Jazz Piano Repertoire

Like any musician, Steve is always finding new favorite tunes, and keeps old favorites alive by playing them in new ways. The music and styles of Bill Evans, Keith Jarrett, and his teacher Dave Peck caught Steve's interest from the moment he heard them, and he draws new material from recordings that once seemed out of reach, but further along the journey, seem more accessible through listening, exploration, and practice.

Below are standards worked up by these favorites (and others); they didn't necessarily write all of them (i.e., In Your Own Sweet Way is a Dave Brubeck tune but was played a lot by Bill Evans). These are tunes Steve has learned from recordings of these artists, and then explored them. Steve believes that the stuff you work on eventually becomes a part of how you play-- if for no other reason that you learn those harmonies and melodies, which are composed of new vocabulary that can be used in other situations.

Bill Evans

Very Early (C) - A beautiful Bill Evans tune with harmonic twists and turns that demonstrates new ways to think about getting from one anchor point to the next.

In Your Own Sweet Way (Bb) - While Dave Brubeck wrote this, it was a favorite of Bill's.

Here Is Something For You (C) - The last tune Bill composed, he played at a gig, then passed away shortly thereafter. A tape was made during this performance, so it was captured, and later transcribed. Not many pianists play it-- Eliane Elias, Mark Johnson's wife and superb pianist and vocalist recorded it, but that's it as far as we know.

The Touch of Your Lips (C) - Bill appeared as a guest on Marian MacPartland's radio show, and went through this tune and how he thought about it on a segment of that show. It was a fascinating example illustrating how Bill thought about his music.

Waltz for Debbie (F) - Bill wrote this for his 3 year-old niece, Debby Evans, and the simple song illustrating tritone substitution in the bass line turned out to become his "most favorite tune." As is often the case, Bill uses this tune to demonstrate all the choices available for bass line, harmony, and melody. His treatment of the melody in solos provides a wealth of material for study.

Emily (C) - This tune composed by Johnny Mandel was the title song to the 1964 film, The Americanization of Emily, but was played by Evans enough that it is often associated with Bill's repertoire.

Blue in Green (G-) - Bill wrote this tune for Miles Davis, though it is often attributed directly to Miles. It has a harmony and melody that is simple and short, yet surprisingly difficult to make real music from. Despite the apparent difficulty, pianists like Eliane Elias make it sound so easy; she swings hard without seeming to try, on this tune.

Turn Out The Stars (C#-) - It's reported that Bill wrote this tune shortly after the passing of his father. It has a haunting melody, and even more haunting harmony, with twists and turns that make it quite remarkable. Though not a candidate for a Top 20 Billboard, this tune demonstrates just how many more options we have available to us as pianists.

But Beautiful (C) - This Jimmy Van Heusen tune was featured in the 1947 movie "Road to Rio", and has been played by many artists, including Bill. The rich rootless voicings and substitutions Bill uses in this tune are fabulous.

Embraceable You (F) - Bill played this tune with his trio in the late 1960's with Eddie Gomez and Jack DeJohnette. The measured artistry and mastery of both the trio and Bill in particular at this time in his life was exhibited so well by his recordings of this song.

Solar (C-) - Though sometimes attributed to Bill because of his playing with Miles Davis, it is now generally accepted that Solar was written by Chuck Wayne (first named "Sonny"), and with a C major chord in the first measure. Later, Miles adapted it by making the first chord minor, and copyrighted it as his own. Like Blue In Green, Solar is a simple song (with a blues form) that can be difficult to really transcend when improvising. Bill demonstrates this exceedingly well.

What Kind of Fool am I (C) - A Bill Evans favorite, he played this solo and with the trio. His interpretations are magnificent to listen to.

Keith Jarrett

My Song (C)

No Lonely Nights (Ab)

Lucky Southern (D)

All The Things You Are (Ab)

My Foolish Heart (Bb)

Somewhere Over The Rainbow (F)

My Funny Valentine (Eb)

Autumn Leaves (G-)

Four (Eb)

Some Day My Prince Will Come (Bb)

It's Easy to Remember (Eb)

On Green Dolphin Street (C/Eb)

When You Wish Upon a Star (F)

Dave Peck

Bye Bye Blackbird (F)

If I Were a Bell (F)

Soul Eyes (Eb)

Stella by Starlight (Bb)

Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye (Eb)

Others

Always and Forever (C)

It's You I Like (C)

Danny Boy (F)

Here's That Rainy Day (G)

Body and Soul (Db)

Giant Steps (B)

Girl From Ipanema (F)

Satin Doll (C)

The Days of Wine and Roses (F)

My One and Only Love (C)

Invitation (Eb-)

Blackbird (F)

I Could Write a Book (C)

I Love You (F)

Misty (Eb)

Just in Time (Bb)

More Than You Know (C)

The Nearness of You (F)

Summertime (A-)

Beautiful Friendship (F)

Blame it On My Youth (Eb)

All of You (C)

Black Orpheus (A-)

Blue Monk (Bb)

Blue Bossa (C-)

Guilty (Bb)

Infant Eyes (C)

Moment's Notice (Eb)

Fly Me to The Moon (F)

Sugar (C-)

Witchcraft (F)

There Will Never Be Another You (Eb)

Georgia on My Mind (F)

Speak Low (F)

Who Can I Turn To (Eb)

I Thought About You (F)

You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To (C)

It Cound Happen To You (F)

When Smoke Gets in Your Eyes (Eb)

On The Sunny Side of The Street (C)

Softly As In a Morning Sunrise (C-)

Children's Songs

Steve likes children's songs, because they're simple and memorable. Many "serious" jazzers might turn up their noses at these, but Steve believes any standard presents an opportunity to play beautiful, or exciting, or emotive music. Just imagine asking Miles Davis if he'd play Twinkle Twinkle and having him say, "No, that's just too simple; let's play something really serious." It just wouldn't happen that way; instead, Miles would likely thoughtfully play something really magnificent that hadn't ever been heard before, and only because he was pointed in that direction. Steve practices tunes like these to look for ways to transcend basic melodies, and find new vocabulary, melodies, and harmonies.

Twinkle Twinkle Little Star (C)

Camptown Races (C)

She'll Be Comin' 'Round the Mountain (F)