Waltz For Debbie/ Lyrics

[RonF]

Gene Lees wrote the music and Bill Evans wrote the lyrics. I think I've read it before on jazz boards but I've forgotten - who was Bill Evans writing about? His daughter?

Edited November 12, 2003 by RonF

[John Tapscott]

RonF : Wasn't it the other way around? Evans wrote the tune (for his niece, I believe) and perhaps a year or two later Lees wrote the lyrics. That's my understanding, anyway.

[Free For All]

Yes, it's Bill Evans' music. Lees wrote the lyrics.

[Michael Fitzgerald]

Whoa!!! Quite the reverse: Evans wrote the music. Lees added lyrics at a later point, upon the request of Evans.

Evans composed the piece as a dedication to his niece. I guess Lees was writing more from a theoretical viewpoint since he didn't know the *same* Debby (aged 3 when the music was written). He probably did meet Debby the person.

Mike

[RonF]

OOPS! Thanks for setting me straight folks. I really like Tony Bennett's vocal with Evans on The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album.

[Jim R]

I have a videotape of Mundell Lowe playing a televised concert in Ireland in 1987. He introduces "Waltz For Debby" as a piece written by Evans for his (Lowe's) daughter...

Edited November 12, 2003 by Jim R

[RonF]

I have a videotape of Mundell Lowe playing a televised concert in Ireland in 1987. He introduces "Waltz For Debby" as a piece written by Evans for his (Lowe's) daughter...

Interesting Jim. The plot thickens.

[Alexander]

One of my favorite recordings of this song (aside from Evans' own, of course) is Johnny Hartman on "The Voice That Is." I sing this song to my daughter every night, by the way (her name is not Debbie, btw, but Samantha). When she asks for it, she asks for "Own Sweet World." Even though she's three and a half, she still wants me to hold her when I sing it. Imagine her shock when I was playing the Bill Evans/Tony Bennett album and that song started to play. She came running out of her room and cried, "He's singing "Own Sweet World!"" Like all kids, she probably assumed that I made that song up for her. It's so sweet!

[pepe]

The great Swedish singer Monica Zetterlund sings Waltz for Debbie with a Swedish text , and Evans himself is at the piano. Well worth listening to.

[EKE BBB]

One of my favorite recordings of this song: Oscar Peterson Trio (with Ed Thigpen and Ray Brown)

There are two sessions included in this 1996 Verve reissue, one from 1959 and one from 1962. Can´t remember where´s "Waltz for Debbie".

Edited November 12, 2003 by EKE BBB

[Michael Fitzgerald]

I asked the best source I know, Erin Evans:

"You have it right. Bill wrote it when (or right after) a visit in Baton Rouge for Debby's 3rd birthday party (Debby is my older sister). It was the first time Bill met his niece. I actually have some great old photos with Bill and Debby at 3 from that visit. Debby has the original handwritten sheet music."

So it seems Lowe, who was indeed a very early (get it?) friend of Evans misappropriated the dedication.

Mike

[Jim R]

Mike, thanks for the information. I wonder if Evans could have dedicated the song to two little Debbys (either that or Lowe was telling a little white lie). Trivial, but interesting...

"Very Early"... nice one.

Alexander, I love the Hartman version as well. Thanks for sharing that story about your daughter. Sweet indeed.

[catesta]

Wasn't the title actually changed to "Waltz For Norah?"

[Out2Lunch]

Is this the same Norah that has some connection to a certain sitar virtuouso?

BTW, Is there a Country version of this song called "Waltz For Wynona"?

Edited November 14, 2003 by Out2Lunch