Dick Sisto & Andy LaVerne
‘Two For Bill‘ Album by Dick Sisto
(SteepleChase)
There have been many tributes to Bill Evans ever since the influential pianist’s passing in 1980. Evans’ close interplay with his bassists and drummers along with his chord voicings changed the way that most piano trios sound, and his playing (and that of McCoy Tyner) moved the mainstream of jazz piano beyond Bud Powell’s bebop.
Vibraphonist Dick Sisto has long considered the pianist to be one of his main influences while pianist Andy LaVerne was a student and protégé of Evans. Two For Bill features their vibes-piano duo on nine songs from Evans’ repertoire with two (“Gloria’s Step” and “Waltz For Debby”) being played twice. The performances are taken from four concerts recorded during 2018-19.
While the playing is in the Bill Evans tradition and often utilizes Evans’ reharmonizations, Sisto and LaVerne do not attempt to sound like him. They both have their own musical personalities, adding to the legacy of Evans’ music rather than just recreating the past. Among the highlights of this release are “How Deep Is The Ocean,” “Israel,” “Nardis,” and “Funkallero” although all of the selections are well worth hearing.
Two For Bill, which features the two musicians in inspired form, is heartily recommended and available from www.steeplechase.dk and www.amazon.com.