I could spend a year studying this Bill Evans' solo... 🎹

Reader,

I'm kind of a nerd about watchmaking. I love watching videos of people tearing down watches, and learning about how they work.

At first glance, a watch is a simple dial that we take for granted. But, the more you look at a watch, you realize that behind every movement is a gear. And behind every gear is another, or a spring, or a timing crystal.

What appears simple at first, is actually an incredibly complex orchestration of 1,000 factors, all of which have to come together with precise timing.

This is the same experience I have listening to Bill Evans. At first, his music is simple to engage with. Melodically and rhythmically clear. But the more you listen, the more you discover how many "gears," "springs" and "crystals" he uses to orchestrate the whole thing.

Join our workshop this Friday

For the past few weeks we've been exploring a scale running technique to outline chord changes using melodic lines. This week we'll take that to the next step by including arpeggios and diminished movements.

On Zoom at 1pm Eastern, this Friday, April 11.

Today's 2-5-1

Each week I share 2 transcribed phrases, 5 ideas observed from 1 featured jazz recording.

​Download Full Transcription​

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Here are 5 observations I have about this amazing solo:

1. Bill does so much with so little. Most of what he plays over this first chorus could be explained as arpeggio motion.
2. But, consider how he makes that arpeggio motion interesting. Look at the overall gesture of each phrase, and compare them next to each other. You'll notice how much variety there is in terms of direction, and length.
3. Can you find the motif? What first looks like some arpeggio "noodling" is actually embellishment and variation on a simple motif.
4. Compare the arpeggio motion to what the chord tones of the given chord would be. They are usually outlining a colorful extension or alteration of the chord.
5. But they are not just extended version of the current chord. The notes chosen often are the chord tones of chords that come immediately before or after.

Last week on the YouTube channel

My video last week is getting a lot of traction. Thank you to everyone who has watched it, left a comment and talked with me about how it's helped you.

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The "Advanced Beginner" Jazz Pianist Trap