Bill Evans' most famous piece

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Bill evans: piano, Chuck Israels: bass, Larry Bunker: drums. - BBC TV Jazz 625

This is a live recording of the Bill Evans Trio playing “Waltz for Debby”. I transcribed the entire performance by ear.

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Michael Solomon

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45 years later, and I still kick myself for not seeing Bill play at a small club in Philly in 1979. I thought "maybe another time", and he was gone one year later.

patrickkelly

This is an extraordinarily high level of transcription, and I imagine I'm not the only person grateful to have it. To clarify the question of "Whose bass line is this"? It's Bill's--pretty well defined by what he wrote in both chord symbols and notes (for the 3/4 melody). After that, it's my interpretation of what was most appropriate in the moment--in relation to what Bill was playing. Sometimes there are pre-determined fills between phrases of the melody that Bill would always play, and I chose to play them with him (including to match Bill's subtle, slightly rubato timing and articulation in the first one in 3), just because I liked them and wanted to feel the sensation of playing them. Beyond that, I never gave a thought to the way Scotty might have played anything--beyond admiration for the many qualities in his playing. I was in the moment with Bill's music, participating in it in what, in retrospect, is a more supportive, less competitive, way than Scott might have played. And that's a reflection of both Scotty's advanced musical and technical development (at that time) and of our different perspectives towards participating in Bill's music. For better, or for worse (sometimes for the better, of course), Scotty wanted to break the flow and compete with Bill's playing for attention--while Bill was playing. I liked what Bill was playing too much to think of doing that often, although it did happen from time to time.

Enough about the bass part. I think I've suggested before that Larry Bunker's playing is also worthy of this kind of attention and transcription, even though drummers don't habitually read those kinds of details. They aren't presented with that kind of challenge. They're expected to find the appropriate rhythms, textures, and dynamics on their own. And what a magnificently played and integrated version of that Larry did to meet that challenge. No other drummer with Bill came close. I only suggest notating his playing in order to bring attention to the details in it. Otherwise, it's so well integrated, that its inventiveness, subtlety, and propulsion are all too often overlooked. Larry was among the most skilled and artistic musicians I've known.

Again, congratulations and thanks for having done all this work.

Chuck

cisraels

the way he used chord inversions here was a bridge between jazz and classical music.

lupash

Was totally fractured when we lost Bill Evans. We treasure the Recordings we have.

falvegas

Bill Evans is clearly one of the greatest piano jazz composers ever, if not the greatest.

Jessievan

This takes away my heart and breaks it to pieces every time

molaub

Subscribers = subscribers + 1.
This transcription is beyond brilliant ! I love the fact that you have included Scott's bassline.
Best transcription ever seen on YouTube.
Keep going strong !

jacquesmertens

Thank ypu so mich for the incredible transcription !

acwatercolors

F**k - I got tears in my eyes when i followed the score ... 🥰

BlixtenMarlowes

Despite all the fancy stuff, it's the melody that gets me.

writereducator

The song that got me into Bill Evans. Love this song!

huntrrams

Miles's album 'kind of blue' would be nothing without this man, he's up there with Peterson, Reinhardt, Coltrane, Grappelli etc etc and of course Miles himself.

fridgemagnet

As someone with a deep personal connection to Waltz for Debby, thank you so much for this beautiful transcription. It’s excellent.

brianmessemer

Whatever he's doing with the left hand is magical!

hank

This is an absolute joy! While it is debatable that this is his most 'famous' piece, I will say it it one of my all time favourite pieces - from anyone!

davemontreuil