Pianist Orrin Evans Releases 20Th Recording …It Was Beauty on Criss Cross and Will Debut the Music May 27 @ Blue Note, NYC *
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…a poised artist with an impressive template of ideas at his command. – New York Times Pianist Orrin Evans Releases 20th Recording …It Was Beauty on Criss Cross and Will Debut the Music May 27 @ Blue Note, NYC * * * A Prodigious Producer, Evans Also Launches Likemind Collective With New CDs by Tarbaby, Eric Revis and JD Walter …It Was Beauty. Orrin Evans has been recognized as one of the most inventive pianists of his generation. He creates beautifully layered compositions that resound in the listener’s mind. Just named Top Composer of 2012 by the music publishing organization SESAC, he will release …It Was Beauty on Criss Cross Records on May 24. It marks his 20th recording as a leader and his seventh release for the label, which he began recording for at age 21. …It Was Beauty is a watershed artistic statement for Evans. In his 20-year plus career, he’s been critically acclaimed for his imposing chops, his propulsive take on rhythm and harmony alike. Overlooked has been the beauty he creates through his art form. Shares Orrin: The idea is to show a different side, not a record of ballads, but the intensity of sensitivity. I was talking to a friend about it, and he said, ‘I always tell people it wasn’t the airplane that killed King Kong - it was beauty.’ For the project, Evans convened four bassists – Eric Revis, Ben Wolfe, Luques Curtis, and Alex Claffy – and drummer Donald Edwards, all bandstand partners in recent years. It’s two different ensembles coming together from one extended family. What’s beautiful is when we come together for a conversation. We don’t always agree on everything, but we do speak the same language, which is built on respect for where we all come from. As has been his custom, Evans calls upon all of his musical influences and creates an art experience comprised of American Songbook (“Rockin’ Chair”), spirituals (Andre Crouch’s “My Tribute”), iconic jazz repertoire (Ornette Coleman’s “Blues Connotation”), pieces by colleagues (Mark Helias’ “Ellipsis,” Bill McHenry’s “African Song,” and Todd Bashore’s “Ribisonia”), and pieces by band members (Revis’ “Black Elk Speaks” and Wolfe’s “Hats Off To Rebay”) plus his originals (“Commitment” and “Dorm Life”). Likemind. Evans has a restless mind as an artist, producer and bandmate, compelling him to forge new paths for himself and artists of likemind. Maybe it’s a Philly thing. The recipient of a 2010 Pew Fellowship, there’s something about Philadelphia musicians that keeps them rooted to the idea of neighborhood and collective sourcing of ideas that can benefit all and move music forward to a new frontier. Evans has that questing approach to music, and while acclaimed as a pianist and composer, his talent as a producer and his knack for scouting new talent have not been as recognized. Always pushing the boundaries of music – even questioning what it’s called – Evans attracts other brilliant, progressive musicians with a sound and style like no one else and organizes structures that can support them artistically and professionally. First he co-created TARBABY, a collaborative concept with bassist Eric Revis and drummer Nasheet Waits. Now he’s forged Likemind, a larger concept of an artist collective that currently includes his own music, TARBABY’s and that of Revis and vocalist JD Walter. TARBABY is a sonic project and free-form collective that strives to preserve core elements that have made creative music what it is and generate organic situations where like-minded artists can participate and showcase the music’s mutable, ever-changing form. On May 15, they’ll release the self-produced Ballad of Sam Langford on Hipnotic with guests Ambrose Akinmusire on trumpet, Lake back on tenor saxophone and Matthew Evans – Orrin’s son – on finger piano. Eric Revis. Bassist for Branford Marsalis’ quintet for 16 years, Revis has a deep, woody tone and his playing is agile, melodic and distinctive. In 2012 Clean Feed Records released the stellar Parallax by Revis with Jason Moran, Ken Vandermark and Nasheet Waits. On May 15, Clean Feed will release the followup, City of Asylum, featuring Andrew Cyrille and Kris Davis and produced by Revis. JD Walter. A purist and an innovator, Walter is a jazz singer’s singer who’s been compared to Betty Carter and Milton Nascimento. Known for his virtuosic instrumental approach to his voice and dynamic use of electronics and looping, he’ll release his seventh CD, One Step Away, produced by Orrin Evans and Eric Revis for TARBABY Productions. Biography. Growing up in a musical city like Philadelphia afforded Evans the opportunity to study informally with the likes of Trudy Pitts, Shirley Scott and Bobby Durham and formally with William Whitaker, Jack Carr and Charles Pettaway. While attending Mason Gross School of The Arts at Rutgers University, he worked with teachers including Kenny Barron, Joanne Brackeen, Ralph Bowen and Ted Dunbar who instilled in him the importance of the fundamentals of jazz and the necessity of listening to and living the music. After recording his first album in 1994, Evans joined Bobby Watson's band Horizon in the mid-90s, which introduced Evans to the New York jazz scene. His recording and performing resume includes Wallace Roney, 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. Evans previously released Freedom (Posi-Tone – 2011), an interpretive exploration of the music of his Philadelphia friends and mentors including bassist Dwayne Burno, drummer Byron Landham, and tenor saxophonist Larry McKenna. Up-and-coming Philly drummer Anwar Marshall guested. Evans has recorded for Palmetto Records and his own label, Imani Records. Evans is that rare musical force – a composer, pianist, bandleader, teacher, producer and arranger – who leads his own bands including The Captain Black Big Band and LuvPark; co-leads and produces bands including Tarbaby; plays in other bands including The Mingus Big Band; produces projects for other artists including JD Walter; and nurtures young talent including that of his son as featured on the new Tarbaby CD. Evans is always expanding his musical family and artistic conversations beautifully. CD RELEASE: MA7 27 @ The Blue Note. 8pm & 10:30pm. $15 table / $10 bar. 131 W. 3rd St (@6th Avenue). 212.475.8592. www.bluenote.net / www.orrinevansmusic.com U.S. TOURING/WORKSHOPS June 6 – Orrin Evans Trio @ Pittsburgh Jazz Festival. Pittsburgh, PA July 14-16 – Orrin Evans solo @ Litchfield Jazz Camp, 1 Macedonia Road, Kent, CT August 11 – Orrin Evans Trio @ Litchfield Jazz Festival. Litchfield, CT August 30-31 – Orrin Evans Quartet @ Smalls, New York, NY September 13-14 – Orrin Evans @ Vancouver, CA September 16 – Orrin Evans @ Jimmy Macks, Portland, OR September 21 – Orrin Evans @ Monterey Jazz Festival, CA Interviews/CDs: [email protected] / 347.726.8325 www.OrrinEvansMusic.com .