Search - Bill Evans, Jean-Yves Thibaudet :: Conversations with Bill Evans

At Last a Fitting Tribute to Bill Evans

Kenneth L Block | 02/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Paul Motian ("Bill Evans") and John McLaughlin ("Time Remembered") offered tributes to Bill Evans while avoiding pernicious comparisons by eshewing pianists. Thibaudet does the reverse in this solo piano recording.While this is not Evans, it is imbued by Evans' spirit. Evans often brought Debussy and Ravel to jazz. Now Thibaudet brings jazz to Debussy and Ravel in these pieces associated with Evans. Most notable are "Turn out the Stars" and "Here's That Rainy Day." Transcriptions are largely by Jed Distler, and they couldn't have been done better."

Thibaudet soars with the most classical of all Jazz pianists

Kenneth L Block | 02/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Bill Evans was the most classical of jazz pianists. He had years of classical training before going into jazz and working with Miles Davis, Stan Getz etc etc. His jazz originals always showed a melding of Romantic, Late Romantic and Impressionist classical influences. His music is not unlike Gershwin. He even wrote a jazz 12 tone piece!Jean Yves Thibaudet takes on a dozen or so Bill Evans originals and outplays the composer! Whereas Bill Evans tended to make the lines angular, Thibaudet makes them soaring and arching. For people who love jazz and people who love classical music, this CD is the ideal combination of both. Spectacularly well recorded, a demonstration quality CD. (Amazon - you could sell more of these if this were double-listed in the Jazz section under Bill Evans.)One of the best jazz (or classical) CD's of the year!"

Unbelievable authenticity and feeling

Ronald Weel | Watertown, WI | 10/02/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Conversations with Bill Evans", presents classically trained French pianist Thibaudet in a virtually stunning performance of jazz great Bill Evans' standards. The subtle touches and nuances Evans brought to the piano are carefully rendered in Thibaudet's interpretations. Whether you closely listen to the CD, or enjoy it as a backdrop to a quiet evening with a glass or two of Merlot, this disc will let you gain an appreciation of the fine art of jazz piano."