First of all, I never strive for identity. That’s something that just has happened automatically as a result, I think, of just putting things together, tearing things apart and putting it together my own way, and somehow I guess the individual comes through eventually.
Especially, I want my work – and the trios if possible – to sing.
It bugs me when people try to analyze jazz as an intellectual theorem. It’s not. It’s feeling.
May I add that Evans did not endorse playing transcriptions and especially MMO recordings. Both are anathema to developing the indiviual voice in jazz. I agree 200%, Bill.
Jack
Add me too, Jack. — Play-alongs are for the lazy fellows who don’t want to listen to the masters. One of the famous “Red Cross” discs with Bird features him on tenor, playing along with the Hazel Scott DECCA recording of “Embraceable You”. — Session details can be found HERE (That’s the only track from that “session” I have).
It’s not Hi-Fi, but it’s very interesting to hear Bird working in progress, and very tenderly accompanying Miss Scott on that very disc. Maybe it was the very first time he ever played (checked out?) “Embraceable You”?
Playing along some original recordings is the best thing you can do for finding your own voice. The theory comes later.