Portrait in Jazz was Bill Evans' third album as a leader, following New Jazz Conceptions (1956) and Everybody Digs Bill Evans (1958). It was also Evans' first album as a leader with the talented bassist Scott LaFaro. Their superb interaction is evident from the very first track, and Evans was certainly aware of this. The collaboration between Evans and LaFaro would reach it's peak with their recordings made in June 1961 at the Village Vanguard in New York City. LaFaro died shortly afterward in a car accident (July 6, 1961), at the age of 25.
