Bill Evans

Rating:
Summary: Step by step breakdown? Pshaw.... as if!
Review: The title of this book mentions a step-by-step breakdown of Bill Evans' playing... which led me to believe that there would be lots of short musical examples and discussions. Not so. This is a book of transcriptions with no step-by-step anything... but there is a CD with the author playing Bill Evans' transcriptions, but sounding nothing like him. If you need a transcription book, great. This'll probably work fine. But to really learn Bill's style, get out some paper, a Bill Evans album, and transcribe some stuff yourself. Save yourself the $15. Spend it elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: More than just a book of transcriptions
Review: This very well done book is not only features transcriptions of some of Evans' most influential material, it also has a great CD to go along with it. Each tune has a track with a full trio playing. And it's not the cheese midi accompanying you get with some play along books. These are real jazz musicians and sound great. Also each tune has certain sections slowed down on the recording to hear tricky parts better. And if that wasn't enough, there's also a third track of just bass and drums to play along to.
The author icludes very insightful summaries before each transcription highlighting the particular aspects of Evans' style that can be heard on the particular tune which makes this truly a "step-by-step breakdown." If you spend time and work through this book you will definitely come away with a greater technical as well as theoretical understanding of Evans' music.
A must for any jazz pianists library.