The Bill Evans Trio – Everybody Digs Bill Evans (OJC)

The legend of Bill Evans really begins with this album, his second. The pianist had just spent most of 958 as part of one of the most important units in jazz history: the Miles Davis Sextet, which also included John Coltrane and Cannonball Adderley. His fellow musicians already knew his worth (the album title was almost literally accurate, and the four endorsements on the cover that embarrassed Bill could easily have been multiplied); with this record, the jazz public began to follow their lead. Backed by Sam Jones and Philly Joe Jones, Evans recorded some of his swingiest trio sides, but the session would be memorable if it had only produced the remarkable and haunting solo improvisation called "Peace Piece."