Bill Evans (saxophonist)

For other uses, see Bill Evans (disambiguation).

Bill Evans
Evans in Warsaw, Poland – July 24, 2004
Background information
Birth name	William D. Evans
Born	(1958-02-08) February 8, 1958 Clarendon Hills, Illinois, U.S.
Origin	New York City
Genres	Jazz, jazz fusion, bluegrass
Occupation	Musician
Instrument(s)	Tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone
Years active	1979–present
Labels	Elektra/Musician, Blue Note, Jazz City, Lipstick, ESC, BHM, Vansman
Website	www.billevanssax.com

William D. "Bill" Evans (born February 8, 1958 in Clarendon Hills, Illinois) is an American jazz saxophonist who was a member of the Miles Davis group in the 1980s and the fusion band Elements. Evans plays tenor and soprano saxophones. He has recorded over 17 solo albums and received two Grammy Award nominations. He recorded an award-winning album called Bill Evans – Vans Joint with the WDR Big Band in 2009.

He has played a variety of music with his solo projects, including bluegrass, jazz, and funk. His style is influenced by Michael Brecker, Bob Berg, Sonny Rollins, Joe Henderson, John Coltrane, Stan Getz, Steve Grossman, and Dave Liebman.

Biography

Evans's father was a classical piano prodigy and until junior high school Evans studied classical clarinet. He attended Hinsdale Central High School and studied with tenor saxophonist Vince Micko. Early in his studies he was able to hear such artists as Sonny Stitt and Stan Getz at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago.

Evans attended University of North Texas and William Paterson University, where he studied with Dave Liebman, a Miles Davis alumnus. Moving to New York city in 1979, he spent countless hours in lofts playing jazz standards and perfecting his improvisational style.

At the age of 22 he joined Miles Davis and was part of his comeback in the early to mid–1980s. Notable albums recorded with Davis include The Man With The Horn, We Want Miles, Star People, and Decoy.

He has played, toured and recorded with artists such as Herbie Hancock, John McLaughlin, Michael Franks, Willie Nelson, Mick Jagger, Les McCann, Mark Egan, Danny Gottlieb, Ian Anderson, Randy Brecker, The Allman Brothers Band, and Medeski Martin & Wood. He is featured on the Petite Blonde album with Victor Bailey, Dennis Chambers, Mitch Forman, and Chuck Loeb.

During the 1980s and 1990s Evans was a member of the group Elements. He joined the reformed Mahavishnu Orchestra in 1984 and performed with them until they broke up in 1987. Beginning in 1990 he toured with his own band.

Two of his albums, Soul Insider and Soulgrass, were nominated for Grammy awards. Soulgrass was combination of bluegrass and jazz fusion that featured Béla Fleck, Sam Bush, Bruce Hornsby, and Vinnie Colaiuta.

Discography

Bill Evans in Berlin
Photo Hreinn Gudlaugsson

• Living in the Crest of a Wave (1984, Elektra/Musician)
• The Alternative Man (1986, Blue Note)
• Summertime (1989, Jazz City)
• Let the Juice Loose – Live at the Tokyo Blue Note Vol 1 (1990, Jazz City)
• The Gambler – Live at the Tokyo Blue Note Vol 2 (1991, Jazz City)
• Petite Blonde (1992, Lipstick)
• Push (1993, Lipstick)
• Bill Evans & Push – Live in Europe (1995, Lipstick)
• Escape (1996, ESC)
• Starfish & the Moon (1997, Escapade)
• Touch (1998, ESC/EFA)
• Soul Insider (2000, ESC/EFA)
• Big Fun (2003, ESC)
• Soulgrass (2005, BHM Zyx)
• Soulbop Band – Live (2005, BHM/Zyx) with Randy Brecker
• The Other Side of Something (2007, Intuition)
• Vans Joint (2009, BHM/Zyx)
• Dragonfly (2012, Vansman)
• Live in Moscow (2015, Vansman)
• Rise Above (2016, Vansman)

With Elements

• Blown Away (1985, Passport Jazz)

With Gil Evans

• Bud and Bird (Electric Bird/King, 1986 [1987])
• Farewell (Evidence, 1986 [1992])

With Danny Gottlieb

• Whirlwind (1989, Atlantic)

With Dino Betti van der Noot

• They Cannot Know (1986, Soul Note)

With Ron Carter

• Etudes (1982, Elektra/Musician)

External links

• Bill Evans official Web site
• Bill Evans's recording of 'Swing Low, Sweet Chariot' for Pioneers For A Cure
• Bill Evans live clinic at Mariach Sax Boutique, Moscow, Russia