8:00 P.M.

A "GIANTS OF JAZZ" CONCERT

9:00 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.

8:00 P.M.

A "GIANTS OF JAZZ" CONCERT

THE MARK EISENMAN TRIO

PRESENTS

"QUIET FIRE"

A RETROSPECTIVE ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF A PIANIST
OF GREAT DEPTH AND CREATIVE BRILLIANCE

BILL EVANS

William John Evans
August 16, 1929 – September 15, 1980

Bill Evans was an American jazz pianist. His use of impressionist harmony, inventive interpretation of traditional jazz repertoire, and trademark rhythmically independent, "singing" melodic lines influenced a generation of pianists including: Chick Corea, Herbie Hancock, John Taylor, Steve Kuhn, Don Friedman, Denny Zeitlin, Bobo Stenson, Michel Petrucciani and Keith Jarrett, as well as guitarists Lenny Breau and Pat Metheny. The music of Bill Evans continues to inspire younger pianists like Marcin Wasilewski, Fred Hersch, Bill Charlap, Lyle Mays, Eliane Elias and arguably Brad Mehldau, early in his career.

In 1958, Evans was hired by Miles Davis, becoming the only white member of Davis's famed sextet. Though his time with the band was brief - no more than eight months-, it was one of the most fruitful collaborations in the history of jazz, as Evans's introspective scalar approach to improvisation deeply influenced Davis' style. At the time, Evans was playing block chords, and Davis wrote in his autobiography, "Bill had this quiet fire that I loved on piano. The way he approached it, the sound he got, was like crystal notes or sparkling water cascading down from some clear waterfall." Additionally, Davis said, "I've sure learned a lot from Bill Evans. He plays the piano the way it should be played."

Bill Evans's musicianship has been a model for many pianists in various genres. His music displayed a creative mastery of harmony, rhythm, and interpretive jazz conception, fusing elements from jazz, classical, and ethnic music. In his duos and trios, Evans developed in unprecedented ways a unique conception of ensemble performance and a classical sense of form and conceptual scale. His '60s recordings Conversations with Myself and Further Conversations with Myself were innovative solo performances involving multiple layers of overdubs recorded in the studio by Evans himself.

Evans's work continues to influence pianists, guitarists, composers, and interpreters of jazz music around the world. Many of his tunes, such as "Waltz for Debby," "Turn Out the Stars," "Very Early," and "Funkallero," have become often-recorded jazz standards. Many tribute recordings featuring his compositions and favorite tunes have been released in the years following his passing as well as tribute compositions. During his lifetime, Evans was honored with 31 Grammy nominations and seven Awards. In 1994, he was posthumously honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Evans is an inductee of the Down Beat Jazz Hall of Fame.

8:00 P.M.

A "GIANTS OF JAZZ" CONCERT

CHRIS DONNELLY

PRESENTS

"PLAY 'MISTY' FOR ME"

A RETROSPECTIVE ON THE LIFE AND WORK OF THE MOST
DISTINCTIVE OF ALL JAZZ PIANISTS AND A TRUE VIRTUOSO

ERROLL GARNER

Erroll Louis Garner
June 15, 1921 – January 2, 1977

Erroll Garner (born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was an American jazz pianist and composer known for his swing playing and ballads. His best-known composition, the ballad "Misty", has become a jazz standard.

George Wein regarded him as
"a great musical genius".

Hugues Panassié said of him,
"He is not only the greatest pianist to emerge in jazz since World War II, but he is also the only one who has created a new style which is in the true jazz tradition, one which constitutes the essence of this music."

Steve Allen said he was
"the greatest popular pianist of our century."

Art Tatum called him,
"My little boy."

Erroll Garner was a formidably accomplished and incredibly prolific self-taught pianist who first began exploring the piano keyboard at the age of three and went on to become a genuine jazz legend. His professional career spanned almost four decades and, in that time, he recorded for dozens of different labels, sometimes solo, mostly with his own trio. His recorded output occupies 33 pages in Tom Lord's The Jazz Discography. He made altogether more than 200 albums.

Garner was an amazingly energetic and resourceful musician with a phenomenal ear, remarkable memory and an astonishing independence of right and left hands. He was completely ambidextrous and could write and play tennis right or left handed with equal facility. He was also a sensitive, intelligent and rather shy man with a sunny dispositiion and an impish humour and he never took himself or his art too seriously.

Garner was also a gifted composer. In addition to "Misty", his most successful original, written in 1971, he also produced such appealing themes as "Erroll's Bounce", "Dreamy", "Nightwind", "That's My Kick", "Gaslight", "Mood Island", "The Loving Touch", "Paris Mist", "Dreamstreet", and "It Gets Better Every Time". One of his biggest hits was "Laura", recorded in September 1945, and his live Concert By The Sea album, recorded in September 1955, was one of the best selling jazz albums of all time.

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“…one of Canada’s best-kept secrets.”
– Raul d’Gama Rose, All About Jazz

“…listening to his music: one experiences intelligence, skillful execution, creativity and most importantly, an inventiveness that still acknowledges the jazz tradition.”
– David Braid

Chris Donnelly represents a new generation of jazz pianists, composers and improvisers dedicated to creating programs that are engaging, entertaining and educating. He is continually praised for his virtuosic performances, musicality, versatility and ability to captivate audiences.

In September 2008, Chris released his Juno-nominated, debut album with Alma Records called ‘Solo,’ featuring a blend of original material and arrangements of jazz standards. This also earned him nominations for ‘Best Recording of the Year’ and ‘Best Keyboardist of the Year’ from the 2009 National Jazz Awards. In April 2007, Chris performed at the Florida Theatre in Jacksonville Florida where he received 2nd place as part of the Great American Jazz Piano Competition. More recently, Chris performed in Nottingham, England where he was selected as one of four finalists in the 2008 Nottingham National Jazz Piano Competition.

Chris is currently a professor at the University of Toronto and has previously worked as a faculty member at the Humber College Community Music School, Prairielands Jazz Camp and the National Music Camp of Canada.

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