Bill Evans Trio - Waltz For Debby (1975 Japanese Riverside Vinyl LP)

Vinyl: EX
Sleeve: VG+
Obi: None

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One of the most beloved recordings in jazz history, Waltz For Debby captures the Bill Evans Trio at the peak of their brief but extraordinary collaboration. Recorded live at the Village Vanguard on 25 June 1961, just ten days before bassist Scott LaFaro's tragic death in a car accident at age 25, this album preserves the final performances of what many consider the greatest piano trio in jazz. This 1975 Japanese pressing, part of Riverside's Original Recording Series 60 and manufactured by Victor Musical Industries, includes a Japanese language insert and offers excellent sound quality that honours this landmark recording.

The trio of Evans, LaFaro, and drummer Paul Motian revolutionised the piano trio format by abandoning the traditional roles of piano as leader with bass and drums merely supporting. Instead, they created a genuinely democratic conversation where all three voices possessed equal importance and independence. LaFaro's bass playing was particularly revolutionary, his melodic approach, facility in the upper register, and counterpoint with Evans' piano creating something unprecedented in jazz.

The album opens with "My Foolish Heart", where Evans' delicate touch and harmonic sophistication meet LaFaro's singing bass lines in intimate dialogue. The interplay is so complete that it's sometimes difficult to determine who is leading and who is following. The title track, "Waltz For Debby", written by Evans for his niece, showcases the trio's ability to make a 3/4 waltz swing with grace and lightness. The melody is heartbreakingly beautiful, and Evans' touch here demonstrates why he was considered the most lyrical of modern jazz pianists.

"Detour Ahead" closes the first side with a medium-tempo exploration that allows Motian's subtle, color-focused drumming to shine. Motian never overplays, his brushwork and cymbal work creating atmosphere and forward motion without cluttering the sonic space. His approach influenced generations of drummers who learned that restraint and listening could be as powerful as technical display.

Side two opens with "My Romance", given an unhurried reading that emphasises the song's romantic essence while allowing harmonic reinterpretation. "Some Other Time", another Evans original, carries particular poignancy knowing these were LaFaro's final recorded performances. The album closes with Miles Davis' "Milestones", the most uptempo piece here, where LaFaro's virtuosity and the trio's telepathic communication are on full display.

The live setting at the Village Vanguard adds intimacy and spontaneity. Occasional audience sounds, the clink of glasses, and the restaurant atmosphere place the listener in that Greenwich Village basement on that June evening. Engineer David Jones' recording, later mastered at Plaza Sound Studios for this reissue, captures both the intimacy of the club and the clarity of each instrument.

This Japanese pressing, manufactured by Victor Musical Industries and part of the Riverside Original Recording Series 60, represents the care Japanese labels took in reissuing important American jazz recordings. The inclusion of a Japanese language insert provides additional context for the Japanese market, while the black vinyl pressing maintains the sonic quality essential to appreciating this delicate, nuanced music.