Monika Lang Trio – A Tribute to Bill Evans (2015)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 00:57:09 minutes | 622 MB | Genre: Jazz
Studio Master, Official Digital Download – Source: Q0buz | @ Gramola Records
Recorded: December 6-8, 2013 at Wavegarden Studio, Mitterretzbach, Lower Austria
Already at the end of the fifties the great Jazz pianist Bill Evans (1929 – 1980) was seen as “one of the most important pianists in today’s music scene.” It comes as no surprise at all that soon even Miles Davis appreciated his “sense of harmony and his lyricism”. It was also quite unusual and controversial that Davis accepted him as the only white musician in his early sextet. After that, Evans, together with his piano trio, generally found his innermost and equally indicatory own form of expression. The result of this musical dialogue were style-forming concerts and recordings, based on the “use of individually coloured chord voicings”, an “individual rhythm with a sort of subliminal, barely noticeable Swing”, distinct dynamics, a nuanced touch and the subtle use of many stylistic devices from Jazz to classical music. Required qualification for this was, of course, a classical pianist training, but also a sort of linear vocal melody line that frequently orientated itself towards film music and the great composers of the “American Songbook”. In that way, Bill Evans came to be one of the most influential pianists of modern Jazz in the studios and especially on concert stages. Evans – insecure and in bad health all his life – was a drug addict and finally died of the many resulting afflictions and diseases. Added to that, furthermore came tragedies in his entourage – the consequences were depression and increased drug use.
Giving musical honour to Evans, as also did John McLaughlin and Pat Metheny, was by no means a rarity but much more of a special challenge. To face this challenge and also live up to it needs a special sort of ability to combine technical mastering, experience and also emotion.