Editing Bill Evans (section)

=== Debut album ''New Jazz Conceptions'' ===
In September 1956, producer [[Orrin Keepnews]] was convinced to record the reluctant Evans by a demo tape [[Mundell Lowe]] played to him over the phone. The result was his debut album, ''[[New Jazz Conceptions]]'', featuring the original versions of "[[Waltz for Debby (song)|Waltz for Debby]]" and "Five".<ref name="pettinger" /> Eleven songs were recorded in the first session, including Evans' original composition "[[Waltz for Debby (song)|Waltz for Debby]]", which would prove to be his most recognized and recorded composition.<ref name="AMB">{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2004|title=Bill Evans: 1929–1980 |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/bill-evans-1929-1980-bill-evans-by-aaj-staff/|access-date=July 10, 2023|website=All About Jazz}}</ref> The album began Evans's relationship with [[Riverside Records]], and also marked the formation of the first Bill Evans trio with Teddy Kotick (bass) and [[Paul Motian]] (drums). [[AllMusic]] critic [[Scott Yanow]] said about the album: "Bill Evans' debut as a leader found the 27-year-old pianist already sounding much different than the usual Bud Powell-influenced keyboardists of the time... A strong start to a rather significant career."<ref name="AM">{{cite web |title=Bill Evans New Jazz Conceptions Album Reviews, Songs & More {{!}} AllMusic |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/new-jazz-conceptions-mw0002376242 |website=AllMusic |language=en |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150228015155/http://www.allmusic.com/album/new-jazz-conceptions-mw0002376242 |archive-date=February 28, 2015}}</ref> David Rickert of [[All About Jazz]] noted the influence of Bud Powell and wrote "Even at this stage he had the chops to make this a good piano jazz album, but in the end it's not a very good Bill Evans album... There are glimpses of the later trademarks of Evans' style..."<ref name="AAJ">{{cite web |last1=Rickert |first1=David |title=Bill Evans: New Jazz Conceptions album review @ All About Jazz |url=https://www.allaboutjazz.com/new-jazz-conceptions-bill-evans-fantasy-jazz-review-by-david-rickert |website=All About Jazz |language=en |date=May 14, 2004}}</ref> Although a critical success that gained positive reviews in ''[[DownBeat]]'' and ''[[Metronome (magazine)|Metronome]]'' magazines, ''New Jazz Conceptions'' was initially a financial failure, selling only 800 copies the first year. "Five" was for some time Evans's trio farewell tune during performances.<ref name="pettinger" /> After the album's release, Evans spent much time studying [[Johann Sebastian Bach|J. S. Bach]]'s music to improve his technique.{{sfn|Pettinger|2002|p=39}}