Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, John Taylor, Steve Kuhn, Don Friedman, Marian McPartland, Denny Zeitlin, Bobo Stenson, Warren Bernhardt, Michel Petrucciani and Keith Jarrett, as well as many other musicians world-wide.

This 2 CD set contains all known complete tunes by the the all-star quintet at New York's Half Note club on Feburary 24 & March 3. 1959. A bonus album has been added feautering both Warne Marsh and Lee Konitz in a quartet setting with Peter Ind and Al Levitt. It was recorded live in London March 15. 1976. This import version of Live at the Half Note with Lee Konitz, Warne Marsh, and Bill Evans has not only all the tunes of the domestic version, but a whole other wonderful album, the Konitz/Marsh London Concert, included as well! Also, extensive notes in the booklet give helpful background information.

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The span of this 12-CD box set is generally acknowledged as the best Bill Evans material available. That's saying a lot, considering the high quality of The Complete Fantasy Recordings and The Complete Bill Evans on Verve. What the Riverside recordings display is a young Evans discovering his revolutionary harmonic depth and improvisational genius with bursts of energy that, by his second session, had established a kind of moody intensity that seemed to deepen the music while making it at once more complex and easier to absorb. Evans's Riverside years encompass his early dynamos: Everybody Digs Bill Evans is resplendently here, as is the material from Sunday at the Village Vanguard and Waltz for Debby. So, too, are sessions with Cannonball Adderley, Jim Hall, and Zoot Sims. Through it all, Evans remains firmly planted in a winding style that's creatively unstoppable and visceral in its intensity. One could write hundreds of pages about these 12 CDs. Instead, you should indulge their dozen-plus hours. --Andrew Bartlett

This wonderful tribute concert to the hero of lyrical Jazz Piano features Kenny Wheeler, Gordon Beck and friends at the Brewhouse Theatre, London 1992. The prolific and exceptionally musical Evans was proufoundly influential across the Jazz world, and several of his finest compositions are performed in this exceptional tribute event.

Bill Evans (born February 9, 1958 in Clarendon Hills, Illinois) is an American jazz saxophonist. His father was a classical piano prodigy and until junior high school Evans studied classical clarinet. Early in his studies he was able to hear such artists as Sonny Stitt and Stan Getz live at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago. He attended Hinsdale Central High School and studied with tenor saxophonist Vince Micko. His stylistic influences are wide ranging and include players such as Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Steve Grossman, and Dave Liebman. He has stated that although he never transcribed solos, he was able to get a very deep intuitive feel and understanding of each of these players' styles.

This outstanding DVD series pays homage to the East coast and to some of the most important musicians who have spent a major part of their career there. What is taken into account when placing the musician in the East or West Coast categories, is where they spent the bulk of their artistic career, or where they recorded their most influential works. This collection focuses exclusively on live performances ranging from clubs to festivals to TV studio engagements, without any speakers or introducers... Nothing but music! Artists include Bill Evans, Thelonious Monk, Phil Woods, Duke Ellington, Keith Jarrett, Ahmad Jamal and more.