Portrait in Jazz was Bill Evans' third album as a leader, following New Jazz Conceptions (1956) and Everybody Digs Bill Evans (1958). It was also Evans' first album as a leader featuring the talented bassist Scott LaFaro. Their superb interplay is evident from the very first track, and Evans was certainly aware of it. The collaboration between Evans and LaFaro would reach its peak with their recordings made in June 1961 at the Village Vanguard in New York. LaFaro would die shortly after in a car accident (on July 6, 1961), at the age of 25.