Orrin Evans

Not to be confused with Orrin C. Evans.
Orrin Evans
Evans in 2008
Evans in 2008
Background information
Born (1975-03-28) 28 March 1975 (age 49)
OriginTrenton, New Jersey, United States
GenresJazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentPiano
LabelsCriss Cross, Posi-Tone, Palmetto, Smoke Sessions, RogueArt
Websitewww.orrinevansmusic.com

Orrin Evans (born 28 March 1975)[1] is an American jazz pianist. Evans was born in Trenton, New Jersey and raised in Philadelphia.[2] He attended Rutgers University, and then studied with Kenny Barron.[2] He worked as a sideman for Bobby Watson, Ralph Peterson, Duane Eubanks, and Lenora Zenzalai-Helm, and released his debut as a leader in 1994. He signed with Criss Cross Jazz in 1997, recording prolifically with the label. He was awarded a 2010 Pew Fellowships in the Arts.[3]

In 2017, Evans was named the new pianist in The Bad Plus replacing Ethan Iverson.[4] He departed amicably in 2021 to focus on leading his own ensemble.

Evans is married to vocalist Dawn Warren Evans, who is also his manager.[5]

Discography

As leader

Year recorded Title Label Personnel/Notes
1995 The Trio Black Entertainment With Matthew Parrish (bass), Byron Landham (drums); reissued in 2001 as Deja Vu on Imani
1996 Justin Time Criss Cross With John Swana (trumpet), Tim Warfield (tenor sax), Rodney Whitaker (bass), Byron Landham (drums)
1997–98 Captain Black Criss Cross With Sam Newsome (soprano sax), Antonio Hart (alto sax), Ralph Bowen (tenor sax, soprano sax, alto sax), Tim Warfield (tenor sax), Avishai Cohen (bass), Rodney Whitaker (bass), Ralph Peterson (drums)
1998 Grown Folk Bizness Criss Cross With Sam Newsome (soprano sax), Ralph Bowen (tenor sax, alto sax), Rodney Whitaker (bass), Ralph Peterson (drums)
1999 Listen to the Band Criss Cross With Duane Eubanks (trumpet), Sam Newsome (soprano sax), Ralph Bowen (tenor sax, alto sax), Reid Anderson (bass), Nasheet Waits (drums)
2000? Seed Imani As Seed, with Mike Boone (bass), Rodney Green (Drums), and Dawn Warren (Vocals)
2001 Blessed Ones Criss Cross With Eric Revis (bass), Nasheet Waits and Edgar Bateman (drums)
2002 Meant to Shine Palmetto With Eric Revis (bass), Gene Jackson (drums); some tracks with Sam Newsome (soprano sax) added; some tracks with Ralph Bowen (tenor sax, bass clarinet, flute, soprano sax) added
2003 Luvpark Imani As Luvpark; with Ralph Bowen (sax), Donald Edwards (drums), J. D. Walter and Dawn Warren (vocals)
2004 Live At Widener University Imani As The Band, with J. D. Allen (tenor sax), Sam Newsome (soprano sax), Reid Anderson (bass), and Nasheet Waits (drums)
2004 Easy Now Criss Cross With Ralph Bowen (soprano sax, alto sax), Mike Boone and Eric Revis (bass), Byron Landham and Rodney Green (drums)
2006? The Trio – Live in Jackson, Mississippi Imani Trio, with Madison Rast (bass), Byron Landham (drums); in concert
2006 Tarbaby Imani As Tarbaby; with Stacy Dillard and J. D. Allen (tenor sax), Eric Revis (bass), Nasheet Waits (drums)
2009 Faith in Action Posi-Tone With Luques Curtis (bass), Nasheet Waits, Rocky Bryant and Gene Jackson (drums)
2010? The End of Fear Posi-Tone As Tarbaby; with J. D. Allen (tenor sax), Oliver Lake (alto sax), Nicholas Payton (trumpet), Eric Revis (bass), Nasheet Waits (drums )
2010 Captain Black Big Band Posi-Tone As Captain Black Big Band; in concert
2010 Freedom Posi-Tone With Larry McKenna (tenor sax), Dwayne Burno (bass), Byron Landham (drums, percussion), Anwar Marshall (drums)
2011? Ballad of Sam Langford Hipnotic As Tarbaby; with Oliver Lake (sax), Ambrose Akinmusire (trumpet), Eric Revis (bass), Nasheet Waits (drums)
2011 Fanon RogueArt As Tarbaby; with Oliver Lake (alto sax), Marc Ducret (guitar), Eric Revis (bass), Nasheet Waits (drums)
2011 Mother's Touch Posi-Tone As Captain Black Big Band
2012 Flip the Script Posi-Tone With Eric Revis, Ben Wolfe, Alex Claffy and Luques Curtis (bass), Donald Edwards (drums)
2013 ...It Was Beauty Criss Cross With Eric Revis (bass), Donald Edwards (drums)
2014 Liberation Blues Smoke Sessions With Sean Jones, J. D. Allen, Luques Curtis (bass), Bill Stewart (drums); in concert
2014 The Evolution of Oneself Smoke Sessions[6] With Christian McBride (bass), Karriem Riggins (drums); two tracks with Marvin Sewell (guitar) added; one track with J. D. Walter (vocals) added
2016 #knowingishalfthebattle Smoke Sessions Some tracks trio, with Luques Curtis (bass), Mark Whitfield Jr. (drums); Kurt Rosenwinkel and Kevin Eubanks (guitar), Caleb Wheeler Curtis (sax and flute), M'Balia Singley (vocals) are added on some tracks
2016 Presence Smoke Sessions With the Captain Black Big Band; Troy Roberts (tenor sax), Caleb Wheeler Curtis and Todd Bashore (alto sax), John Raymond, Josh Lawrence and Bryan Davids (trumpet), David Gibson, Stafford Hunter and Brent White (trombone), Madison Rast (bass), Anwar Marshall and Jason Brown (drums)
2019 The Intangible Between Smoke Sessions With the Captain Black Big Band; Troy Roberts (tenor sax), Stacy Dillard (tenor and soprano sax), Immanuel Wilkins (alto and soprano sax), Todd Bashore (flute and alto sax), Caleb Wheeler Curtis (alto sax), Sean Jones, Josh Lawrence and Thomas Marriott (trumpet), David Gibson, Stafford Hunter and Reggie Watkins (trombone), Dylan Reis, Eric Revis, Luques Curtis and Madison Rast (bass), Mark Whitfield Jr., Anwar Marshall and Jason Brown (drums)
2021 The Magic Of Now Smoke Sessions With Vicente Archer (bass), Bill Stewart (drums), Immanuel Wilkins (alto sax)
2023 The Red Door Smoke Sessions Nicholas Payton (trumpet), Wallace Roney (trumpet), Gary Thomas (tenor sax & flute), Larry McKenna (tenor sax), Robert Hurst (bass), Buster Williams (bass), Marvin "Smitty" Smith (drums), Gene Jackson (drums)

References

  1. ^ Stark, Karl (1999-12-02). "Young Jazz Pianist, Musical Iconoclast Orrin Evans Is A Hometown Success Story". Articles.Philly.com. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved 2016-04-30.
  2. ^ a b Lutz, Phillip. "Orrin Evans The Instigator." Downbeat 81.11 (2014): 42-45. Print.
  3. ^ "Orrin Evans: Music: 2010 Grantee," The Pew Center for Arts and Heritage. Accessed May 15, 2013.
  4. ^ "The Bad Plus Has Big News: Some Subtraction, Some Addition, for a Whole New Sum". 10 April 2017.
  5. ^ Russonello, Giovanni. "Orrin Evans Has Been Playing Jazz for Years. So Why Is He a Rising Star?". The New York Times. Retrieved September 25, 2018.
  6. ^ "Pop and Jazz Listings and Albums for the Fall Season". The New York Times, September 7, 2015