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'''Bill Evans''' was an American [[jazz]] pianist who did much to establish the vocabulary of modern jazz [[piano]].

'''Bill Evans''' was an American [[jazz]] pianist who did much to establish the vocabulary of modern jazz [[piano]].

By his own admission, as a teenager "I couldn't play My Country Tis Of Thee without the notes".

By his own admission, as a teenager "I couldn't play 'My Country 'Tis Of Thee' without the notes".

However, he eventually learnt to improvise, and was not content to stop after he had achieved a basic level of competence - drawing inspiration from European composers such as [[Chopin]] and [[Debussy]], as well as from contemporary jazz pianists such as [[Horace Silver]] and [[Nat King Cole]], he steadily established a style that was sufficiently distinctive and beautiful to attract the attention of [[Miles Davis]].

However, he eventually learnt to improvise, and was not content to stop after he had achieved a basic level of competence - drawing inspiration from European composers such as [[Chopin]] and [[Debussy]], as well as from contemporary jazz pianists such as [[Horace Silver]] and [[Nat King Cole]], he steadily established a style that was sufficiently distinctive and beautiful to attract the attention of [[Miles Davis]].

A brief period with the Davis band culminated with the recording of [[Kind of Blue]], a landmark jazz album that arguably could never have been what it was without Evans' diffident romanticism.

A brief period with the Davis band culminated with the recording of ''[[Kind of Blue]]'', a landmark jazz album that arguably could never have been what it was without Evans' diffident romanticism.

After leaving Miles Davis' band, he explored the possibilities of the jazz trio - his collaboration with [[Scott LaFaro]] and [[Paul Motian]] produced the landmark Sunday At The Village Vanguard, a recording of the highlights of five sessions recorded at the famous [[New York]] club. Tragically, LaFaro died in a car crash just 11 days later.

After leaving Miles Davis' band, he explored the possibilities of the jazz trio - his collaboration with [[Scott LaFaro]] and [[Paul Motian]] produced the landmark ''Sunday At The Village Vanguard'', a recording of the highlights of five sessions recorded at the famous [[New York]] club. Tragically, LaFaro died in a car crash just 11 days later.

Evans' career continued until his death in 1981.  

Evans' career continued until his death in 1981.