Moonbeams

I broke out Bill Evans' 1962 classic "Moonbeams" earlier in the day. It is an album filled with one stunning performance after another. If you are not overly familiar with Bill Evans, all you really have to know is that he is the most influential Jazz pianist to ever stroke the keys. Miles Davis once said Bill Evans could play anything. He was of course right. Evans could play with a fiery intensity and he could swing with the best of them, but what really stands out is his lyrical sensibility, his soft-spoken approach. He had such a beautiful silky-smooth delivery and creative touch as well as impeccable technique and a polished tone. Listen to "Stairway To The Stars" and "It Might As Well Be Spring" to hear what I am talking about. You can't have too much Bill Evans in your music collection. "Moonbeams" is a nice starting point.

Recommended titles:
Moonbeams
Portrait In Jazz
Explorations
Interplay
Sunday At The Village Vanguard
Waltz For Debby
How My Heart Sings!
Trio '64
Conversations With Myself
The Last Waltz
Kind Of Blue [the epic Miles Davis album]