Clarinetist, Evan
Christopher is a refreshingly bright light on the
international jazz scene. He combines virtuosity,
immaculate taste, and enthusiasm with a deep
commitment to exploring the full range of musical
possibilities that come from celebrating the
traditions
of New Orleans Jazz. His highly individual sound is
anchored in the expressive language created by early
Creole clarinetists such as Sidney Bechet, Omer
Simeon, and Barney Bigard.
In 1994, Christopher left his native California for New Orleans
where he quickly entrenched himself in the local
music scene. He appeared with musicians as
stylistically diverse as Al Hirt and veterans of
Preservation Hall to funk and brass bands including
the Nightcrawlers and Galactic. He left in 1996 to
join the Jim Cullum Jazz Band in San Antonio, Texas.
For nearly three years, he appeared nightly as their
featured clarinetist and recorded several shows of
their syndicated radio program, Riverwalk: Live from
the Landing.
Christopher returned to New Orleans in 2001 through August of 2005 and
focused on his role as an ambassador for the New
Orleans clarinet style. Among the critically
acclaimed recordings under his own name are Delta
Bound featuring Dick Hyman (Arbor's Records 2007)
and his Clarinet Road series (STR Digital). He has
also been
featured on projects with New Orleans artists
including Big Al Carson, Duke Heitger, Narvin
Kimball, Uncle Lionel Battiste, and Tom McDermott.
After the Federal levees failed in the aftermath of
Hurricane Katrina, he traveled continuously and even
based
himself briefly in Paris at the invitation of the
French government. During this artist residency, he
formed his current groups, the JazzTraditions
PROJECT and Django à la Créole. The latter, fusing
Gypsy Swing with New Orleans grooves and rhythms of
“le monde Créole” released their debut CD, Django à
la Créole (Fremeaux & Associates) at the 2008 French
Quarter Festival in New Orleans.
Mr. Christopher began his musical training on clarinet at age 11. In high
school, he received the Louis Armstrong National
Jazz Award and was one of the first graduates of the
prestigious Idyllwild Arts Academy. He continued
studies at the University of Southern California and
graduated cum laude with a Bachelor's degree from
California State University, Long Beach. Published
research and academic presentations on the New
Orleans clarinet style initiated his pursuit of a
Masters degree in Musicology at Tulane University.
Having returned to New Orleans in 2008, he
frequently performs as
a member of Irvin Mayfield's New Orleans Jazz
Orchestra and teaches part-time at the University of
New Orleans where he coaches their New Orleans Music
Ensemble.
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