Waltz for Debby

Waltz for Debby is a 1961 album by the Bill Evans Trio of Evans, bassist Scott LaFaro, and drummer Paul Motian. This was Bill Evans' first trio. The album was the fourth and final effort from the unit—LaFaro died in a car accident just ten days after the live date at the Village Vanguard from which Waltz for Debby and its predecessor, Sunday at the Village Vanguard were taken. The loss of LaFaro hit Evans hard, who went into a brief seclusion. When he returned to the trio format later in 1962, it was with Motian and noted bassist Chuck Israels. ^[1]

The title track, a musical portrait of Evans' niece, became a staple of his live repertoire in later years. It originally appeared as a solo piano piece on Evans' debut album, New Jazz Conceptions. It remains what is likely Evans' most well-known song, one that he would play throughout his career.

The CD reissue of the album contains several outtakes.

1 Original Track listing
2 Covers
3 Reaction
4 References

[edit] Original Track listing

From ^[2]

"My Foolish Heart" – 4:58
"Waltz for Debby" – 7:00
"Detour Ahead" – 7:37
"My Romance" – 7:13
"Some Other Time" – 5:11
"Milestones" – 6:30

[edit] Covers

"Waltz for Debby" has been covered by many artists, both as an instrumental piece and as a vocal work, with lyrics by jazz critic and Evans associate Gene Lees. Notable covers include versions by singers Al Jarreau (on 2004's Accentuate The Positive) and Johnny Hartman (1964's The Voice That Is!). Tony Bennett performed the song with Evans at the piano for The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album in 1975, a beautiful rendering that effectively illustrated the interplay between the accompanist and the skilled soloist in a piano-vocal setting. Additionally, the pianist Oscar Peterson has covered the tune several times, most notably on 1966's The Lamp Is Low.

[edit] Reaction

This album is widely considered to be one of the best in the Evans canon, and the type of emotive interplay between the musicians that at some points seemed almost deconstructed has served as a model for piano trio play. ^[3]