Everybody Digs Bill Evans

Grant Gee’s potent biopic about pioneering jazz pianist Bill Evans focuses on a shattering period of his life.

New York, 1961. Jazz pianist Bill Evans (Anders Danielsen Lie) has recently finished recording legendary album Sunday at the Village Vanguard when his close friend and bassist Scott LaFaro is killed in a car crash. Numbed by the loss, he goes first to his brother and then on to Florida to see his parents (Bill Pullman and Laurie Metcalf) in an effort to push through his grief and addictions.

Music video director Gee focuses less on the music and more on the devastation of LaFaro’s death during such a creatively rich period for Evans. A reason to find a quiet room and seek out the jazz great’s music once you’ve finished watching.