Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings by Mr. Peter Pettinger, Peter Pettinger Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Bill Evans: How My Heart Sings
Book Review: An Essential Book for Bill Evans Fans
Summary: 5 Stars
What a joy to read this insightful book about Bill Evans, the artist and his work. Yes, he had personal problems, but not on the keyboard or composition paper. If you know music and play an instrument, you will truly appreciate the descriptions of Bill Evans' his musical craft. If you don't understand music theory, this book will stretch and challenge you. There's also plenty of information on all his recordings, performances, colleagues, etc. And, of course the most fun is to sit back and listen to Evans music as you read the book. P.S. This book should not be allowed to be "out-of-stock".Book Review: No Smoking, Please!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have virtually all CDs covered in this book. So every time I finished each chapter, I played those CDs, some of which I haven't heard for years, mentioned in each chapter. Thanks to my enhanced understanding of the pianist, I dug Bill's music much more than before. It took me three months to finish the book and the CDs, but it was a wonderful experience to combine the reading and listening pleasure the way I did. It annoyed me badly, though, to learn that the pianist who played his music with such sophistication and sensitivity was a tobacco and drug addict for the most of his adult life, which, we know, lead to his premature death. Thank God, even Villege Vangurd no longer permits smoking!Book Review: Solid, welcome biography and resource.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've enjoyed Pettinger's unpretentious study of Evans' life and music as much as any comparable jazz title that comes to mind. The British author admits that he never met Bill Evans and has little to offer in the way of exclusive, privileged information about a subject whose personal habits might tempt lesser writers to manufacture salacious prose along with much amateur psychoanalyzing. Having lowered the expectations, Pettinger proceeds to give a personal biography of the man and chronological account of the musical career that is ultimately a remarkably illuminating portrait of a jazz artist.Admittedly, the book is essential reading primarily for the listener who already counts himself among Evans' admirers and is aware of the pianist's artistry and influence. More than likely, such a reader will find many of his suspicions validated--from the pianist's rigorous classical training to his self-effacing personality to his discomfort as a member of Miles Davis' Quintet to his creative rejuvenation during the last year and months of his life. In addition, he will undoubtedly discover, on practically every page, something unexpected--Evans' affinity for Russian language and culture (clearly demonstrated on the pianist's brooding, darkly dramatic, extended introductions to "Nardis"), his curious attraction to garish '70's clothing styles, his strange personal and musical relationship with "speed" buddy Philly Joe Jones.
Pettinger knows enough about music, pianos, and piano playing to insure that his discussion of the music is accessible and instructive without becoming erudite or pedantic. Although it would be, in my opinion, impossible to overstate the influence, sophistication, and singular beauty of Evans' music, Pettinger wisely does not try to do so. The definitive work on the extraordinary moment in music history for which Evans is responsible remains to be written. But Pettinger's book is certainly a worthy start. And the plentiful discography is clearly presented and annotated--in itself worth the price of the book to any collector of Evans' extraordinary recorded legacy.
Book Review: A biography that concentrates on the music of Bill Evans.
Summary: 4 Stars
This biography, by a writer who is himself a professional pianist, concentrates on Bill Evans' music. He discusses each of Evans' many recordings, and goes into some detail about the technical aspects of how he improvised so brillantly. Evans's life, however, is covered with pretty much the bare minimum of details. Thus, his drug addiction is discussed only when absolutely necessary, as is the suicide of a long-time lover. Having read many other biographies that wallow in such details, I don't believe the reader misses very much. Anyone interested in Bill Evans is interested in him because of his music, not his problems. This book is an invaluable guide to that music.Book Review: Sad story of an incredible pianist
Summary: 4 Stars
When I was in college, I was lucky enough to take a jazz class with Chuck Israels who played bass with Bill Evans after we lost Scotty LaFaro.I listened to Evans profusely that term and I still love his music. Reading this book about him saddened me greatly as he was such a skilled musician and in many ways, a genuinely nice man. Why he decided to become so dependent on illegal things is a tragedy.
It is hard to write a book about music without examples within the text. This book was wonderful, albeit so sad.