Jim Witzel Quartet
Bay Area guitarist Jim Witzel brings his quartet to Mr. Tipple's for an intimate exploration of Bill Evans' musical legacy. The group will perform material from Witzel's 2025 release Very Early: Remembering Bill Evans, featuring carefully chosen compositions that either came from Evans' pen or became essential vehicles for the legendary pianist's creativity.
Witzel is a mainstay of the Northern California jazz scene, known for his warm tone and tasteful approach to melody and improvisation. Jazz Times praised him as "a greatly gifted player whose musical instincts are fresh, free and flowing." His guitar work recalls Jim Hall's clarity while incorporating contemporary elements, drawing from formative influences like Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny, and John Abercrombie. As a Professor of Jazz Guitar Studies at Santa Clara University, he brings both artistic depth and pedagogical insight to his performances.
Joining him is pianist Adam Shulman, a Bay Area stalwart who has performed with internationally renowned artists including Stefon Harris, Miguel Zenón, and Bobby Hutcherson. His hard bop and post-bop sensibilities make him an ideal collaborator for this Evans tribute. The rhythm section features bassist Dan Feiszli, a seasoned sideperson in the regional jazz scene, and drummer Jason Lewis, a Professor of Jazz Studies at San Jose State who has recorded with Gary Burton, James Moody, Kurt Elling, and Taylor Eigsti.
The Evans repertoire offers rich terrain for exploration—from Victor Young's "Beautiful Love" and the lesser-known Earl Zindars composition "How My Heart Sings" to Miles Davis's "Solar" and Evans' own "Very Early." NOTES ON JAZZ praised the album's approach: "Witzel's group abandon the ethereal approach" to follow Evans' vision, with "Witzel's probing guitar lines" and "inventive and joyful" piano work from co-arranger Phil Aaron.
Expect sophisticated interplay between guitar and piano as they navigate Evans' harmonic landscape, supported by a rhythm section that swings with "confident aplomb" according to reviewers. The music preserves Evans' melodic sensibility while allowing each player to bring their contemporary voice to these timeless compositions.