Throughout his years at Southeastern Louisiana College Bill Evans played not only in school groups, but on his own as well. After graduation, he worked with the band of Herbie Fields before being drafted into the U.S. Army. While playing flute in the Fifth Army Band throughout his 1951-54 assignment at Fort Sheridan, near Chicago, by night Evans became a part of the city's jazz scene. Upon his discharge he decided to pursue a jazz career and settled in New York. During this period he played with the dance band of clarinetist Jerry Wald, who led an orchestra during the swing years and beyond. On two albums one can hear for the very first time Bill Evans playing the piano: "Jerry Wald And His Orchestra" (MGM 1954) and "Listen To The Music Of Jerry Wald" (Kapp 1955). His first professional recording was made accompanying singer Lucy Reed in 1955. The next years he joined several bands and recorded as a sideman until in 1956 his first album as a leader was recorded by Riverside: “New Jazz Conceptions”.

For a detailed discography of Bill Evans recordings refer to "The Bill Evans Webpages" created by Jan Stevens: "Bill Evans - The Complete Catalogue Of Recordings 1954 through 1980".