It’s been a long time coming, but I’ve finally gotten around to updating my website with some pertinent information about the musical universe in Tennessee.  If you have a moment, take a look at a very updated LINKS page.  I’ve also created an TEACHING page to reflect all of the work I’ve been doing in music education.

Also notice that the CALENDAR has a number of new shows out in Perry County.  I’ve been participating in a wonderful summer concert series out there organized by Hugh Waddell.  The series has and continues to feature a slew of wonderful diverse artists from all over the musical map.

Don’t forget to put the next Nashville Jazz Workshop Jam Session on your calendar – Sunday August 15th.  Featured guest to be announced soon!

-evan

Being from the New York area, I’ve been closely following the attempted car bomb plot in Times Square and last night’s resulting arrest.  This past weekend I also happened to be in New Orleans for jazz fest, but news was dominated by the unfurling oil spill disaster in the Gulf, which continues to pose imminent ecological and economic catastrophes.

Anyways, since many of you who read this are from out of the Tennessee area and the national coverage seems to be a bit lacking, I figured I’ll post some information about the latest happenings here about the Nashville Flood.

Let me start out by saying that I’m extremely fortunate – I returned from NOLA yesterday to my apartment which is both dry and with power.  That is not the case however for many folks.  Just a few miles in either direction down the main road off of which I live, large communities are completely flooded.  A number of our iconic landmarks have been affected, including the Schermerhorn (where the Nashville Symphony plays), Opryland Hotel, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Bridgestone Arena, and LP Field, to name a few.

It’s going to take time for much of the communities here to recover.  As this flood was the result of around 20 inches of weekend rain, this event was not foreseen.  MANY people and businesses do not have flood insurance here, as flooding was not seen as any posed threat.

Jazz-wise, everything is canceled for the time being.  The Nashville Jazz Orchestra is not playing tonight at the French Quarter Cafe tonight, and the Nashville Jazz Workshop has canceled classes.

If you wish to get involved with help, here is a link that organizes many of the local organizations.  You can also text ‘REDCROSS’ to 90999 to donate $10 for relief efforts.

I’ll do my best to keep you updated with stories and efforts as they pertain to this blog.

-evan

- evan

Eric and I played in high school jazz band together, among many other musical endeavors we shared.

RHS Jazz Band 1998 – Eric with the alto and yellow tie, EC with the tenor and blue tie

I remember vividly how happy Eric and Susanne were as prom dates a decade ago, and seeing them again this weekend I’ve noticed that same spark.

For their wedding, I wrote Eric and Susanne a song that attempts to embody the feelings they shared then and how they’ve progressed to today.

A Love That Lasts

Download audio file (a-love-that-lasts-melody.mp3)

Congrats, guys.

- evan

I got to play two more concerts with the Nashville Jazz Orchestra: one downtown at the Nashville Convention Center where I covered  alto saxophone and flute, and then tenor saxophone and clarinet at this past Thursday night’s “Writer’s Night” at the Blair School of Music.  The saxophone section had some serious shredding to do in Bruce Dudley’s arrangement of Parisian Thoroughfare.

Sax soli

…and I got a chance to wail on the debut of a Jim Williamson tune.

Cutting changes

Spent a little time doing studio work.  I laid down some oboe and clarinet tracks for the hip local band The New Whole Usuals.  I also recorded a couple of tunes with a jazz quartet for the Generations Jazz Competition.  We didn’t make it to the finals, but an ensemble of my friends Ken Fowser, Behn Gillece, and Adam Cote did.  I was proud of the work my quartet did though – below I posted our version of an original tune of mine.

Don’t Hold Your Breath

Download audio file (dont-hold-your-breath-take-3.mp3)

Jonathan Epley, guitar;  Mike Rinne, bass;  John Alvey, drums

This past month also provided me with a couple surprise last-minute gigs: at Sambuca in the quartet of Ralph Pace Jr, as well as provide horn support to local heart throbs Pico versus the Island Trees at the Mercy Lounge.

I have an array of events coming up in May as well.  On Thursday the 7th I’ll be joining a slew of Nashville’s most talented players in a group titled the Nashville Writers Ensemble at Nashville’s Community Music School: W.O. Smith. The ensemble will feature one of my original tunes and includes Bob Mater, Joe Davidian, and Oscar Utterstrom, among others.

On Sunday May 10th I’ll be leading the Cafe CoCo Jazz Jam Session at 4:30.  If you’re around be sure to stop by and bring an instrument.  I’ve also got some dates coming up with blues man Justin Conn, and even a performance with an ABBA tribute band.

Did I mention that it’s wedding season?  I’ve been playing some events with the Pat Patrick Bands this month, and next month I will be attending the weddings of two old friends.

Hope to see you at the gig/ceremony

-evan

http://www.jazz.com/music/2008/9/30/todd-coolman-crescent-city-ditty

The music scene itself has been quite interesting to me so far.  Despite what I’ve been led to think about the massive country music industry down here, I’ve actually seen very little of that around, save for the tourist area of downtown.  In fact, most of the musicians I have met tend to laugh off the notion of this being a “country music town,” although that is surely related to the fact that most of the musicians I am meeting are jazz and classical players.  Regardless, I have seen great music performed by the Nashville Jazz Workshop, the Nashville Symphony, and even got to the famed Ryman Auditorium to see Orchestra Nashville with Trey Anastasio as featured guest.  I’m sure that my path will cross into the country scene, as well as the commercial bar scene (tons of cover bands), but for now I’m happy to listen to what’s around me. 

As for my own playing, I’ve been jumping around town as much as possible to find jam sessions and meet new folks.  I have been fortunate to hang with many of Nashville’s finer musicians, and have some excellent leads on both the saxophone and the oboe.  If I have discerned correctly, many of the cats in Nashville’s jazz scene also comprise the studio players and touring bands for some major acts.  Keep your eyes peeled as some dates on my calendar page should start popping up. 

Who should I start listening to in country and popular music? 

Time to get back into the woodshed.

- evan

Additionally, some of the members of the ensemble were kind enough to listen to my recent demo (mostly posted on my Music page) and provide me with some nice words of encouragement. I’ve posted those comments on my Press page.

I’ll have an update on my relocation to Nashville soon!

- evan

Feel free to send me a note with any suggestions on how to improve this webpage as I get everything up and running.  Until then – evan