Jazz Classic of the Month
Doc Evans (1907-77) was a reliably hot cornetist who spent much of his life living and playing in Minnesota. He was offered many opportunities to play outside of the Midwest. Evans spent 1947-52 working in Chicago and made his first record dates (Apr. 25-26, 1947) in New York but otherwise nearly all of his playing and recording were done in Minneapolis. While undoubtedly he would have been much better known if he traveled more, Evans just did not have a desire to leave home and he helped build up a busy local jazz community.
All of Evans’ recordings are worthy with Down In Jungle Town giving listeners a strong sampling of his playing. The two sessions on this CD are from 1953 and 1955 and it is fair to say that none of Evans’ sidemen (other than possibly clarinetist Harry Blons) are remembered today. However all are very good players and would have fit in comfortably in the New York jazz scene.
The 16 selections are each standards although none (other than “That’s A Plenty” and possibly “Black And Blue”) were played all that often in the mid-1950s. Highlights include “Riverside Blues,” “Mama’s Gone, Goodbye,” “Eccentric,” and “Bugle Call Rag.” Trombonist Hal Runyon and clarinetists Lori Helberg and Harry Blons prove to be excellent soloists and ensemble players.
Dixieland and trad jazz fans owe it to themselves to discover Doc Evans and his series of rewarding recordings.
Doc Evans • Down In Jungle Town
Jazzology JCD-19
www.jazzology.com
