Unlocking Your Inner Bill Evans — Piano Stylings of Bill Evans | Piano Lesson

Sweetwater's Jacob Dupre explores the musical style of jazz great Bill Evans, and shows you how you can incorporate some of his techniques in your playing.

#Sweetwater #PianoLesson #PianoStylings

[mrdavies]

Bill was… man, there was just no mistaking his sound.

Beautifully reconstructed, Jacob. Super helpful for anyone wanting to lend some authenticity to the classics, as well as carrying his distinctive style forward for new generations!

[PianoLandscapesfilm]

This is, by far, the most informative, didactic video on Bill Evans piano style and technique that I have come across! I will search to see if Mr. Dupre has written a jazz piano course.

[jcharlsen]

Phenomenal analysis. He has Bill Evans down cold- not just harmonically, but also rhythmically. such a unique sound.

[Klektic]

some of my takeaways

- arpeggiating in 10ths (3rds) through seventh chords
- flat 6 triad -> flat 5 triad both played over maj3+flat 7. then resolve to 1. can also move through different inversions (very cool, need to think about that more - that descending line sounds so nice)
- in dorian, moving in seventh chords 1 2 3 4 3 2 1 sounds wonderful
- can combine arpeggiating in 10th/3rds with moving through the scale
- i also realized 2-5-1 moves through the circle of fifths while watching this video (pretty new to harmony haha)
- feel like i saw a lot of 7ths as the lowest note, want to keep that in mind also

super great video! extremely clear presentation and clean camera work and editing.

[SomeKindOfMadman]

2yrs ago, upload, and YouTube just now recommends this vid. Better late than never I suppose. Very lovely playing

[sweetwater]

Thanks for the comments everyone! If you like these videos, please be sure to share them and comment your ideas for future lessons. Maybe on a specific player? Composer? Song? Style? Let me know! FYI, this very video was suggested in a comment section and I thought it was a great idea. Yours could be next!

Jacob Dupre
Sweetwater Keyboard Artist

[rapunzelz]

It’s weird...you would think these kind of voicings etc would sound like mush, but Bill Evans made it work...it’s magic!

[markzimmerman]

I will buy my next piano from Sweetwater because of this video.

[aniefiokemmanuelasuquo]

I was really getting bored with my Jazz piano playing, but after watching this video, I got fired up! This is by far the best breakdown of Bill Evans style. Thank you

[peterjaret]

This is by far the best video tutorial for jazz players I've ever found. My playing took a big leap when I began incorporating some of the ideas. Kudos to Jacob Dupre, a great teacher and musician. One more reason to love Sweetwater!

[loucetinich]

Genius stuff, My Man. I want Sweetwater to raise your pay. Some of the best work on deconstructing Evans I've seen. (Some of us are proud he's from New Jersey...!)

[Henry-uvxu]

Bill Evans grew up in Somerville, New Jersey, just a few minutes away from where I grew up. He first learned classical piano, just like me. It certainly gives one a unique perspective of jazz piano.

[s.webbsentell]

this is the best short cut to Bill Evans I ever saw

[steveparaczky]

Nice..I’m currently working on Reflections in D ...Evans transcription...beautiful piece

[jamminwithjambo]

I am a guitarist that really got opened to new approaches from this video. Wow you have amazing gifts as a player and a teacher...
Thanks..😎👍🏾

[abregoja]

Nice, great interactive class.... Thank you Sweetwater and Jacob Dupre! 5 stars

[mikelorenz]

In all the years I've played I have found several instances of breaking down styles. This is a great one. I hope other pianists take note.

[v.smith]

He also has Bill's feel down, as in how he starts his ascending thirds accented and in Forte volume, while playing softer as it gets higher in register... This vid is pure magic! I'm lucky the Youtube algorithm served me this gem.

[Lucianoq]

Excellent! I'll come back to it several times as there is a lot of meat in this explanation. Just what I was looking for! Thanks!

[lee_at_sea]

Outstanding.
My dad plays a lot of Evans. I'm mostly a guitarist, but play a bit of keys and grok all the theory. I've always wanted more insight into .. this! This lays it all out.
Out-stand-ing!
*Give this man a bonus Sweetwater!*