Yet another jazz dynasty may be upon us as Bill Evans’ grandson releases a recital of Evans compositions. Evans On Evans (Shamus Records) features Bill Evans pieces reinterpreted by the 16-year-old Jaden Evans, accompanied by Vicente Archer (b) and Marcus Gilmore (d) in a New York studio.
Jaden began formal training on the piano at the age of six, receiving lessons from his mother, Michele Evans, who taught him to read classical music as well as understand jazz charts and the fundamentals of improvisation. He joined the jazz band in middle school, then played in the top high-school jazz band and won the outstanding soloist award at the Elon University Jazz Festival.
The album, which features, judging from snippets, perfectly passable readings of Peri’s Scope, Re Person I Knew, For Nenette, Very Early, Turn Out The Stars, Five, Time Remembered, Waltz For Debby and Peace Piece, can be sampled at https://evansonevans.com/epk#album.
Shamus Records say: “Jaden has crafted an album that honors his grandfather’s musical legacy while showcasing his unique voice. His playing is a blend of intricate improvisation and emotive storytelling, earning him recognition as one of the brightest young stars in jazz.”
It’s not clear from the short samples above – in which he plays very much in the Evans pocket – where the uniqueness lies, but that may be apparent in longer listening. In an interview on the record label’s website he says one of his earliest musical memories is dancing to the Bee Gees and that he has had an ear for dubstep, Skrillex and Savant, but none of that is apparent in the samples. Certainly his grandfather was highly critical of his boss Miles Davis’s diversion into funk and rock music.
There’s no indication in the publicity of which Evans line Jaden Evans descends from. It may be surmised that his mother Michele is Michele Rene, wife of Evan Evans, Bill Evans’s film-composer son, but Wikipedia lists only two children of different names – Elliot and Miranda – for the couple as at 2011.
