Everybody Digs Bill Evans

Evans’ 1958 LP was the artist’s second album, done two years after his first record (New Jazz Conceptions) as a leader. Even though his producer tried to encourage him to record again sooner, the highly self-critical Evans felt he had “nothing new to say” before this album.

The album contains three Evans compositions, including one of his most famous, Peace Piece, a two-chord improvisation which many consider a forerunner of what became known later as New Age music.

The recording captures Evans at a time when he was into playing block chords. That combined with his expert use of pedals gave him a fresh, distinctive sound that had never been heard before on the piano.

Evans’ trio for this record included Philly Joe Jones on drums and Sam Jones on bass.