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If you are building a jazz shelf, a few records belong near the start, and Waltz for Debby is one of them. It is a piano trio album that feels intimate and alive, the sound of three musicians listening closely to each other in a small room. Craft Recordings brought it back on vinyl as part of its Original Jazz Classics series, and this edition is a great way to own it. Here is what it is, what is on it and where to buy a copy.
What it is
Waltz for Debby is an album by the Bill Evans Trio, with Bill Evans on piano, Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on drums. Craft Recordings calls it the fourth and final album by one of the most influential groups in jazz history. It was originally released in 1962 as a companion to Sunday at the Village Vanguard.
What is on it
Side A
- My Foolish Heart
- Waltz for Debby
- Detour Ahead
Side B
- My Romance
- Some Other Time
- Milestones
Six tracks across two sides makes it an easy record to play front to back. My Foolish Heart opens the record, and the title track sits at the center of side A.
The pressing
This edition was released on July 7, 2023, as part of the relaunched Original Jazz Classics series. According to Craft, it is pressed on 180 gram vinyl at RTI with all analog mastering from the original tapes by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Audio, and it comes in a Tip-On jacket with an obi strip.
Mastering from the original tapes, a heavyweight pressing and a replica style jacket make this a reissue built for people who care how a record sounds and feels. For the history of the series, see our Original Jazz Classics starter guide and Concord's announcement of the relaunch.
Why it is cool
Trio records live or die on interplay, and this is three players listening hard to each other. On a good system, a quiet album like this rewards attention, and a quality pressing gives you a black background for the music to sit in.
It also makes an ideal first jazz record for someone who thinks they do not like jazz. It is melodic, warm and unhurried.
How to listen
Waltz for Debby rewards close listening. Try following one instrument through a whole track: first the piano, then the bass, then the drums. Each pass reveals a different conversation, and you start to hear how the three players respond to each other in real time.
It is a live record, so let the room be part of it. Small sounds from the audience sit in the background, and they are part of the charm. Rather than turning the volume up to hear more, keep it at a natural level, as if you were sitting at a table near the band.
Play a full side at a time. The tunes are long enough to breathe, and the mood builds over a side in a way that skipping between tracks will break. Once you know side one well, flip it over and give side two the same attention.
Handle the 180g LP with care. Hold it by the edges and the label, return it to its inner sleeve after each play and store it upright, away from heat.
Who should buy it
Anyone starting a jazz collection, anyone who loves piano and anyone who wants late night listening. If you already own the Miles Davis Quintet's Relaxin' or Vince Guaraldi's A Charlie Brown Christmas, this is the next one to add. For more labels worth exploring, read our Blue Note starter guide.
Need something to play it on? Start with our picks for the best turntables for beginners.
Where to buy
Craft sells this Original Jazz Classics edition directly, and record stores carry it too. Other editions of the album are also widely available on vinyl.
For more records worth owning, browse our vinyl guides.
