Bill Evans Trio – Waltz for Debby M/NM

Waltz for Debby is the second album by the American jazz pianist Bill Evans and his trio, featuring bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian. The album was released on March 19, 1962 by Riverside Records . The album was recorded live at the Village Vanguard in New York City on June 25, 1961, just ten days before LaFaro’s tragic death in a car accident .

The album is a masterpiece of jazz piano trio music, as it showcases the remarkable interplay, creativity, and sensitivity of the three musicians. The album features a mix of standards, originals, and improvisations, creating a varied and expressive musical mood . The album also showcases Evans’s lyrical and elegant style, as he plays with grace, subtlety, and emotion. The album features some of Evans’s most well-known and beloved compositions, such as “Waltz for Debby”, “My Foolish Heart”, and “Detour Ahead”, which were all dedicated to his niece Debby.

Waltz for Debby was a critical success, receiving positive reviews from critics for its beauty, originality, and quality . The album was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 . The album has since been regarded as one of the greatest albums of all time by various publications and institutions, such as DownBeat magazine, which ranked it number 14 on its list of the 100 greatest jazz albums of all time in 2015 , and the Library of Congress, which selected it for inclusion in the National Recording Registry in 2005 .