Moonbeams is the first album by Bill Evans recorded after the death of his bassist Scott LaFaro in a car accident in July 1961. Evans, deeply affected, took a year off before returning to the studio.
For this album, Evans formed a new trio with bassist Chuck Israels and drummer Paul Motian. The recording sessions took place on three different days in May and June 1962, and the album was released later that year by Riverside Records.
The album features mostly ballads and original compositions by Evans, such as 'Re: Person I Knew', which is an anagram of his name. Critics have praised the lyrical sensitivity and introspection of the record, considered a milestone in his career.