The CD reissue of the album contains several outtakes. It remains what is likely Evans' most well-known song, one that he would play throughout his career. It originally appeared as a solo piano piece on Evans' debut album, New Jazz Conceptions. The title track, a musical portrait of Evans' niece, became a staple of his live repertoire in later years. When Evans returned to the trio format later in 1962, it was with Motian and bassist Chuck Israels. The loss of LaFaro hit Evans hard, and he went into a brief seclusion.
The album was the fourth and final effort from the unit-LaFaro died in a car accident just ten days after the live date at the Village Vanguard from which Waltz for Debby and its predecessor, Sunday at the Village Vanguard, were taken. Waltz for Debby is a live album by jazz pianist and composer Bill Evans and his trio consisting of Evans, bassist Scott LaFaro, and drummer Paul Motian.
