Waltz for Debby

Infobox Album |
Name = Waltz for Debby
Type = Album
Artist = Bill Evans Trio


Released = 1961
Recorded = Village Vanguard, New York City, Jun 25, 1961
Genre = Jazz
Length = 65:29
Label = Riverside
Producer = Orrin Keepnews
Reviews =
* Allmusic Rating|5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:dc6ktrolkl3x link]
Last album = "Sunday at the Village Vanguard"
(1961)
This album = "Waltz for Debby"
(1961)
Next album = "How My Heart Sings!"
(1962)

"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, and he went into a brief seclusion. When Evans returned to the trio format later in 1962, it was with Motian and noted bassist Chuck Israels. [www.billevansjazz.com]

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.

Original Track listing

From [http://www2.selu.edu/orgs/34skid//html/disc._2.htm]
# "My Foolish Heart" (Victor Young) – 4:58
# "Waltz for Debby" (Bill Evans / Gene Lees) – 7:00
# "Detour Ahead" (Lou Carter / Herb Ellis / Johnny Frigo) – 7:37
# "My Romance" (Richard Rodgers) – 7:13
# "Some Other Time" (Leonard Bernstein / Betty Comden / Adolph Green) – 5:11
# "Milestones" (Miles Davis) – 6:30

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 its composer at the piano for "The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album" in 1975. Additionally, the pianist Oscar Peterson has covered the tune several times, most notably on 1966's "The Lamp Is Low."

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. [ www.allaboutjazz.com ]

References