“McDonough’s piano stylings are intimate and innovative.” – Jazz Review
Award-winning pianist, composer, and singer Larry McDonough brings the legendary pianist and composer Bill Evans back to life. Here, he does this in a live solo recording covering Evans’s music and personal life.
Jazz curator Steve Kenny calls pianist Larry McDonough the Bill Evans scholar of Minnesota. Also, Larry grew up listening to and transcribing Evans’ music, having seen his live performances in the 1970s. Further, Larry has become friends with Evans’s widow Nenette, who supports Larry’s projects. Moreover, Larry is the only Minnesotan invited to study the Bill Evans Archival Collection at Center for Southeast Louisiana Studies. Additionally, director Bruce Spiegel chose Larry to host Minnesota showings of his documentary film Bill Evans Time Remembered.
“The Evans family is so grateful that Larry McDonough has chosen to remember my late husband Bill Evans. I like what Max Gordon said about Bill Evans in his book concerning his experiences as owner of the famed Village Vanguard club, where Bill eventually became a regular: ‘The first time Bill Evans played the Village Vanguard, he was the intermission pianist for the Modern Jazz Quartet (MJQ). The room was quiet when they played. When Bill Evans played, the MJQ fans wondered, ‘Who the hell was that?’ They’d never heard of him. He was filling space in between for the star attraction. Today Bill is the star attraction. When Bill Evans plays, the Village Vanguard becomes Town Hall.'” – Nenette Evans
Recommended for fans of Bill Evans, Chet Baker, Ron Carter and Vince Guaraldi.
