Online Offbeat: Music Archives

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October 25, 2006

Appreciating Bill Evans

Music - Guest contributor, James Isaacs

Bill Evans is, to me, one of the greatest musicians this country has ever produced, Regardless of genre.

Listen first and foremost to the four albums he made between 1959 and 1961 with his brilliant trio (Scott La Faro, bass, and Paul Motian, drums). Then go to his solo piano disc for Verve, CONVERSATIONS WITH MYSELF (from '63), on which he's overdubbed twice, giving the listener the illusion that he or she is listening to Bill in triplicate. Oh, and there's UNDERCURRENT (1962), a series of duets with kindred spirit Jim Hall on guitar, originally made for United Artists and now available on Blue Note.

Keep listening and you'll be repeatedly rewarded.

Posted by Guest Contributor at 08:42 AM

October 12, 2006

They Do Write Them Like They Used To

Humor / Music - No one knows what Adam and Eve’s tastes were when it came to music, but they were probably the first of continuous generations to proclaim, “They don’t play tunes like they used to.” Rap and most contemporary music created in the past 25 years aside, “they” will always play tunes like they used to -- sometimes even better.

As proof, consider “Moments to Remember,” a minor hit in the fifties by the Four Lads. It was written by the team of songwriter Robert Allen and lyricist Al Stillman. They were no slouches, having composed numerous hits like “Home for the Holidays,” “It's Not for Me to Say," and "Chances Are.”

Posted by Ben Alper at 09:13 AM