CeeOhBee
CeeOhBee
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Bill and Marian and Toots

Posted almost 4 years ago
God, I love having a little free time to be quiet and listen to just one of my all time favorite performers, Bill Evans. I discovered him when I was a child. Trying to understand jazz, I'd turn to this great show on NPR called Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz. Do you know that show, anyone? Each show, Marian would have these fabulous performers to come in and improvise and play on their own, then with her, then she would play for them, and they'd discuss a myriad of things in between music. Man, I loves me some Marian. That show was a hell of an education for me. I learned more from her and her guests in one hour than I can describe. What an articulate lady, such talent, and her guests were always wonderful. Some of these shows are on CD. I highly recommend them for people who are trying to understand jazz, or even for those who already do.Well, I'll tell ya what, kids. I'm going to give you some tracks below. The first is a snippet of conversation between Bill and Marian on her show, talking about all sorts of things, mainly how to modulate to wild keys from places completely opposite of their origins. In this snippet, they allude to Toots Thielemans, (you knew I'd have to get some harmonica in here somewhere) with whom Bill recorded this great tune just before the show. The tune is one of my all time faves, "This is All I Ask". Bill and Toots recorded this on an album entitled "Affinity." So to review, I'll include the Bill/Marian short snippet of conversation, the recording of their duet, and then the Bill/Toots. ENJOY!P.S. This is such a tease, I know, because once you hear one bit of conversation, you'll want more. I can't refuse you, gentle MOGGERS if you ask all nice like.
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Comments (14)

  1. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says Bill and Marian's go at This Is All I Ask ~7c3rT0JKaw6.mp3~
    Permalink posted 04/19/2008
  2. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says and now, Bill and Toots take you there . . . mmmmmmmm. . . ~DFrfOTtjHDV.mp3~
    Permalink posted 04/19/2008
  3. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says Bonus track. . . ok, I just had to This is from Bill and Toots again, and, in my humble opinion, is possibly the best track on the album. Toots' tone is sexy, smooth, subtle and loving. Bill's piano playing is crystalline, even in his most staccato moments. The little bell-like tones on the top, mixed with the strong pillows of chords beneath just take my absolute, ever-lovin' breath away. I can't stop doin' it, friends . . . "I Do It For Your Love." ~JVt6R72qVzy.mp3~
    Permalink posted 04/19/2008
  4. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says Bonus track. . . ok, I just had to This is from Bill and Toots again, and, in my humble opinion, is possibly the best track on the album. Toots' tone is sexy, smooth, subtle and loving. Bill's piano playing is crystalline, even in his most staccato moments. The little bell-like tones on the top, mixed with the strong pillows of chords beneath just take my absolute, ever-lovin' breath away. I can't stop doin' it, friends . . . "I Do It For Your Love." ~JVt6R72qVzy.mp3~
    Permalink posted 04/19/2008
  5. Spike
    Spike says When Bill Evans plays his solo in "I Do It for Your Love," he navigates the chord changes while creating a lyrical melody full of surprises but staying true to an overall shape. To do this he has to know intuitively so much about his music, and that allows him to not have to think during it. Each phrase fits well with the phase before it and with the phrase after it. It's like skiing over a series of moguls. The overall melody has to conform harmonically to a series of different accompanying chords, each chord forbidding different possible melody notes as being too dissonant. Evans grasp of rhythm as well is amazing. Not only does he zoom through the gauntlet without mishap, he uses its strict rules to create a work of art.
    Permalink posted 04/19/2008
  6. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says Well said, Spike. He is wonderful, huh? I really like your mogul skiing idea. There's another track or two, plus conversation about that very thing you mention regarding rhythm. That interview is so wonderful. He is so intelligent and articulate. At one point, he's talking to Marian while playing "Days of Wine and Roses," telling her what key comes next. In another track he's taking these wild rhythmic and metric risks and Marian is completely coughing and out of breath. It's funny when she admits that he has overtaken her and she begs him to try it again and explain what he's doing. He does so. Brilliantly. But, she gets her moment too when he asks her to play for him. They have a very loving moment, there.
    Permalink posted 04/19/2008
  7. Dzendvokh
    Dzendvokh says You are so right about that show.... delicious and fun... would love to hear more. Beautiful..... that moment just before and after the harmonica enters ... and at the very end when it fades and then returns ever so briefly for a quick swim again... Perfect Thankyou so much for sharing this.
    Permalink posted 04/19/2008
  8. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says I'm so glad you like it, Dzen. Here's "Days of Wine and Roses" for you. Bill talks a little here to tell her which keys to go to. As you know, they are totally improvising together. It's gorgeous and lush. ~ljvNfIFaQLo.mp3~
    Permalink posted 04/19/2008
  9. I am
    I am says Marian is so easy going. Sometime I feel she is a bit pretentious, but I come back week after week for more. I got a question for ya. In the broad genre of jazz, where do your loyalties lie? *Not only does he zoom through the gauntlet without mishap, he uses its strict rules to create a work of art.* If nothing else Spike, that has to be the most articulate way of looking at Evans. Well said.
    Permalink posted 04/19/2008
  10. Oatmeal
    Oatmeal says This is very interesting, thanks.
    Permalink posted 04/19/2008
  11. Mike the Knife
    Mike the Knife says Cerebral, yet sweet and sonorous and swinging. What a trioka of talent! (I could listen to Toots for hours - and Evans' "Waltz for Debby" is like a hymn to me.)
    Permalink posted 04/20/2008
  12. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says Hmm, I wrote a longer response to you 'I am', but either I was a little to happy on wine last night to remember to press the button, or the MOG page ate it. In any case, it boiled down to this. I think I'm still discovering jazz and it's going to take me a lifetime to have "loyalties". But, ick. "Loyalties"? Creepy word, don't you think? I find that my tastes mature and become more discerning as I age (as I am sure yours do too), just as much as my tastes in food, wine, literature, film and other things change and grow. So, a word like "loyalty" makes me cringe. It sounds too much like politics, and I'm no politician. I'm just a musician who loves and respects music and other musicians. I will admit to a flavor of the month from time to time, though. See above tracks for one of them.
    Permalink posted 04/20/2008
  13. Bartleby
    Bartleby says Ho, happy day!!! I'm so glad that you've come back to regal us with such trickling of notes that I'm all drenched in admiration for Bill and Toots. I've always enjoyed listening to intelligent banter especially when the speakers are both masters in their trade. I'm not familiar enough with that radio program but I like what I heard. The proper intelligent conversations are the ones which include everyone including the listeners. It is all but pretentious. Again, thank you ever so much for brightening up my ears ;) (Especially for you, here's Toots telling us how his electric bills ache)
    Permalink posted 04/22/2008
  14. CeeOhBee
    CeeOhBee says Oh. My. God. HAHAHAHAHA!!!! That's fantastic!!! I guffawed out loud and woke my dog. THANK YOU! (Incidentally, I was completely frightened by that turkey baster for a second there. Had to cross my knees and ankles.)
    Permalink posted 04/22/2008

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