#scott lafaro

Trailer for Everybody Digs Bill Evans (2026)

Be still, my heart: a biopic about a musician that isn't a thinly disguised jukebox musical?! And a tight focus on the impact on Evans' life of the death of his bassist and right hand, Scott LaFaro. Yes. Please.

Enjoy:

Ornette Coleman & bassist Scott LaFaro , 1960

Bill Evans - My Foolish Heart (1964)

My Foolish Heart - Bill Evans (piano), Scott LaFaro (bass), Paul Motian (drums)

Recorded in 1964, “My Foolish Heart” captures the Bill Evans Trio in a reflective, understated mood. The tune was written by Victor Young, with lyrics by Ned Washington, originally for the 1949 film of the same name. In Evans’ hands, the song is treated with patience and restraint, allowing its harmonic depth and emotional weight to emerge naturally, without excess.

What stands out most is Scott LaFaro and his remarkably modern approach to the bass. Rather than simply outlining the harmony, LaFaro plays as an equal melodic voice, responding to Evans phrase by phrase. His lines are fluid, interactive, and deeply musical, helping to redefine the role of the bass in the piano trio setting. The result is a performance that feels conversational and alive, built on listening as much as playing.

“My Foolish Heart” here is a reminder of how quietly radical this trio was — not through virtuosity alone, but through subtlety, trust, and an uncommon sense of musical balance.

Jackson Pollock The White Light (1954)