Rocco Scott LaFaro (April 3, 1936 – July 6, 1961)[1] was an American jazz double bassist known for his work with the Bill Evans Trio.

LaFaro broke new ground on the instrument, developing a countermelodic style of accompaniment rather than playing traditional walking basslines, as well as virtuosity that was practically unmatched by any of his contemporaries.

In 1959, after working with trumpeter Chet Baker, bandleader Stan Kenton, vibraphonist Cal Tjader,[6] and clarinetist Benny Goodman, LaFaro returned east and joined Bill Evans, who had recently left the Miles Davis Sextet.

[8] In June 1961, the Bill Evans trio began two weeks of performances at the Village Vanguard in New York City.

[9] LaFaro died in an automobile accident on July 6, 1961, in Seneca, New York,[5] on U.S. Route 20 between Geneva and Canandaigua,[10] four days after accompanying Stan Getz at the Newport Jazz Festival.

According to Paul Motian, the death of LaFaro left Bill Evans "numb with grief," "in a state of shock," and "like a ghost.

Motian noted, "We were supposed to make a record date with Miles [Davis]: the trio, Bill, myself and Scott.

The bass was badly damaged in the automobile accident that killed him,[14] but was eventually restored and is sporadically used in performance to honor LaFaro.

The album included five tracks recorded in New York City during 1961 with pianist Don Friedman and drummer Pete LaRoca.

[18] In 2009, Resonance Records reissued five tracks from Memories for Scotty on Pieces of Jade, together with twenty-two minutes of LaFaro and Bill Evans practising "My Foolish Heart" during a rehearsal in 1960.

Also in 2009, Helene LaFaro-Fernandez' biography of her brother Scott, titled Jade Visions, was published by the University of North Texas Press, with an extensive discography.

"[23]With Ornette Coleman With Buddy DeFranco With Bill Evans With Victor Feldman With Don Friedman With Herb Geller With Stan Getz and Cal Tjader With Hampton Hawes With John Lewis, Gunther Schuller and Jim Hall With Booker Little With Pat Moran McCoy With Marty Paich With Tony Scott