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The Evan Stone Quartet featuring Jazz vocalist Sara Gazarek returned to Steamers in late June and gave a riveting performance.
The fantastic band for this night was made up of Evan Stone on drums, pianist Josh Nelson, David Miller on upright bass and special guest Matt Otto on tenor sax.
Gazarek is a young and fast-rising vocalist. She is a product from USC's Thornton School Of Music and at only 23 is poised to release her first CD "yours" in a few months.
The quartet startet off the evening with two originals, one by Nelson, "Tuva" and Ottos "Pale Moonlight".
Gazarek began an interesting version of "The Masquerade Is Over" at medium swing tempo, with Miller's bass lines for support.
Her enunciation was crisp and excellent. The rest of the musicians joined in for a fine version.
Some of the tunes the group performed were:
"Never Will I Marry","Nice And Easy", " I Love Being Here With You", and a Latin version of "Blue Skies" showed these musicians to be at the top of their game.
Nelson's flowing piano lines, Miller's sturdy bass work and Stone's dynamic and percussive drumming added radiantly in backing Gazarek's singing.
Tenor saxophonist Otto added lots of dimension and smoothness, rounding out the quartet.
The first set closed with a rousing rendition of Coltrane's "Giant Steps."
The second set included another original by Otto, "Kyzyl," a kind of medium swing tune reflective of a foreign country.
"Straighten Up And Fly Right" featured fantastic drumming by Stone, in both straight ahead time keeping and in his own solos.
Stone has studied with some jazz greats including Jeff Hamilton and Peter Erskine and will soon release his own CD just recently recorded entitled
"Sticks And Stone vol. 1"
Glenn A. Mitchell - L.A. Jazz Scene 06/05
Discography
Evan Stone "Sticks And Stone" (2005) to be released
Salty The Pocketknife (2003 Sonance Records)
Speak (1997 Big As Records)
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Evan Stone performs Straight Ahead Jazz with his own Quartet along with players including:
Kei Akagi, John Beasley, Josh Nelson,
Brian Bromberg, David Miller;
David Garfield, Gil Castellanos, Joe Bagg,
Darek Oles, Matt Otto, Bob Sheppard,
Chuck Manning, Doug Webb, Steve Cotter,
Tony Guerrero, Theo Saunders, Sara Gazarek etc...
Evan has toured the United States with the world-renowned jazz trumpeter Maynard Ferguson.
Evan went abroad to join Pop Artist, Toni Childs, throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Evan formed the Progressive/New Thing Rock band Salty The Pocketknife
which released their debut recording on Sonance Records in October 2003.
Evan is currently touring with Greg Adams Band (Tower of Power) and Hollywood Records recording artists Aly and AJ.
Evan also leads his Avant-garde ensemble called the Translucent Ham Sandwich Band.
Evan has also performed alongside notable artists such as:
Larry Carlton, (Steely Dan);
Gerald Albright, (Whitney Houston)
Tom Scott, (Joni Mitchell)
Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Steely Dan);
Max Bennett (Joni Mitchell);
Rob Mullins (Crusaders, Bruce Willis);
Chris Botti (Sting);
Paul Carman (Frank Zappa)
Lenny Castro (Toto, Stevie Wonder)
Melvin Davis (Chaka Khan, Pointer Sisters)
Wilton Felder (The Crusaders);
Brandon Fields (Tower of Power)
Mike Garson (David Bowie)
Grant Geissman (Chuck Mangione);
Greg Adams (Tower of Power)
Tim Landers (Al Dimeola, Billy Cobham)
Alex Ligertwood (Santana);
Jeff Lorber; Bob Cooper,
Eric Marienthal (Chick Corea)
and Diane Schuur
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