Bill Evans Popular Songs Ranking [2026]

Waltz for DebbyBill Evans1rank/position

Bill Evans – Waltz For Debby

A gently swaying triple-meter rhythm flows unhurriedly, and the more you listen, the more your heart seems to unwind.

This waltz was written by Bill Evans—often called the poet of jazz piano—for his niece, who was three years old at the time.

First recorded as a solo piano piece in 1956, it later appeared in a live performance from New York’s famed Village Vanguard in 1961 on the album “Waltz for Debby.” The trio’s conversational interplay with bassist Scott LaFaro and drummer Paul Motian is suffused with an intimacy, as if the three are quietly speaking with one another.

As a standard with over 300 cover versions, it continues to be loved around the world.

Its gentle sonorities offer quiet companionship after a day’s work or on sleepless nights.

A masterpiece I recommend to anyone seeking a peaceful moment.

Someday My Prince Will ComeBill Evans2rank/position

Someday My Prince Will Come

Bill Evans, a composer who achieved worldwide popularity with jazz that incorporated the musicality of Impressionism, such as Debussy and Ravel.

For anyone who has dabbled even a little in jazz, he’s a familiar name.

This piece, “Someday My Prince Will Come,” is used as an insert song in Disney’s film Snow White, and is known in Japan by the title “Itsuka Ōjisama ga.” While the original has a fantastical atmosphere, this rendition stands out for its jazzy, warm, and cheerful mood.

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Spring Is HereBill Evans3rank/position

Spring Is Here (Album Version)

Like weaving pale light, the delicate tones spun from the piano by American pianist Bill Evans sink deep into the heart.

Recorded in New York in December 1959 and included on the album “Portrait in Jazz,” this piece beautifully captures both the joy of spring’s arrival and the fragile feelings that, for some reason, keep one from embracing that joy straightforwardly.

The conversational interplay of Scott LaFaro’s bass and Paul Motian’s drums renders loneliness and the pain of heartbreak with even greater depth.

It’s a track to savor in a quiet room at the turn of the seasons, when spring’s light and shadow intersect.

A gem of a performance recommended for those who wish to touch the subtleties of life.

Alice In WonderlandBill Evans4rank/position

Bill Evans – Alice In Wonderland (The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961 – take 1)

This “Alice in Wonderland” is a Disney song, but Evans turns it into jazz with a completely different vibe.

The version on the album is a live recording from the Village Vanguard, so it makes you feel as if you’re actually there.

Autumn LeavesBill Evans5rank/position

Autumn Leaves

This is a track from jazz pianist Bill Evans, who hails from New Jersey, USA, included on his 1959 album “Portrait in Jazz.” As a leading figure of modern jazz, his beautiful touch on the piano and richly colored arrangements remain timeless.

The piece is “Autumn Leaves,” a famed chanson that is also celebrated as a jazz standard.

My Foolish HeartBill Evans6rank/position

My Foolish Heart

When it comes to jazz piano, this is the man—Bill Evans, who enjoys great popularity in Japan as well.

Among his works, “My Foolish Heart,” included on the celebrated album Waltz for Debby, is originally the theme song from a film of the same name, but many people probably think first of Bill Evans’s rendition.

His piano tone, as if weaving a story, is something you can listen to forever.

You Must Believe In SpringTony Bennett & Bill Evans7rank/position

You Must Believe In Spring – Tony Bennett and Bill Evans

Tony Bennett, a popular music singer who was active from the 1950s to the 1960s, was so highly regarded that Frank Sinatra called him “the best singer in the world.” Even during the heyday of rock, his steady vocals kept him in the spotlight among many listeners.

A collaboration he did with the world-renowned jazz pianist Bill Evans is the work You Must Believe in Spring.

With melodies and lyrics themed around spring, it became a beloved classic in many countries.

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