Orrin Evans Trio at Kuumbwa Jazz Center

Pianist Orrin Evans is definitely a mover and shaker, a hard-bop visionary and an acolyte of the current neo-soul movement. Steeped in the modern jazz tradition and influenced by the entire musical legacy of America, he draws inspiration and ideas from a rich sonic tapestry: ragtime to rock, r&b to country, bebop to hip-hop and beyond. Evans’ latest recording, The Evolution of Oneself, features a wealth of prominent jazz talent. Artistically running the gamut of jazz expression, from his own groove-oriented compositions to radically revised classic jazz standards, Orrin employs subtle atmospherics, hard swinging improvisations, and bold dissonance...

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Pianist Orrin Evans is definitely a mover and shaker, a hard-bop visionary and an acolyte of the current neo-soul movement. Steeped in the modern jazz tradition and influenced by the entire musical legacy of America, he draws inspiration and ideas from a rich sonic tapestry: ragtime to rock, r&b to country, bebop to hip-hop and beyond. Evans’ latest recording, The Evolution of Oneself, features a wealth of prominent jazz talent. Artistically running the gamut of jazz expression, from his own groove-oriented compositions to radically revised classic jazz standards, Orrin employs subtle atmospherics, hard swinging improvisations, and bold dissonance. A former student of piano master Kenny Barron, Evans was part of the second wave of ’90s “young lions” rejuvenating classic jazz for a new generation before branching off into innovative new territory. During his early career, he was a sideman in the groups of Bobby Watson, Duane Eubanks, and Ralph Peterson. Since his recording debut as a leader in 1994, Evans has released over twenty-five albums. In 2010, he was awarded a prestigious Pew Fellowship in the Arts.

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