Jazz for aficionados

Loved the Elian Elias “Blue In Green”; thanks, Schubert. Have always liked her playing and singing. But, man, that’s a reallly long limb you’re going out on. Better than Evans’ version?! Always fascinating to consider the perspective of a very thoughtful music lover, but I think this may go to the futility of that kind of categorization.  Apples and oranges in too many ways for me.

I love Elias’ playing. It is sophisticated and has that unique swagger and sexiness that Brazilian performers seem to have (for me). She approaches “Blue In Green” in a very different way than Evans does. Modern cosmopolitan and obviously “bluesy” with a clear Brazilian sensibility. Ramsey Lewis comes to mind. Evans’ approach to the tune is more traditional, but still with a very modern harmonic palette; he paved the way after all. Rhythm takes the back seat to harmonic exploration that I feel Evans takes to higher highs. Elias’ approach relies much more on the rhythm component. Love both versions. Thanks for sharing the clip; that’s one to get.

Been listening to this. I love!!! the feel on this record. Why isn’t Gene Harris mentioned more often? Amazing left hand! Great story telling by Turrentine, as always.

https://youtu.be/93dmFfZppuIw

https://youtu.be/KHZ4L6k966

https://youtu.be/LphVcrN4Yv4

Great comparison of different versions of “Blue In Green”. Really interesting and thanks, Schubert and Acman3. BTW, there is reason to believe that it was Bill Evans, not Miles, who wrote the tune for the KOB recording. If true, it adds further context to Evans’ version.

**** It has long been speculated that pianist Bill Evans wrote "Blue in Green",[1] even though the LP and most jazz fakebooks credit only Davis with its composition. In his autobiography, Davis maintains that he alone composed the songs on Kind of Blue. The version on Evans’ trio album Portrait in Jazz, recorded in 1959, credits the tune to "Davis-Evans". Earl Zindars, in an interview conducted by Win Hinkle, said that "Blue in Green" was 100% written by Bill Evans.[2] In a radio interview broadcast on May 27, 1979, Evans himself said that he had written the song. On being asked about the issue by interviewer Marian McPartland, he said: "The truth is I did [write the music]... I don’t want to make a federal case out of it, the music exists, and Miles is getting the royalties...."[3] Evans recounted that when he suggested that he was entitled to a share of the royalties, Davis wrote him a check for $25.[4] ****

Adding to the mystery and controversy, check this out. I’m reposting (thanks, acman3) Bills Evans’ version for easy comparison. Listen to the first few seconds of the opening to Evans’ version recorded several months after the KOB session:

https://youtu.be/mW_7gRH7ASE

Then, listen to his playing in the first few seconds of the opening to “Alone Together” from Chet Baker’s “Chet” recorded the year before (1958). Sound familiar?:

https://youtu.be/SENykNkARzI

Interesting Frogman. Of all the "Miles stories" I have ever heard, I don’t remember any, where he was kind or did something for another person. Just tried to find some real quick with key search words, and just got some of his attitude in phrases. Miles and Kind = " What kind of crap  was that".

Schubert, do yo think your preference has something to do with the time each player is keeping?

It seems to me that Evans does not play a set time. Bill Evans tugs and pushes around the beat, and Eliane Elias and Ms. Horn, while quite different tempos, have a more set time, with Ms. Elias even providing the song with a sort of propulsion.

Another excellent pianist who plays around the notes, but still seems to drive the song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tffhDpEmsp8

Of course I know that comparisons at that level are silly .
But I like to hear what my betters in Jazz, which is almost every regular on here, have to say and I can learn from . Evans just seemed a little lost to me, no doubt he knew exactly what he was doing .
Elias plays with the heart and fingers of the music she was trained on and excellent at , J.S. Bach .
Even in her group efforts it’s there and that can’t be bad for serious music and is in my soul as well .

Shirley Horn is an icon to me ,period , she can do no wrong .
I’ve watched a few interviews of Miles , he seemed evil itself .

 Of course  I'm influenced by time  , my heart has been giving me a class on it for over 8 decades .
  And watching  a conga master do the beat with one hand and melody with the other .