 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: JackOrion
Date: 2002-09-02 19:24
Has anyone heard of this exceptional talent? I met him when he was 23 and he was playing as well as Goodman, Shaw or Hall. Amazing!! He should be 32 now and I'd like to get in touch with him if anyone might know where he is?
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Author: Martin
Date: 2002-09-02 20:09
Jack,
Evan has been living in New Orleans. If you do a search for Evan Christopher you will find he has a web site.
Martin Shapiro
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Author: Laurie
Date: 2002-09-02 21:07
I'll have to look him up.. cool ! Always happy to find some Jazz Clarinets !
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Author: William
Date: 2002-09-02 22:19
His webswite has not been updated since 12-01-00, but it does have a good list of CDs for sale.
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Author: JackOrion
Date: 2002-09-02 23:20
I Know he was living in New Orleans, but thought he moved to Texas. I'll have to check his website again but like William said it has been a long time sence it was last updated. I have found a bunch of stuff for him on the web, just nothing within the last year. I'll have to try his site anyhow.
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Author: John Kelly - Australia
Date: 2002-09-03 04:42
I have a CD of his, it's a trio with piano and drums. It's very good and the old time trio set-up works well- much like the greats of yesteryear.
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Author: diz
Date: 2002-09-05 05:41
I'm not a big fan of modern jazz - but I DO really like the early jazz - you know, when it had just migrated from ragtime ... I'm thinking goofy striped tuxedos and cane hats.
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Author: John Morton
Date: 2002-09-05 19:38
Evan Christopher gained a wide audience during his stint in San Antonio, TX with the Jim Cullum Jazz Band, which must be the workingest trad band in the country. He is now in New Orleans, where I saw him for the first time in April at the French Quarter festival. He is indeed a phenomenal player, a good deal more accomplished than on his earlier recordings. I was thrilled to see such a dynamic, youthful artist playing in a genre mostly known for its old geezers. He looks like a young Jelly Roll Morton.
I didn't get close enough to see what he was playing, but his clarinet looked a bit different in some way I don't remember. Someone later told me EC plays an Albert system clarinet.
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Author: JackOrion
Date: 2002-09-06 00:29
When I first met Evan he was playing in the Tom Kubis "Swing Savant" full trad band. At the time he was playing a regular Boehm. For a short stint he had a trio playing at a joint in Fullerton. This was when his first CD came out. I read on his web site that the last CD he has made to date was the first time he exclusivley played an Albert. When we talked, he was very much into Ed Hall, and George Lewis. He was blending Thier style with Goodman's and the results are amazing, at least the way he was doing it. He must be tearing it up on the Albert. Time to plan at trip to New Orleans.
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Author: John Morton
Date: 2002-09-06 16:17
I was steered to the French Quarter Festival as the best way to catch a selection of trad artists. It happens in early April, a couple of weeks before the much larger Jazz & Heritage Festival. All the events are free, and they're all in the Quarter, therefore walkable. Some other clarinetists I enjoyed were Tom Fischer, Jack Maheu and (especially!) Tim Laughlin. I hope Evan Christopher attends to his web page - it's hard to get notice of his performances because he is usually not billed as a leader.
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Author: kilo
Date: 2009-08-01 11:54
Had to bump this one:
I saw Evan Christopher and pianist Tom McDermott with their Danza Quartet last weekend and Mr. Christopher — announced as the "best clarinetist in the world" — came pretty close to living up to that description. Along with his phenomenal technique and sound (he plays an Albert system clarinet) he had the commanding stage presence of the virtuoso, unafraid and eager to enter the fray. I thought his tone was remarkably even throughout the range of the instrument, although, like many clarinetists of the New Orleans school, he had a masterly command of the chalumeau and was able to construct chorus after chorus of solo lines without even crossing the break. Besides classic ragtime numbers, the quartet also performed some very beautiful Brazilian and Caribbean tunes as well. Pianist Tom McDermott is an intense performer with prodigious technique and swing, and mention must be made of the sousaphonic genius of Matt Perrine and the rollicking antics of drummer Shannon Powell who, despite all his theatrics, protected the beat like a Rottweiler guarding a steak. Great show!
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Author: Arnoldstang
Date: 2009-08-03 07:44
Can't sleep tonight....after listening to a bit...I think I'll stay up all night! Wonderful playing...
Freelance woodwind performer
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Author: William
Date: 2009-08-03 14:18
This may be of some interest, I was honored to receive an email reply from Evan regarding his equipement. He reported that he has been playing vintage French Selmers [Albert sys] from the 1940's since 2004. Also, his "mouthpieces" are Brilharts, a "little more open that the Vandoran 5JB". I, too, am thoroughtly impressed with his artisty--how he approachs jazz and, basically, how easy he makes it all sound. What a talent......I could listen for hours.
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Author: ned
Date: 2009-08-04 03:08
Willlian writes: ''Great accoustic guitar & bass ''
I'd agree and have played with the bass player (Sebastian Giradoux..I'm unsure of spelling) when he lived in Oz - he's an Aussie by the way - I guess he'd be all of 27 or so by now.
The solo guitar is terriffic too, although on this video he tended to play over the clarinet too much for my liking.
''....he has been playing vintage French Selmers [Albert sys] from the 1940's ....''
I would not be surprised they were the Radio Improved version. This model was popular with many of the New Orleans greats.....Barney Bigard and George Lewis.....to name just two.
I have played this model Selmer and prefer it to my (circa 1918) Buffet.....oh well, never mind......it was only on one job.
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