At this hour in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, Laurie Verchomin is celebrating the 82nd anniversary of Bill Evans’ birth. She is at Alberta College reading from her book about the brief, intense relationship with the pianist that 
inspired him to write “Laurie.†The composition became a central part of Evans’ repertoire in his final years. Ms. Verchomin was with him on his final day in September,1980. On the left, we see Evans with photo booth shots of Laurie.
For a Rifftides mention of the book, go here. For Roger Levesque’s story in the Edmonton Journal about Ms. Verchomin and this evening’s event, go here. For a performance of “Laurie†by Evans, Mark Johnson and Joe La Barbera in Rome in 1979, don’t go anywhere. Play this video.