ORRIN EVANS Brian McKenna Tel. 917-748-4337 39 S Ridge Rd. Pomona, NY 10970 brian@mckennagroupproductions.com Press Quotes Often predisposed on prior recordings to navigate the high-wire in satis- fying ways, Evans here plays throughout with old soul concision and deep focus worthy of his dedicatees. - Ted Panken Every series of notes and chords seems well placed by Evans and expertly orchestrated by the band as a collective. Evans and company do a fantastic job of providing the musical traction that allows the entire band complete deference to the compositions and each other. - Karas Lamb Revivalist He’s his own man, finding new things to say in a very mainstream/classicist context. And yes, he manages to hold the listener’s attention all the way through, with Larry McKenna’s two appearances on saxophone serving as a bonus, not a respite from tedium. So yeah, this album is highly recommended. - Phil Freeman Burning Ambulance While Evans still injects his own personality into these pieces, his mission here is to honor others. Swing is a central element on a large number of the tracks, but it isn't all that Evans has to offer. Dewy balladry built with glacial grace (Evans' "Dita"), a rhythmically engaging workout on Shirley Scott's "Oasis," and an album-closing, solo piano take on Herbie Hancock’s "Just Enough" all exhibit different sides of the inde- fatigable Orrin Evans. - DAN BILAWSKY All About Jazz Downbeat - 3 1/2 Stars "Evans has a penetrating and down to business style" - Michael Jackson Downbeat The direction is refreshing and telling of the maturity of Evans, who seems more concerned with artistic expression than technical posturing. With a style steeped in tradition, yet pushing forward ever-so-gently, Evans is able to show restraint while building layers of intensity, especially on the ballad "Dita"—Evans' only compositional contribution to the date—and an imaginative solo piano rendering of Herbie Hancock's "Just Enough," which serves as a fitting wrap-up. - John Barron The Jazz Word http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=7381 http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/contrib.php?id=74649
Transcript
ORRIN EVANS
Brian McKenna Tel. 917-748-433739 S Ridge Rd. Pomona, NY 10970
Often predisposed on prior recordings to navigate the high-wire in satis-fying ways, Evans here plays throughout with old soul concision and deep focus worthy of his dedicatees.- Ted Panken
Every series of notes and chords seems well placed by Evans and expertly orchestrated by the band as a collective. Evans and company do a fantastic job of providing the musical traction that allows the entire band complete deference to the compositions and each other.- Karas LambRevivalist
He’s his own man, finding new things to say in a very mainstream/classicist context. And yes, he manages to hold the listener’s attention all the way through, with Larry McKenna’s two appearances on saxophone serving as a bonus, not a respite from tedium. So yeah, this album is highly recommended.- Phil FreemanBurning Ambulance
While Evans still injects his own personality into these pieces, his mission here is to honor others. Swing is a central element on a large number of the tracks, but it isn't all that Evans has to offer. Dewy balladry built with glacial grace (Evans' "Dita"), a rhythmically engaging workout on Shirley Scott's "Oasis," and an album-closing, solo piano take on Herbie Hancock’s "Just Enough" all exhibit different sides of the inde-fatigable Orrin Evans.- DAN BILAWSKYAll About Jazz
Downbeat - 3 1/2 Stars"Evans has a penetrating and down to business style"- Michael JacksonDownbeat
The direction is refreshing and telling of the maturity of Evans, who seems more concerned with artistic expression than technical posturing. With a style steeped in tradition, yet pushing forward ever-so-gently, Evans is able to show restraint while building layers of intensity, especially on the ballad "Dita"—Evans' only compositional contribution to the date—and an imaginative solo piano rendering of Herbie Hancock's "Just Enough," which serves as a fitting wrap-up.- John BarronThe Jazz Word
Orrin Evans breaks loose with authority on "Freedom," his new date for Posi-Tone. The sky is the limit when Evans takes his piano trio on an interpretive exploration of the music of his friends and mentors. !This trio date features a hometown crew of sideman in-cluding the solid playing of bassist Dwayne Burno,!the precise metrics of drummer Byron Landham, and the tenor saxophone stylings of special guest Larry McKenna.
"Freedom" is a direct reflection of Orrin's feelings and deep re-gard for the music of his past and the guidance of his dear friends and mentors that he is carrying into his present and future. Orrin continues to make a bold and original statements while ultimately remaining true to himself. Whether one is already familiar with the music of Orrin Evans or discovering him for the first time, this session is sure to bring a smile to serious listeners everywhere.
tracks.... ..............................1. One For Honor (C. Fambrough) 4:17.... ..............................................2. Gray’s Ferry (D. Burno) 4:58.... ........................3. Shades Of Green (E. Green)............. 6:11.... .................................... ........................4. Dita (O. Evans) 5:46.... ..........................................5. Time After Time (J. Styne) 5:43.... .............................................6. Hodge Podge (C. Beck) 4:37.... ............................................................7. Oasis (S. Scott) 6:22
..... .......................................................8 As Is (D. Eubanks) 3:34
..... .........................................9 Just Enough (H. Hancock) 5:57
Orrin Evans is a PennPAT (Pennsylvania Per-forming Artists on Tour) roster artist. Non-profit and government organizations in the mid-Atlantic region may qualify for funding for performances and residencies. Including: DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, OH, PA, VA, WV, NC or U.S. Virgin Islands
Pianist, composer, bandleader, teacher:ORRIN EVANS is a musical renaissance man.
Since moving to New York in the winter of 1995 Orrin Evans has been recognized as one of the most distinctive and inventive pianist of his generation. In a short span of time Orrin has earned the titles of pianist, composer, bandleader, teacher, producer and arranger and most recently, a recipi-ent of a 2010 Pew Fellowship in the Arts.
Growing up in a musical city like Philadelphia was extremely important to early development of Orrin’s career. Philadelphia afforded Orrin the opportunity to study informally with the likes of Trudy Pitts, Shirley Scott, Mickey Roker, Bobby Durham, Edgar Bateman, Sid Simmons, and formally with William Whitaker, Jack Carr, and Charles Pettaway. In 1993, after attending Girard Academic Music Program, Orrin was accepted into the Mason Gross School of The Arts at Rutgers Univer-sity. While attending Mason Gross some of his teachers included Kenny Barron, Joanne Brackeen, Ralph Bowen, and Ted Dunbar. They instilled in him the importance of the fundamentals of jazz as well as the necessity of listening to and living the music.
After moving to New York in August of 1996 Orrin was invited to join Bobby Watson’s band “Hori-zon” on their European tour. This opportunity introduced Orrin to the New York jazz scene. His recording and performing resume includes Wallace Roney, Mos Def, Common, Pharoah Sanders, Antonio Hart, Carmen Lundy, Ralph Peterson, Ralph Bowen, The Mingus Big Band, Roy Hargrove, Nicolas Payton, Brandford Marsalis, Gary Bartz, Eddie Henderson, Sean Jones, Tim Warfield, Ravi Coltrane, Robin Eubanks, Duane Eubanks, and Dave Douglas.
Orrin’s recording career started in 1994 with a self-produced trio release called “The Trio” featuring Matthew Parrish on bass and Byron Landham on drums. The release can now be found on the Imani Record label under the title “Déjà Vu”. In 1996 he was introduced to Gerry Teekins from Criss Cross records. This relationship afforded Orrin the opportunity to release six critically acclaimed recordings for the Criss Cross label. During a hiatus from Criss Cross Orrin released a recording for the Palmetto record label “Meant To Shine” and various recordings on his own label Imani Records.
ORRIN EVANS
Brian McKenna Tel. 917-748-433739 S Ridge Rd. Pomona, NY 10970
In 2002 Orrin combined forces with drummer Donald Edwards, vocalist JD Walter, saxophonist Ralph Bowen, and his wife vocalist Dawn Warren to form the band Luvpark. The band recorded the critically acclaimed self titled album “Luvpark” and is presently working on the release of their sophomore recording. In 2008 Orrin released the debut recording, from “Tarbaby”, a co-lead band with drummer Nasheet Waits and bassist Eric Revis on his Imani Records Label. Orrin then signed with PosiTone Records and released, his highly acclaimed cd, “Faith In Action”. His composition, “Don’t Call Me Wally” has been nominated for a Grammy for “Best Improvised Jazz Solo” and the brand new sophomore project from Tarbaby “The End of Fear” (PosiTone Records) is already gen-erating a buzz. The New York Times wrote, “You feel they’re in a continuous tradition… They could go down this road for a long time, balancing repertory and originals by all three core members, and balancing 50 years of approaches to the small band in jazz.”
Evans spent 3 years as a teacher at the coveted Germantown Friends School where he taught middle school music and conducted three jazz ensembles. He returned to Settlement Music School to teach individual piano lessons, theory lessons and an advanced jazz ensemble. He con-tinues to be a musical commentator, conducting workshops, clinics and master classes both in the United States and abroad, while continuing to record and tour with his own bands.
Lately Orrin’s greatest joy has been producing projects for other artists like Sean Jones and play-ing with his own band, which at different times, has included such notables as Ralph Peterson, Jr., Sam Newsome, Ralph Bowen, Nasheet Waits, Reid Anderson, Eric Revis, JD Allen and Duane Eubanks.
ORRIN EVANS
Brian McKenna Tel. 917-748-433739 S Ridge Rd. Pomona, NY 10970
Kenny Barron, Andy Bey, Bilal, Ralph Bowen, Randy Brecker, Abraham Burton, Donald Byrd,Will Calhoun, Ravi Coltrane, Johnny Coles, Common, Elvis Costello, Dave Douglas, Bobby Durham,Robin Eubanks, Charles Fambrough, Russell Gunn, Craig Handy, Roy Hargrove, Stefon Harris,Antonio Hart, Miles Jaye, Denise King, Frank Lacy, Branford Marsalis, Christian McBride,Sam Newsome, Greg Osby, Ralph Peterson
FESTIVALS
Festhalle Viersen (Germany)Guiamareas Jazz Festival (Portugal)Pulsano Festival (Italy)Seixal Jazz Festival (Portugal)Verona Jazz Festival (Italy)St. Lucia Jazz Festival ( St. Lucia)Oporto Jazz Festival (Portugal)Copenhagen Jazz Festival (Denmark)Wales Jazz Festival (England)Jazz Fest of Sevilla (Spain)Cork Jazz Festival (Ireland)North Sea Jazz Festival (Netherlands)Estoril Jazz Festival (Portugal)Vienna Jazz Festival (Austria)San Sebastian Jazz Festival (Spain)Montreal Jazz Festival (Canada)Ocho Rios Jazz Festival (Jamaica)
Playboy Jazz Festival (CA)San Francisco Jazz Festival (CA)Erie Blues & Jazz Festival (PA)COTA Jazz Festival (PA)Tri-C Jazz Fest (OH)Mellon Jazz Festival (PA)Clifford Brown Jazz Festival (DE)Freihofer Jazz Festival (NY)Chicken Bone Beach Festival (NJ)Kansas City Blues & Jazz (MO)JVC Jazz Festival (NY)New Orleans Jazz & Heritage (LA)Detroit Jazz Festival (MI)Mt. Hood Jazz Festival (CO)Telluride Jazz (CO)Jazz at Ravinia (IL)Cape May Jazz Festival (NJ)
Brian McKenna Tel. 917-748-433739 S Ridge Rd. Pomona, NY 10970
Freedom (2011) PosiTone RecordsFaith In Action (2010) PosiTone RecordsTarbaby End of Fear (2010) PosiTone RecordsOrrin Evans & Friends Candlelite Live (2010)Tarbaby Tarbaby (2009) Imani RecordsOrrin Evans Trio Live-Mississippi (2006) Imani RecordsOrrin Evans Easy Now (2005) Criss CrossLUVPARK LUVPARK (2004) Imani RecordsThe Band Live @ Widener University (2004) ImaniOrrin Evans Meant to Shine (2002) Palmetto RecordsOrrin Evans Blessed Ones (2001) Criss Cross JazzOrrin Evans Dejavu (2001) Imani RecordsSEED SEED (2000) Imani RecordsOrrin Evans Listen to the Band (1999) Criss Cross JazzOrrin Evans Grown Folks Bizness (1998) Criss CrossOrrin Evans Captain Black (1997) Criss Cross JazzOrrin Evans Justin Time (1996) Criss Cross JazzOrrin Evans The Trio (1994) Black Entertainment
Recordings as a Sideman
Stacy Dillard “Good & Bad Memories” (2010) Criss CrossKate Schutt “Telephone Game” (2008) ArtistShareSean Jones “The Search Within” (2008) Mack AvenueRussell Gunn “Love Stories” (2008) High Note RecordsElizabeth Kontamanou “Back to My Groove” (2007) Nocturne RecordsSean Jones “Kaleidoscope” (2007) Mack Avenue RecordsRussell Gunn “Playing Miles” (2007) High Note RecordsSean Jones “Roots” (2006) Mack Avenue RecordsDonnie McCaslin “Soar” (2005) Sunnyside RecordsMingus Big Band “I Am Three” (2005) Sunnyside RecordsWill Calhoun “Native Lands” (2005) Half Note RecordsSean Jones “Gemini” (2005) Mack Avenue RecordsRalph Bowen “Keep the Change” (2004) Criss Cross RecordsEric Revis “Tales of a Stuttering Mime” (2004) 11:11 RecordsSean Jones “Eternal Journey” (2004) Mack Avenue RecordsRalph Peterson, Jr. “Tests of Time” (2003) Criss Cross RecordsRalph Peterson, Jr. “Subliminal Seduction” (2002) Criss CrossTomonao Hara “TonyCally” (2002) Zoo T RecordsJD Allen “Pharoah’s Children” (2002) Criss Cross JazzRussell Gunn (2001) High Note RecordsRalph Peterson, Jr. “Art of War” (2001) Criss Cross RecordsBobby Watson “Live & Learn (2001) Palmetto RecordsTomonao Hara “Pinocchio “ (2001) Zoo T RecordsCommon “Like Water for Chocolate” (1999) Universal RecordsWill Calhoun “Live at the Blue Note” (1999) Half Note RecordsAlison Crockett “That’s Where You Go” (1999)Duane Eubanks “My Shining Hour” (1999) TCB RecordsLenora Zenzalai Helm “Spirit Child” (1999) J-Curve RecordsDanny Walsh “Satellite” (1999) Ratamacue RecordsLandham Brothers (1998) Straight Street RecordsBobby Watson “Quiet As It’s Kept” (1998) Red RecordsDenise King (1998) Redd King RecordsDenise King Quartet (1994) EclecticRich Adderly and Music Report (1993) RPM Records
Brian McKenna Tel. 917-748-433739 S Ridge Rd. Pomona, NY 10970
2010 Grammy Nominations “Best Jazz Solo” & “Best JazzRecording” “Faith in Action” PosiTone Records2010 Recipient Pew Fellowship in the Arts2006 PennPAT grant funded by Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, PewCharitable Trust, Vira I. Heinz Endowment, William PennFoundation, PA Council on the Arts2005 PennPat grant funded by Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, PewCharitable Trust, Vira I. Heinz Endowment, William PennFoundation, PA Council on the Arts2003 American Composers Forum grant2003 Scribe Video Community Visions grant2003 PennPAT grant – funded by Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, PewCharitable Trust, Vira I. Heinz Endowment, William PennFoundation, PA Council on the Arts2002 SESAC National Performance Activity Award“Meant to Shine” Palmetto Records2002 Philadelphia InquirerTop 10 Jazz CD “Meant to Shine”2001 Meet the Composer grant2001 PennPAT grant – funded by Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, PewCharitable Trust, Vira I. Heinz Endowment, William PennFoundation, PA Council on the Arts2000 Philadelphia City Paper“Best Jazz Success Story”1999 Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition1993 Grammy All American High School MVP1992 Best High School Jazz Musician of Philadelphia1992 National Arts Recognition Scholarship1992 Bob Perkins Scholarship Award
EDUCATIONCommunity College of PennsylvaniaMason Gross College of the ArtsRutgers University
Mr. Evans has spent years teaching middle school music curriculum, conducting large and small studentjazz ensembles and teaching master classes and workshops to college students all over the world.
Performances/residencies include one of Orrin’s all-star bands.
In addition to the following programs, individual residency activities can also be crafted to meet your special needs.
Jazz MiniA mini-recital is a short concert, about 30 minutes long. The space for a minirecital must be intimate whileproviding an appropriate concert atmosphere. Mini-recitals can be presented to classes at a college, library,or high school music program. The recital can be followed by a Q&A session.Prefer 50 or less students.
Young JazzThis program is designed for K-8. Mr. Evans will introduce the children to one of our greatest cultural traditions, Jazz.Through an exciting interactive program the students will explore questions like ‘what is jazz?’ “where did themusic originate?’ ‘how do musicians create this rich music?’ ‘who are the men and women responsible forthis legacy?’ Preparation materials are available for this program.30 student maximum OR no more than two classes at a time.
Jazz MasterStudent musicians perform works for the artist and receive advice on improvisation, repertoire, and technique.Students selected to perform in master classes should be prepared to benefit from the experience.Master classes can be held before a class or large audience, not to exceed 2 hours in length.
Jam SessionMr. Evans can be available for an informal jam session with students or adults. Helpful tips for participating injam sessions, and how to get the most from sitting in.Musicians should bring their instruments, if possible.
Jazz TalkThe artist can meet with schools or community groups at luncheons, teas, or dinners. These sessions canshed light on the workday activities and professional responsibility of a jazz musician. Who are some ofhis mentors? Where did he study? Who does he listen to? How much does he practice?
Jazz PrepThe artist can meet with school jazz ensembles to read through ensemble charts, applying jazz improvisationtechniques.Small group ensembles, large ensembles, big bands.
Brian McKenna Tel. 917-748-433739 S Ridge Rd. Pomona, NY 10970
Orrin Evans is a PennPAT (PennsylvaniaPerforming Artists on Tour) roster artist.Non-profit and government organizations inthe mid-Atlantic region may qualify forfunding for performances and residencies.Including: DC, DE, MD, NJ, NY, OH, PA,VA, WV, NC or U.S. Virgin Islands
“Jazz & Tap” – Orrin Evans introducesaudiences to Jazz and Tap Dance .More information available upon request.
“Captain Black Big Band” – Orrin’scritically acclaimed 17 piece big bandperforms original and standards.More information available upon request.
“Song for My Father”Orrin Evans pays tribute to his late father, professor and playwright, Don Evans. This special perfor-mance includes musical selections from The Orrin Evans Quartet, as well as actors and actresses performing skits from some of Don Evans more popular plays like “A Lovesong for Miss Lydia”,“It’s Showdown Time”, or “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show”.Technical requirements provided upon request.
“Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.”This program works well for MLK Day as well as Black History Month programs. A quartet or quintet will be joined by a guest vocalist as well as professor and poet Sonia Sanchez, as they remember a legendary leader with poetry, renditions of negro spirituals, and jazz. This program is available for schools and universities and can be coordinated with a lecture from Ms. Sanchez.
“It’s Electric!”Orrin Evans and the band LUVPARK explore electric jazz of the 70’s and 80’s, the role that R&B bands played on jazz, and the inception of “smooth jazz:. A variety of popular tunes are performed including selections from Herbie Hancock, Pat Methany, Grover Washington and a host of others. A Q&A session can also be included.
“Monk’s Music”This special program uncovers the music of the master, Thelonious Monk. Mr. Evans, a Thelonious Monk competition winner adds his own brand of odd meter playing to some of Monk’s more popular and some obscure tunes. This program is suitable for both solo piano and trio.
Charles Mingus “The Legacy Continues”Mr. Evans is a member of the Charles Mingus Big Band, as well as the Mingus Dynasty Band and has performed the music of Mingus for audiences all over the world. In this setting a quartet takes on a new approach to the music, offering some fresh and innovative interpretations of the music of Charles Mingus.
ORRIN EVANS
Brian McKenna Tel. 917-748-433739 S Ridge Rd. Pomona, NY 10970
