From Welsh and Ukranian parents, Bill Evans is fondly remembered as one of
America's greatest and most inspirational jazz pianists. He had piano lessons as
a child and also learned to play violin, flute and piccolo, which were
subsequently said to shape his distinctive piano style. Initially an
accomplished classical pianist, Evans was converted to jazz after hearing Tommy
Dorsey and Harry James on the radio when he was 12 and had his first practical
experience playing with Buddy Valentino's rehearsal band, going on to play
boogie woogie music for parties and weddings around New ...