Bill Evans
Pianist Bill Evans reimagined the jazz trio as a conversation among equals, developing an impressionistic harmonic language and a lyrical touch that reshaped how jazz pianists voice chords and phrase melody. His trio recordings at New York's Village Vanguard, including 'Waltz for Debby,' remain a reference point for harmonic sophistication in jazz piano. Evans' introspective, classically informed approach directly shaped Herbie Hancock's early harmonic vocabulary.
the sound in question
1961
Waltz for DebbyBill Evans
we haven’t charted Bill Evans yet
this stretch of the river isn’t mapped. we trace the watershed one artist at a time — and we’re always heading further upstream.