Editing Bill Evans (section)

=== Return to New York City ===
In July 1955, Evans returned to New York City and enrolled in the [[Mannes College of Music]] for a three-semester postgraduate course in music composition. He also wrote [[Musical setting|classical settings]] of poems by [[William Blake]]. Along with his studies, Evans played in low-profile "Tuxedo gigs" at the Friendship Club and the [[Roseland Ballroom]], as well as Jewish weddings, intermission spots, and over-40 dances. Better opportunities also arose, such as playing solo opposite the [[Modern Jazz Quartet]] at the [[Village Vanguard]], where one day he saw [[Miles Davis]] listening to him. During this period, Evans also met [[Thelonious Monk]].<ref name="pettinger" />

Evans soon began to perform in [[Greenwich Village]] clubs with [[Don Elliott]], [[Tony Scott (musician)|Tony Scott]], [[Mundell Lowe]], and bandleader [[Jerry Wald (musician)|Jerry Wald]]. He may have played on some of Wald's discs, but his first proven Wald recording is ''Listen to the Music of Jerry Wald'', which also featured his future drummer [[Paul Motian]].<ref name="pettinger" />

In early 1955, singer [[Lucy Reed]] moved to New York City to play at the Village Vanguard and [[The Blue Angel (New York nightclub)|The Blue Angel]], and in August she recorded ''The Singing Reed'' with a four-piece group that included Evans. During this period, he met two of Reed's friends: manager [[Helen Keane (jazz)|Helen Keane]], who became his agent seven years later, and [[George Russell (composer)|George Russell]], with whom he soon worked. That year, he recorded with <!-- guitarist plus trio -->guitarist [[Dick Garcia]] on ''A Message from Garcia'' for the [[Dawn Records (American label)|Dawn]] label. In parallel, Evans kept up his work with Scott, playing in Preview's Modern Jazz Club in Chicago during December 1956–January 1957, and recording ''The Complete Tony Scott''. After the ''Complete'' sessions, Scott left for a long overseas tour.<ref name="pettinger" />