Albums: At the Village Vanguard, Portrait in Jazz, Waltz for Debby

One of the most famous and influential jazz pianists of the 20th century, Bill Evans along with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian, in 1959 formed the acclaimed piano trio. Evans focus in this trio was traditional jazz standards and original compositions, with an added emphasis on interplay among the band members that often bordered on collective improvisation and blurred the line between soloist and accompanist. This trio recorded four albums: Portrait in Jazz (1959), Explorations, Sunday at the Village Vanguard, and Waltz for Debby (all recorded in 1961).

The latter two albums are live recordings drawn from the same recording date, and they are routinely named among the greatest jazz recordings of all time. The trio changed due to LaFaro's untimely death and throughout its existence members retired and were replaced, with only Bill Evans remaining as a constant.

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