Piano. n. A parlor utensil for subduing the impenitent visitor. It is operated by depressing the keys of the machine and the spirits of the audience. -- Ambrose Bierce, The Devil's Dictionary Nothing soothes me more after a long and maddening course of pianoforte recitals than to sit and have my … [Read more...]
Archives for October 17, 2007
Bill Evans: Your Story
Bill Evans redeems the piano from Bierce's and Shaw's disdain in this video clip, made in Norway in August of 1980 when Evans was mortally ill and undoubtedly knew it. Thanks to Jan Stevens of The Bill Evans Web Pages for finding it. The bassist and drummer are Marc Johnson and Joe LaBarbera. … [Read more...]
The Heroic Legion
In his blog, About Last Night, Terry Teachout quotes Whitney Balliett's incomparable tribute to the ability of most jazz musicians to maintain their unbreakable spirit despite being cold-shouldered by the culture. Whatever the reasons, these musicians form a heroic legion. They work long hours in … [Read more...]