He attended Southeastern Louisiana University on a music scholarship, and in 1950 performed Beethoven’s Third Piano Concerto on his senior recital there, graduating with a degree in piano performance and teaching. In the late 1940’s, Evans played boogie woogie in various New Jersey clubs. Meanwhile, he was playing dance music and jazz in a recording studio he built in his family’s basement. In the beginning, he played exactly what was written in the sheet, but soon started trying to improvise, while learning about harmonies in the songs and how to alter them. At this age he was able to interpret classical music, but he couldn’t improvise. He also became a proficient flautist by age 13 and could play the violin.Īt age 12, Evans filled in for his older brother Harry in Buddy Valentino’s band. Evans’ mother was an amateur pianist with an interest in modern classical composers, and Evans began classical piano lessons at age six. Evans had a distinct playing posture in which his neck would often be stooped very low, and his face parallel to the piano.īill Evans was born in Plainfield, New Jersey.He received his first musical training at his mother’s church. He is considered by some to be the most influential post-World War II 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. William John Evans, known as Bill Evans, was an American jazz pianist.

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