branding him the "white pianist" in a dominantly black band.
xclassicheadx 3 years ago
let's not forget.. its not about a racial theme on Evans mentality of life and music. you should know that Miles Davis sought the importance of Evans's thoughts of music and jazz. he did this because Davis wanted jazz to be considered intellectually.
xclassicheadx 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Sorry man I don't remember Miles saying that.Miles just liked his style.I hate when guys go on about Jazz like they understand it.The only reason Jazz may not have been thought of as 'intellectual' was that the racist powers that be could not accept it.I love Bill Evans but musicians such as Art Tatum were playing unbelievable things while he was still in nappies.Shame that prick presenter couldn't demonstrate some Tatum instead.
otnas01 3 years ago
yeah man
oscarpkaka 3 years ago
The music of Bach informs everything. All 12 notes.
Manmandudeman 3 years ago 2
Apples and oranges. Brubeck & Socrates have nothing to do with my point. You were being disrespectful of a musical genius and your critique was flat wrong: Evan's philosophical discussion of music was actually very nuanced and relevant to the overall goal of playing, creating, and experiencing music. Alot of what he said in reference to a "universal mind" falls nicely in line with many of the cornerstones of Eastern philosophy. You're were wrong. Now go along and stop being a bitter know-it-all.
kelitupu 3 years ago 6
This has been flagged as spam show
yaddayadda great musician, lousy philosopher, shut up and play
gabsylv 3 years ago
What a stupid remark. Don't put down what you can't understand. If you listened harder, or perhaps read and learned more of what Evans said over the years, you'd realize that, as many others have already said- that he was one of the most articulate and intelligent musicians in all of jazz history.
jaymusic143 3 years ago 4
Thanks for sharing your idiocy gabsylv. I suppose you think the Dalai Llama is full of crap too. Good stuff, moron.
kelitupu 3 years ago
Hmhm, and Dave Brubeck is Socrates
gabsylv 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
If jazz has a philosophy, you have to talk about African culture's meeting with the West. Talking about Chopin and "universalizing" is this man's way of de-historicizing and re-historicizing/ abstracting to make it "proper". This is what I mean by rotten philosophy
gabsylv 3 years ago
Fair enough. Thank you for clarifying. I respectfully would disagree with your premise. I think Evan's intent was not to make it "proper," but rather, to genuinely describe this existential feeling that all listeners and creators have felt: this very real feeling that music comes from some kind of universal wellspring. Musicians of all stripes and colors have described this phenomenom, and one need look no further than Coltrane's own spiritual journey towards the end of his life as an example.
kelitupu 3 years ago 3
One last note: I agree with your overall premise that there are academics and some musicians who attempt to whitewash jazz and make it "proper." I just don't think Evans was doing this. That is an academic topic to be discussed amongst musicologists and historians. Evans was coming at it from a completely different and ultimately more spiritual place imho.
kelitupu 3 years ago 3
some of the best musos still take drugs.
thanks for posting these.
DR9.
djrbfm 3 years ago
Thank you so much for posting this.
menilmontant 3 years ago
I have my differences with Steve Allen's interpretation of Errol Garner's influence. For example, Garner influenced Red Garland, the pianist in Miles Davis' quintet of the fifties. That style was a dominant style for quite a while after.
somnamblus 3 years ago
To the uploader - I love you!
SalQrazy 3 years ago 2
this is part of what makes youtube such a great vehicle for learning. As a Bill Evans fan, I am blown away by this.
amd77j 3 years ago 2
does anyone know the title of the piece that is playing durring the intro?
eyebonez13 3 years ago
It's the Love Theme from Spartacus, on "Conversations with Myself."
RenardApprivoise 3 years ago
WOW --this is Great!!
Slammo 3 years ago
^ never learnt to drive a car!
hobgoblin5921 3 years ago
totally revealing and insightful to hear a genuine creative genius articulate.paul klee and bill evans would have hit it off just like that.
michaelransom 3 years ago
Nice piano hands. Good texture and feel. Musically relatable. Cymatics is the underlying vibration of the matrix.
Nahulanham 3 years ago
Have watched all 5. I like how he says he didnt truly express himself until he was 28. gives me a few more years ahahha
tdkemi- can you fix the synchronization in the other clips.
This is genious! I love it.
lollieszone 3 years ago
simply amazing
wefandango 4 years ago 2
very interesting, thanx for posting!
xAmandine 4 years ago 2
Never mind, I just figured it out. It's called "love theme from 'Spartacus'" It's an overdub track, totally awesome!
livearmenian 4 years ago
cool thanks! i instantly liked the piece as soon as the intro played as well
savari5000 3 years ago
If you like that, check out 'Conversations with myself' - that's the album it's from.
seamusohanrahan 3 years ago
Does anybody know what is he playing right at the beginning? it's amazing!
livearmenian 4 years ago
Kids.
Don't do drugs.
sieteocho 4 years ago
Adults... you either!
NaylahGreen 3 years ago 2
are you kidding? some of the best musicians took drugs.
dewitback 3 years ago 4
It's like...concentrated genius. It will burn skin on contact.
raha50 4 years ago 4
furigana o arigato gozaimasu! Nihon wa Bill Evans o aishte imasu!! Ja ne.
ColoradoBansuri 4 years ago
Another of the eleg GIANTS
mbannister1 4 years ago
The song is the"Spartacus Love Theme." You can find that recording on the album "Conversations with Myself," which was released in 1963 by Verve Records.
theseeingseat 4 years ago
will someone please tell me what song is playing in the background..in the beginning..so beautiful..where can i find it?!
wtmb430 4 years ago
Love theme from the film Spartacus- 1963
MaximusPookie 4 years ago
thank you so much..i can't believe you knew that..isn't that kind of a random fact..either way..since you seem to know about it..was this recorded on any of his albums
wtmb430 4 years ago
Yes. It was on one of his overdubbed solo albums. I believe it was "Further Converations with Myself". Most Bill Evans fans have this album, ironically I don't even though I'm a big fan.
MaximusPookie 4 years ago
It's from the first solo album
ChrisCovais 4 years ago
yeah, was on here , been pulled for some TOS BS.
irish89055 4 years ago
what a genious mind he will never be forgotten
stefantavit 4 years ago 2
This is priceless!!!!!!!!Thanks! This belongs in the Smithsonian.
paulrichardschuster 4 years ago 2
thanks a million for posting these!!
bill evans is a genius, hopefully he'll never be forgotten
speakvisual 4 years ago
does anyone know where can I find the rest of this interview? thanks.
poncedeli 4 years ago
Amazon has it.
AppleTeeVee 4 years ago
I met a man who was his roomate in college. He never once had to study for his music exams...he already had it in his head. A true genius. GOD touched him on the forhead....thank you Bill for all that you did.
guitarsla 4 years ago
Until now, I hadn't realized how much Bill Evans looks like George McFly.
squandermania 4 years ago
Shit, you're right. Crispin Glover would be the ideal guy to play him in a biographical movie
mrpossibilities 4 years ago
Bill Evans is to jazz what shakespeare is to literature!!
bohantos 4 years ago 2
i agree that very much.
mikedavis0923 4 years ago 2
that´s great! Love Bill Evans
oknovparis 4 years ago
hay subtitulos en castellano????
luchobae 4 years ago
existe una traduccion al castellano?????!
luchobae 4 years ago
wow, i can't believe such a video exists.
i mean, WOW!
kmost00 4 years ago
thank you thank you thank you thank you 4 posting this
culturekiller 4 years ago
hey "yobnez"...I agree with ya..brilliant comment by the way! Yup - Steve Allen is the man to commentary the commentary...
yobnez 4 years ago
It's funny how you listen to these guys for years and have never heard them talk.
b1970b 4 years ago
what the fuck has his hair got to do with it?
get a life wil ya ??!!
yobnez 4 years ago
Amazing. Thanks for putting this up. I didn't know this existed.
b1970b 4 years ago
A million thanks, tdkmi, for this great series. You've enriched us all.
jengelbach 4 years ago
a gem of a documentary
obldst 4 years ago
Comment removed
karpopper 5 years ago
He has bad teeh so what, leave the man alone. Look at all he accomplished in his life, look at what he has done for Jazz and all you care about is the man's teeth. That's like commenting on Jesus's dirty robes. Grow up man
WartsHogNYC 4 years ago 8
This is a fantastic documentary. Steve Allen is the perfect person to host. However, Steve Allen's hair looks really silly...worse than Trump. Pulling down his hair over his head in a little curl is silly looking..much better to just put straight to side on top of head. Thanks for this excellent video.
gailalong 5 years ago
Thank you for this.
wsphansam 5 years ago
I can watch anything with Bill Evans 100 times a day. I have nearly every recording and I've listened to them constantly for 25 years and never tire of them. Thank you for this video.
semana2 5 years ago
I cant believe Steve Allen is hosting this program and I can't also believe that steve is also a big fan of the great Bill evans. I haven't seen Allen for quite a long time. He's a famous TV personality and I'm also a fan of his piano playing. Its great that his hosting this very wonderful documentary!
farley528 5 years ago
Yes absolutely, I agree with all your comments here, guys. Very inspiring to see Bill in this footage. Its very rare that you see clips of Bill in this setting. I guessed this is the first and only documentary video of his. I'm not a pianist but his musicality has influence a lot of famous jazz cats of the past decades you would care to name. Thanks a lot!
farley528 5 years ago
its great to hear him talk, thank you for this!
scottbos68 5 years ago
Bill Evans... Pure Genius!
GHOST4438 5 years ago