Bill Evans Trio: All of You
[purchase]
Despite being one of the most influential pianists of the last 50 years, Bill Evans democratized the piano trio. Instead of making it a piano showcase, he saw the rhythm section as equal musical partners.
On June 25, 1961, Evans brought his trio--Scott LaFaro on bass and Paul Motian on drums--to the now legendary Village Vanguard in New York for a full day (and night) of shows, five sets in all. The shows were recorded for a pair of influential albums, Sunday at the Village Vanguard and Waltz for Debbie (later expanded, appropriately, to a trio with More from the Vanguard). But the way to get them is to go for the whole package, The Complete Village Vanguard Recordings, 1961 (and that's what the "purchase" link will take you to).
Sadly, Scott LaFaro died in a car crash less than two weeks after these recordings were made, so they stand as the final statement of this legendary trio.