The album's title has biographical significance. Marc Johnson first came to the attention of players and listeners around the world as the bassist of Bill Evans' last great piano trio, between 1978 and 1980. The title track of the album, "Shades of Jade," was inspired by legendary Scott La Faro's "Jade Visions", first featured on Sunday at the Village Vanguard, in which he provided a lesson in how intensity can be focused in inward-looking music.
The album's title has biographical importance. Marc Johnson first gained prominence as Bill Evans' final great piano trio's bassist from 1978 to 1980. The title track, "Shades of Jade," was inspired by Scott La Faro's "Jade Visions," which demonstrated how intensity could be concentrated in inward-focused music at Village Vanguard performances.