While he has been the subject of some full-length biographies, notably by Peter Pettinger and Enrico Pieranunzi, this is the first anthology of writings about Bill Evans [1929-1980] whose career in Jazz sadly spanned only two-and-a-half decades.
Most of the other long pieces about Bill can be found in magazine articles written by esteemed Jazz authors including Gene Lees, Doug Ramsey and Whitney Balliett.
The other main sources of information about Bill, his approach to Jazz piano and his music are the long essays that accompany the boxed sets of his recordings: Orrin Keepnews and Martin Williams for the Riverside albums; Neil Tesser for the Verve box and Gene Lees for Bill’s Fantasy albums.
Along with a key chapter from the Pettinger book and the English translation of the Pieranunzi bio, all of these longer essays are included in A Bill Evans Reader.
With an Introduction, Prologue, and 31 chapters of articles, interviews and commentaries - some of which are very rare - plus a discography and bibliography totaling 302 pages, this is the only compilation of its kind.
This is a must-have collection for Bill Evans fans and with everyone so busy these days, most of the chapters can be read in 15-20 minutes.
Now that the initial costs of publication for the series have been met, 50% of all royalties will be donated to the local high school and community college district to help purchase musical instruments for individual students. I have also donated $500 to the Gerry and Franca Mulligan Foundation and a full drum kit to the Jazz big band at local community college from the proceeds.
Each volume is available as a paperback for $24.99, an audio book for $14.99 and an eBook for $9.99 exclusively at Amazon.com. Just enter my name in the search box.
You can locate the Table of Contents for this and each of the other volumes in the series [so far 18 in all] by scrolling the sidebar [right hand column] of my blog at JazzProfiles.blogspot.com/
Thank you for your support.
Winner of the 2025 Jazz Journalist Association Special Citation for Historic Writings, Steven Cerra is a professional Jazz drummer and the author of anthologies on Gerry Mulligan, Bill Evans, Stan Kenton, Dave Brubeck, Shelly Manne, Jazz West Coast Readers Vols. 1-3, Profiles in Jazz, Vol.1, Jazz Drummers Vols. 1-2, Jazz Saxophonists, Vol. 1, 2 & 3, Jazz Piano, Vols. 1, 2 & 3 and Jazz Trumpet A Reader Vol. 1. He also hosts the jazzprofiles.blogspot and cerra.substack blogs.
