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Orrin Evans

"The clear-cut best pianist of his time..." is how Hot House Magazine" described Orrin Evans in 1998, praise which was echoed again in the summer of 2002. This remarkable talent was nurtured in a household filled with music due to the efforts of his mother, a classical singer who surrounded the youngster with everything from the melodies of Puccini to the pulsating rhythms of Basie and Ellington. He learned from what he heard which is still the case today when he acknowledges such musicians as Trudy Pitts, Tim Warfield, Kenny Barron, Ralph Peterson, Edgar Bateman, Mickey Roker and Bobby Durham as inspirational guides. His formal study was at Philadelphia's prestigious Settlement School of Music under Charles Pettaway.

The New York Times described the pianist as "...a poised artist with an impressive template of ideas at his command", a quality undoubtedly recognized by the legendary saxophonist Bobby Watson who engaged Evans as piano chair for his band, a position he has held for six years. Orrin has recorded with Bobby on Live and Learn (Palmetto Records), Quite as it's Kept (Red Records) which features one of Orrin's original compositions "Looking in Your Eyes". Bobby also recorded another of Orrin's compositions "Two Stepping with Dawn" on Bobby Watson & Curtis Lundy Project (Sound Hills Records). Orrin has been playing with the Charles Mingus Big Band for the past three years. He has also toured with such diverse talents as the evolutionary Wallace Roney, Stefon Harris, and Antonio Hart.

For Orrin Evans, however, the greatest joy is playing his own band which, at different times, has included such notables as the aforementioned Ralph Peterson, Sam Newsome, Ralph Bowen, Nasheet Waits, Reid Anderson, John Swana and Duane Eubanks. Besides touring and recording, Evans is also a teacher and musical commentator, having conducted workshops, clinics and master classes both in The United States and abroad. When not on the road, he teaches privately. The newest Orrin Evans adventures are; "Meant to Shine", his latest cd on the Palmetto Records label, two projects on his own label, IMANI Records, one from the group SEED, and "Dejavu" by the Orrin Evans Trio, (both available online).

Orrin is also a PennPat (Pennsylvania Performing Artists on Tour) roster artist. Non-profit and government organizations in the mid-Atlantic region may qualify for funding for performances and residencies.

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Album Review

Michelle Lordi: Two Moons

Read "Two Moons" reviewed by Geno Thackara


The art of the jazz diva does not shy away from the dark and mysterious. From putting a spell on somebody to helplessly falling under that old black magic, the tradition always seems to include some small touch of witchery, and Michelle Lordi, for her part, does not let a modern-day sound obscure those roots. The mood of Two Moons sits somewhere between a late-night set in a small jazz club and a round of spooky stories around the campfire. ...

Album Review

Ben Wolfe: Unjust

Read "Unjust" reviewed by Maurizio Zerbo


Sul piano compositivo e dell'organizzazione sonora, Unjust è uno dei più luminosi gioielli jazzistici degli ultimi anni. Contrabbassista di ragguardevole talento, Ben Wolfe ribadisce nel suo decimo progetto discografico la predilezione per architetture ariose ma arzigogolate, dimostrando come la scrittura jazzistica possa captare lo spirito dei tempi nel rispetto dei classici modelli di riferimento. A dimostrare come il contrabbassista statunitense non si accontenti di riprodurre le idee altrui, l'impasto sonoro del suo ottetto trascende le atmosfere post-boppistiche e ...

2
Album Review

JD Walter: What the World Needs Now

Read "What the World Needs Now" reviewed by Pierre Giroux


JD Walter beckons listeners into a soulful and captivating journey through modern jazz interpretations of non-jazz material. With his unique vocal stylings and innovative arrangements, he brings a fresh perspective to familiar popular tunes, and several jazz standards, while delivering thought-provoking original compositions. From the very first track--Stevie Wonder's “Golden Lady"--it is evident that Walter's vocal prowess is a force to be reckoned with. He dashes along in full flight and then effortlessly shifts into intricate ...

31
Album Review

Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott East West Trumpet Summit: Coast to Coast

Read "Coast to Coast" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Coast to Coast is the third East West Trumpet Summit recorded by Ray Vega and Thomas Marriott in a musical partnership that has spanned nearly three decades. The years have been kind, and when it comes to playing persuasive jazz, neither Vega nor Marriott appears to have lost a step. Marriott, a native of Seattle, and Vega, New York-born and bred, first met in 1995, and the mutual admiration and respect was immediate. Their first two albums as co-leaders were ...

10
Album Review

Ray Vega & Thomas Marriott East West Trumpet Summit: Coast to Coast

Read "Coast to Coast" reviewed by Paul Rauch


For some people, the whole notion of an east-west summit of anything in jazz brings up the perceived differences over time between American west coast jazz and its east coast counterpart. The basic premise is that jazz on the American west coast is a cousin to the cool jazz movement, a calmer, less soulful part of the tradition that relies more on composition and arrangement than the playing of individual improvisers. East coast jazz is seen more as hard driving, ...

11
Album Review

Orrin Evans: The Red Door

Read "The Red Door" reviewed by Mike Jurkovic


A most generous craftsman, composer and bandleader, pianist Orrin Evans never fails to bring out the best of whoever he chooses to create with. The Red Door is gratefully, and gracefully, no exception to that rule. Whatever musical setting Evans chooses to practice his sinewy, r'n'b inflected post-bop in--sideman, big band, trio, quartet, duo, whatever--a sweet animation propels his music and buoys the players gathered around him. In this case the two core units feature bass legend Buster Williams, ...

7
Album Review

Orrin Evans: The Red Door

Read "The Red Door" reviewed by Dave Linn


Orrin Evans released his debut album for quintet, “Justin Time," in 1996, at the age of 21. Over the next 25 years, Evans released over 20 albums in all shapes and sizes. From trio to standard ensembles to large bands and big bands, Evans' history included a ten-year stint as a member of the Mingus Big Band, leading to his formation of the Grammy-nominated Captain Black Big Band in 2009. Additionally, when pianist Ethan Iverson (who wrote the liner notes ...

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Performance / Tour

Smoke Jazz Club Announces June Line-Up With NEA Jazz Master George Coleman, Vocal Great Mary Stallings, A New Project From Vincent Herring, An Album Release By Orrin Evans All-Star Quintet, And More

Smoke Jazz Club Announces June Line-Up With NEA Jazz Master George Coleman, Vocal Great Mary Stallings, A New Project From Vincent Herring, An Album Release By Orrin Evans All-Star Quintet, And More

Source: AMT Public Relations

George Coleman Quintet (Jun 1-4); Orrin Evans All-Star Quintet record release (Jun 8-11); Vincent Herring and Something Else! (Jun 15-18); Mary Stallings (Jun 22-25); and more… Rated the #1 Jazz Club in New York City (Secret NYC), Smoke Jazz Club kicks off the start of summer with some of today’s living legends. NEA Jazz Master George Coleman returns with his special quintet (Jun 1-4), soulful saxophonist Vincent Herring gets inspired by the classic Blue Note album Something Else! (Jun 15-18), ...

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Performance / Tour

The Django Announces December Schedule Featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith Tributes, Holidays With Duchess, Orrin Evans, New Year's Eve With Houston Person, And More

The Django Announces December Schedule Featuring Dr. Lonnie Smith Tributes, Holidays With Duchess, Orrin Evans, New Year's Eve With Houston Person, And More

Source: AMT Public Relations

The Django, downtown Manhattan’s premier jazz club, offers an impressive month of music with jazz legends and rising stars. Today’s leading artists gather on The Django stage to celebrate NEA Jazz Master Dr. Lonnie Smith in special back-to-back tribute concerts 12/9. Two leading pianists make their Django debut: Benito Gonzalez 12/3 followed by Orrin Evans 12/8 leading his new Brazilian project “Terreno Comun”. The holidays are in full swing with festive concerts by Charles Turner & Uptown Swing Dance 12/11, ...

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Contest

Enter the "Orrin Evans - Flip the Script" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Enter the "Orrin Evans - Flip the Script" Giveaway at All About Jazz!

Source: All About Jazz

All About Jazz members are invited to enter the Posi-Tone Records “Orrin Evans - Flip the Script“ giveaway contest starting today. We'll select FIVE winners at the conclusion of the contest on August 27th. Click here to enter the contest

(Following Orrin Evans at AAJ automatically enters you in the contest.)

Good luck! Your Friends at Posi-Tone Records About Flip the Script Orrin Evans turns over a new leaf and strides confidently back onto the scene ...

16

Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Orrin Evans

Jazz Musician of the Day: Orrin Evans

Source:

All About Jazz is celebrating Orrin Evans' birthday today!

“The clear-cut best pianist of his time..." is how Hot House Magazine" described Orrin Evans in 1998, praise which was echoed again in the summer of 2002. This remarkable talent was nurtured in a household filled with music due to the efforts of his mother, a classical singer who surrounded the youngster with everything from the melodies of Puccini to the pulsating rhythms of Basie and Ellington..."The clear-cut best pianist of ...

126

Performance / Tour

Jazz Bridge Presents Orrin Evans at the Society Hill Playhouse on October 20th

Jazz Bridge Presents Orrin Evans at  the Society Hill Playhouse on October 20th

Source: Suzanne Cloud

Opening a new Jazz Bridge Neighborhood Concerts series called Jazz at the Playhouse, pianist Orrin Evans will be appearing at the Society Hill Playhouse, 507 S. 8th Street in Philadelphia on October 20th, 2011 and with him will be bassist Alex Claffy, drummer Justin Faulkner, and saxophonist Chelsea Baratz. One Show: 7:30-9 p.m. Admission: $10/$5 for students. No advance sales. For info: 215-517-8337 or 856-858-8914. Parking is right across the street. Please note that after this initial performance by Mr. ...

127

Recording

Orrin Evans - Freedom (Posi-Tone, 2011)

Orrin Evans - Freedom (Posi-Tone, 2011)

Source: Music and More by Tim Niland

Pianist and composer Orrin Evans has been on quite a roll lately, leading his own groups and then co-leading progressive groups like The Captain Black Big Band and Tarbaby, both of which were featured at recent jazz festivals and received acclaim by both fans and press alike. Riding this increasing crest of fame, he releases a very accessible album featuring his trio of Dwayne Burno on bass and Byron Landham and Anwar Marshall splitting drumming duties. Larry McKenna sits in ...

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Recording

Orrin Evans - Freedom (2011)

Orrin Evans - Freedom (2011)

Source: Something Else!

You might say that top-notch jazz pianist Orrin Evans has become a fixture here at SER. It all got started four years ago when we noted his participation in Robin Eubanks' EB3 unit that made the phenomenal double-CD Live, Vol. 1 of 2007. Early last year we salivated over Evans' Bobby Watson tribute Faith In Action, a Best of 2010 selection, and again later in same the year as part of the cooperative trio Tarbaby for the widely acclaimed The ...

141

Recording

The Captain Black Big Band (Posi-Tone, 2011)

The Captain Black Big Band (Posi-Tone, 2011)

Source: Music and More by Tim Niland

Putting together a big band in these dicey economic times is a tough proposition at best, but pianist and composer Orrin Evans is bucking the odds with this large ensemble that features tight ensemble playing and fine soloing. It is a particularly large band and this allows them to play several distinct textures and work them into the bands overall sound. The ensemble meshes nicely like a finely woven garment and everybody is on the same page throughout the album. ...

169

Recording

One Track Mind: Orrin Evans on "Captain Black," "Commitment," "Jena 6," Others

One Track Mind: Orrin Evans on "Captain Black," "Commitment," "Jena 6," Others

Source: Something Else!

On this special edition of Something Else! Reviews' One Track Mind, we hand the reins over to Orrin Evans, a former sideman with Bobby Watson who quickly established himself as one of jazz music's most fascinating new voices over the course of a solo career begun in 1994. Here, the pianist shares unique insights into some of his more memorable tracks. Find out just who Captain Black was. How his chance discovery of a 1970 Belafonte/Horne recording called Harry & ...

106

Interview

Something Else! Interview: Orrin Evans, Jazz Pianist, Composer and Bandleader

Something Else! Interview: Orrin Evans, Jazz Pianist, Composer and Bandleader

Source: Something Else!

By Nick DeRiso Orrin Evans arrived amidst a wave of new jazz performers in the early 1990s. Unlike many of those young lions, however, he managed to bob up from that era's ultimately empty retro-conservatism. “A lot of those guys, quite frankly," Orrin says, “just gave too much of a f—. And I never did." By that, Evans means he never cared that much about being careful, for convention. It hasn't sold him more records, nor made him a bigger ...

Photos

Concerts

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Far Far Away

Savant Records
2023

buy

Unjust

Resident Arts
2023

buy

Coast to Coast

Origin Records
2023

buy

East West Trumpet...

Origin Records
2023

buy

The Red Door

Smoke Sessions Records
2023

buy

What the World Needs...

Arkadia Records
2023

buy

Weezy

From: The Red Door
By Orrin Evans

One Day at a Time

From: East West Trumpet Summit: Coast...
By Orrin Evans

Surrounding

From: Heatmap
By Orrin Evans

Song For Samuel

From: Trumpet Ship
By Orrin Evans

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