Scott LaFaro died in a 1961 car crash at 25. At the time, he was looked upon as a pioneer of the bass, having admirably performed and recorded with the legendary Bill Evans Trio. He literally broke new ground on the instrument, eschewing traditional walking basslines for a counter-melodic virtuosity that no one had ever even contemplated, much less put into practice. Born in Newark, he worked with Chet Baker, Stan Kenton, Cal Tjader, Stan Getz, Ornette Coleman and Benny Goodman.

In 2009, ‘Jade Visions: The Life and Music of Scott LeFaro,’ by his sister Helene LaFaro-Fernandez, was published. It told the tale of an amazingly talented bass player, born in Newark, that went on to become one of the 20th Century’s most influential jazz musicians. His landmark recordings with the groundbreaking Bill Evans Trio in 1959 to 1961 are still considered state-of-the-art.