Is Living Time a good place to start with Bill Evans?

Yes, Living Time is recommended as a starting point for new Bill Evans listeners. A serene exploration of time, where intricate piano melodies interact with subtle, flowing rhythms in a meditative jazz landscape. By the time 'Living Time' was released in 1972, Bill Evans had established himself as a leading figure in jazz, following his influential work on albums like 'Sunday at the Village Vanguard.' This album marked a period of artistic evolution for Evans, showcasing his shift towards more experimental forms and collaborative compositions that emphasized collective improvisation.

Who is Living Time for?

Living Time works well if you're into meditative explorations for focus, dynamic progression with peaks and wave-like pacing for relaxation.

How many songs are on Living Time?

Living Time has 8 tracks, running approximately 44 minutes.

Living Time

Bill Evans · 1972

44 min · 8 tracks · jazz

A serene exploration of time, where intricate piano melodies interact with subtle, flowing rhythms in a meditative jazz landscape.

Spotify Apple Music

YouTube Music YouTube Deezer Bandcamp SoundCloud

Own it: Amazon eBay

Top tracks — play these first

→
Event I Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
→
Event II — This track exemplifies the album's ethereal quality, featuring an extended improvisational section that showcases Evans' lyrical piano style intertwined with complex rhythmic shifts.
→
Event V — At nearly twelve minutes long, this piece represents the album's ambitious nature, blending melodic lines with free-form exploration that captures the essence of Evans' innovative spirit.
→
Event IV — With its intricate interplay between the piano and accompanying instruments, this track highlights the ensemble's cohesive sound while exploring themes of time and space through music.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

Instrumental

73 /100

Alpine

Higher than 96% of albums we've rated

The album's intricate structures and meditative quality create a cohesive listening experience that rewards repeated plays.

What we noticed

Each track is structured as a continuous exploration, with themes introduced and developed over extended sections rather than traditional song forms.
The album features a consistent dynamic range, with moments of quiet introspection contrasted by more intense passages without abrupt shifts.

Composition 25% of the score: 8/10
Craft 20% of the score: 7/10
Durability 25% of the score: 8/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 9/10

Influence 3/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

meditative explorations for focus
dynamic progression with peaks
wave-like pacing for relaxation
introspective moments of tranquility

Maybe skip if you

desire for immediate gratification
preference for upbeat tempos

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Critical Peak — Innovative structure and depth solidify Evans' reputation in jazz.
Career context: By the time 'Living Time' was released in 1972, Bill Evans had established himself as a leading figure in jazz, following his influential work on albums like 'Sunday at the Village Vanguard.' This album marked a period of artistic evolution for Evans, showcasing his shift towards more experimental forms and collaborative compositions that emphasized collective improvisation.
Stylistic neighbors: Chick Corea· Keith Jarrett· Herbie Hancock