Bill Evans - Reception

Reception

Music critic Richard S. Ginell noted "With the passage of time, Bill Evans has become an entire school unto himself for pianists and a singular mood unto himself for listeners. There is no more influential jazz-oriented pianist—only McCoy Tyner exerts nearly as much pull among younger players and journeymen—."

Many of Evans's critics have focused on his detachment from the original African American roots of jazz, believing that the European and classical traditions are of much lesser import.

During his tenure with Davis, Evans had problems with the mostly black audience. For example, Peter Pettinger has pointed out that in a recording, for his solo on a tune named "Walkin," Evans received noticeably less applause than the other soloists, and for that on "All Of You," none at all.

When the miniseries Jazz was released in 2001, it was criticised for neglecting Evan's work after his departure from Miles Davis's sextet. Wynton Marsalis was the artistic director and co-producer of the series. Also, Stanley Crouch, Marsalis's mentor, was once overheard criticizing Evans, saying that he could not swing, and there was no trace of the blues in his playing. Albert Murray, also present in Jazz, has also been said to dislike Evans's music.

Miles Davis, who was always dismissing his earlier output, made no exception with his work with Bill Evans in Kind of Blue, calling it "warmed-over turkey".