Herschel Evans

[Late]

Please direct me to representative Herschel Evans solos, and what compact discs they can be found on.

Thanks!

[king ubu]

Blue and Sentimental w/Basie (Decca) for starters?

Then there's this:

http://www.jazzarcheology.com/artists/herschel_evans.pdf

[Late]

Then there's this:

http://www.jazzarcheology.com/artists/herschel_evans.pdf

Perfect. Thanks much. I have some reading/listening to take care of.

I realize I've heard Evans many times before, but haven't paid enough attention, as I have with Lester Young, and been able to say "Now this is Herschel Evans ... "

[Stereojack]

Harry James' 1937 Brunswick sides (which were on a Tax LP, but don't know about CD availability) feature Herschel as the only tenor. Good sides - worth seeking out.

[Chuck Nessa]

Harry James' 1937 Brunswick sides (which were on a Tax LP, but don't know about CD availability) feature Herschel as the only tenor. Good sides - worth seeking out.

I remember that record. Nice.

[johnblitweiler]

The Harry James session with Evans is priceless. Evans also played beautiful tenor on an outstanding 1938 Lionel Hampton date, 4 tunes: I'm in the Mood for Swing, Shoe Shiner's Drag, Any Time at All, Muskrat Ramble.

[JSngry]

Nothing of specific direction to add except that if you're not yet on the path of the Basie airshots from this time, get started, and don't stop when Herschel's not there anymore.

[mikeweil]

Was that Hampton jam session recorded shortly before Evans' death ever released? (See the list Ubu linked)

[mikeweil]

The master takes of the Harry James sessions were included on HEP CD 1032 "Basie Rhythm".

Excuse me if it's a dumb question, but what do the abbreviations in the solography mean, "M", "FM" etc.?

[jazztrain]

The notations in parentheses are indications of the tempo. F means fast. M means medium, and S means slow. The combinations follow the same pattern, so, for example, MF means medium fast.

If you go to the website, the format and methodology are explained.

[Late]

I didn't realize that Evans was only 28 when he died. I still need to hear those Harry James sides.

[EKE BBB]

Mildred Bailey's 29 June 1937 Vocalion session contains some fine and relaxed Hershel Evans on tenor. His brief 8-bar solo on "If You Ever Should Leave" is a real gem.

[Big Beat Steve]

12 hours ago, Late said:

I didn't realize that Evans was only 28 when he died. I still need to hear those Harry James sides.

Biographies are your friends 😁 (from Feather and Chilton through New Grove to present-day tomes). - No, more seriously: I think in those long-gone days many musicians managed to cram much more accomplishments "for eternity" into their younger pro years than has become the typical case in rather recent decades. Chu Berry was only 31 when he died too.

As for the Harry James sides, have you been unable to score a copy of the HEP CD that Mike suggested? It's still listed as being available on the Hep website:

https://www.hepjazz.com/hep_jazz_1000_series.html#anchorbasie

Or would this be uneconomical because you already have all the Basie tracks? (Understandable, then ...) Anyway ... unearthing of this thread has prompted me to pull out my copy of TAX m-8015 (Harry James "Texas Chatter") and give it a spin. Very welcome!

As for other suggestions (that should have come up since this thread started), how about the Herschel Evans presence on the Count Basie Orchestra airshots and the Lionel Hampton Jam Session included in the "Savory Sessions" box set on Mosaic?

Edited February 3, 2023 by Big Beat Steve

[Late]

3 hours ago, Big Beat Steve said:

Anyway...unearthing of this thread has prompted me to pull out my copy of TAX m-8015 (Harry James "Texas Chatter") and give it a spin. Very welcome!

As for other suggestions (that should have come up since this thread started), how about the Herschel Evans presence on the Count Basie Orchestra airshots and the Lionel Hampton Jam Session included in the "Savory Sessions" box set on Mosaic?

👍👍

I stumbled onto this just this morning...!!!

Apparently Phil Schaap originally compiled these 77 minutes of Evans solos.