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Summary:

"In the late 1970s legendary pianist Bill Evans, one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, was at the peak of his career. He revolutionized the jazz trio (bass, piano, drums) by giving each part equal emphasis in what jazz historian Ted Gioia called a "telepathic level" of interplay. It was an ideal opportunity for a sideman, and after auditioning in 1978, Joe La Barbera was ecstatic when he was offered the drum chair, completing the trio with Evans and bassist Marc Johnson. In Times Remembered, La Barbera and co-author Charles Levin provide an intimate fly-on-the-wall peek into Evans's life, critical recording sessions, and behind-the-scenes anecdotes of life on the road. Joe regales the trio's magical connection, a group that quickly gelled to play music on the deepest and purest level imaginable. He also watches his dream gig disappear, a casualty of Evans's historical drug abuse when the pianist dies in a New York hospital emergency room in 1980. But La Barbera tells this story with love and respect, free of judgment, showing Evans's humanity and uncanny ability-even in his final days-to transcend physical weakness and deliver first-rate performances at nearly every show. Times Remembered includes a foreword by Hal Miller, a discography of the band's work, and numerous "breakout boxes" with reminiscences by musicians who knew Evans, interspersed with La Barbera's memories of the same times"--Provided by publisher.

Table of Contents:

• Foreword / by Hal Miller
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Prologue
• A child is born
• Berklee (and Bill)
• Buddy's buddy
• The audition
• On the road again
• Lessons from Bill : The joy of discovery
• We will meet again
• Hanging with Bill 1
• Birthday blues and Buenos Aires
• Hanging with Bill 2
• Expectations
• Hanging with Bill 3
• The Paris concert
• -Europe 1979
• Hanging with Bill 4
• The Village Vanguard : Turn out the stars

• Hanging with Bill 5
• Last Days : Europe, 1980
• Last Days : Stateside
• September 15, 1980
• Aftermath
• Epilogue : Re: Person I knew
• Appendix: Sorrow in Soho / by François Lacharme
• Essays (Similarities ; Historical perspective ; From the listeners' ears ; Reflections on Bill ; Roots of the trio ; Regarding new music ; A Carnegie Hall experience, March 29, 1980) / by Joe La Barbera
• Itinerary / compiled by Tonino Vantaggiato
• Bill Evans Trio recordings.

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Author/Creator:

LaBarbera, Joe , author

Contributors:

Levin, Charles (Writer on music), 1951- , author

Miller, Hal, 1941- , writer of foreword

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

English text.

Main Work:

Times remembered: the final years of the Bill Evans Trio [by LaBarbera, J.]

Related Series:

North Texas lives of musicians series; no. 15

Subjects:

Bill Evans Trio

Evans, Bill, 1929-1980 — Last years

LaBarbera, Joe

Johnson, Marc, 1953-

Jazz musicians — United States — Biography

Jazz — 1971-1980 — History and criticism

Evans, Bill, 1929-1980

1971-1980

Jazz musicians

Jazz

Last years of a person's life

United States

Genres:

Biographies

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

General Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Physical Description:

xv, 224 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm.

Physical Characteristics:

illustration

Call Numbers:

ML421.B5 L3 2021

ISBNs:

9781574418446 (hardcover)
1574418440 (hardcover)
9781574418545 (electronic book) [Invalid]

Library of Congress Control Numbers:

2021023734

OCLC Numbers:

1252738591