"Christopher
harkens back to the early days of jazz's development, a time of elegance
and finesse. Equipped with his research of the music, dexterity and spirit,
the
hugely talented clarinetist is well prepared for this rare journey."
—Geraldine Wyckolff,
OffBEAT Magazine
(New Orleans)
Evan Christopher is, at the age of 32, a refreshingly bright new light on the national and international jazz scene. He combines, virtuosity, immaculate taste and the youthful resources of energy and enthusiasm with a deep commitment to capturing the full range of musical possibilities that come from having strong roots in the idioms of early Jazz and the Creole clarinet style. Christopher was born in Long Beach, California and began his musical training on clarinet at the age of 11. In high school, he was a recipient of the Louis Armstrong National Jazz Award and was one of the first graduates of the prestigious Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts. He continued his studies at the University of Southern California on music scholarships and graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in music from California State University, Long Beach.
After
working, touring and recording with various bands and artists in California,
Christopher moved to New Orleans where he rapidly made a name for himself.
He became in great demand, appearing with top musicians as stylistically
varied as veterans of Preservation Hall and Al Hirt to funk and brass
bands like the Nightcrawlers and Galactic, but, in 1996, he accepted an
offer to join the renowned Jim Cullum Jazz Band in San Antonio, Texas.
During his three year stint with this band, he made regular national radio
broadcasts as their featured clarinetist on their National Public Radio
show: Riverwalk: Live from the Landing and accompanied artists
such as Dick Hyman, William Warfield, and Topsy Chapman. This Side
of Evan (1998) is among the many CD's he has recorded under his own
name and also as a guest artist for bands in New Orleans, Texas and California.
Having
returned to New Orleans in 2001, Christopher has established himself as
an important part of the Crescent City music scene. He has had research
on the New Orleans clarinet style published and appears frequently with
New Orleans musicians in the U.S. and Europe. In 2002, New Orleans
Magazine included him among their annual "Jazz All-Stars" as an artist
to watch. In that same year, Christopher teamed with STR Digital Records
artist and piano virtuoso Tom McDermott to record Danza,
a duo record that explores the early musical influences that led to the
development of jazz. Danza was named
one of the top releases of the 2002 by The Times-Picayune, Gambit Weekly
and OffBEAT Magazine and has been featured on NPR's All Things Considered.
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LATEST RELEASE! The Road to New Orelans |
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Christopher's most recent release, Clarinet Road Vol.1—The Road to New Orleans, is the first in a series of releases planned which are designed to explore the development of jazz clarinet repertoire. Vol. 1 features the clarinetist in two basic settings—a more tradition, piano based-accompaniment and a string ensemble featuring guitar, tenor guitar, madolin, bass and violin.