Saturday, February 17, 2018

EVAN CHRISTOPHER – Clarinetist

“Close-encounter music” celebrating New Orleans Creole clarinet style.

THE ARTS COUNCIL SMITHGALL ARTS CENTER
8PM (doors to the venue open at 7:30PM)

Individual Performance Ticket $35 + tax = $37.45
6 or more tickets $30 each + tax ($5 discount per ticket) = $32.10 each
Series Ticket (all 5 shows) $150 + tax ($25 discount) = $160.50

Call 770.534.2787 to purchase tickets and/or be added to a waiting list!
Tickets are not available online for this performance.

 “If there is a better living exponent of the New Orleans Creole clarinet style than Evan Christopher, then it’s a discovery I have yet to make. He has the big, woody tone of a Bechet, the control of glissandi of a Bigard, the filigree decorative skills of an Albert Nicholas, the warmth of a Jimmie Noone, and the fire of an Ed Hall. And yet, he always sounds like himself”

– London Jazz Review

An Evenings of Intimate Jazz favorite, Evan Christopher combines virtuosity, immaculate taste, and enthusiasm with a commitment to exploring the full range of possibilities in the New Orleans clarinet tradition. His highly personal brand of “contemporary, early jazz” honors the legacies of early Creole clarinetists such as Sidney Bechet, Barney Bigard and Omer Simeon. Critics remarking on Christopher’s dynamic expressiveness have coined his style “close-encounter music” (NEW YORK TIMES) and have called his respect for the music traditions of New Orleans, “a triumph, joining the present seamlessly to a glorious past.” (THE OBSERVER, UK).

Christopher actively advocates for the cultural workforce and music education. He frequently tours with and records as a guest with forward-looking artists, while performances under his own name are often complemented by workshops and educational and community outreach. Occasional columns about the music scene and New Orleans culture for NolaVie.com also evidence his passion for the city’s indigenous music traditions.

For his return to Gainesville, his trio will commemorate the tri-centennial of New Orleans with a variety of pieces celebrating the city’s indigenous music traditions.