Bill Evans (1929–1980) was an American jazz pianist and composer renowned for his lyrical playing and innovative harmonic approach. He gained prominence as a key contributor to Miles Davis's Kind of Blue (1959), where his modal concepts and compositions, such as "Blue in Green," played a pivotal role. Evans's own trio, featuring bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian, set new standards for group interplay on albums like Sunday at the Village Vanguard and Waltz for Debby. His introspective style and sophisticated voicings have profoundly influenced generations of jazz pianists.