Direct Metal Mastering. Each LP Has It's Own Unique Sticker! Portrait in Jazz, recorded on December 28, 1959, was Bill Evans' third album as a leader, following New Jazz Conceptions (1956) and Everybody Digs Bill Evans (1958). It was also Evans' first LP with the talented bassist Scott LaFaro (although they both participated on Tony Scott's LP Sung Heroes, recorded in October 1959, they rarely interacted there). Their superb chemistry was evident from the very first tune, and Evans was surely aware of that. As opposed to his previous albums, no solo piano selections were included on Portrait in Jazz and the trio is heard throughout the entire LP. Drummer Paul Motian had been working with Evans on various projects since 1955 and was featured as the drummer on New Jazz Conceptions. The Evans-LaFaro-Motian trio would record a second studio album, Explorations, on February 2, 1961, but they would reach a climax with their June 25, 1961 club recordings at the Village Vanguard in New York. LaFaro would die in a car accident soon after (on July 6, 1961), at the age of 25. Evans was so shocked by his bassist's death that he waited a long time before forming a new trio. A selection of pieces from the Village Vanguard session was made by Evans himself and originally presented on two albums: Sunday at the Village Vanguard