Bill Evans

This release presents music from the legendary 1961 Village Vanguard sets by the Bill Evans Trio. It would mark the last recording by the formation of the group with Scott LaFaro on bass, and Paul Motian on drums, as LaFaro died ten days later on July 6, 1961, at the age of 25. Evans, who loved LaFaro’s playing, would take a long hiatus before forming a new trio. The celebrated Village Vanguard is a jazz club located at 178 7th Avenue South in Greenwich Village, New York City. It was opened by Max Gordon on February 22, 1935. At first, it also featured other forms of music such as folk and beat poetry, but it switched to an all-jazz format in 1957. Over 100 jazz LPs have been recorded at the venue since an album issued under Sonny Rollins’ name in 1957. The two most famous engagements in the club’s history are probably those by Bill Evans (presented here) and John Coltrane, both of which took place in 1961.