# Orrin Evans pursues the Magic of Now: Video, Photo

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2022/02/01/orrin-evans-pursues-the-magic-of-now-video-photo/
- Published: 2022-02-01T12:13:05+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**Pianist/composer/bandleader Orrin Evans changes directions on his latest album
and takes on a two-year artist residency with the DC Jazz Festival.**

Pianist and bandleader Orrin Evans leads a multi-generational quartet for his latest
album, “The Magic of Now,” with bassist Vicente Archer, drummer Bill Stewart and
23-year-old alto saxophonist Immanuel Wilkins.

It’s Evans’ sixth album for Smoke Sessions, and the 20th of the 46-year-old pianist-
composer’s career.

Recorded in the midst of the upheavals set in motion by the COVID-19 pandemic, this
latest document of Evans’ artistic journey coincides with several changes in his
life, perhaps the most significant change being his decision to leave the popular
trio The Bad Plus after three rewarding years, in order to focus his time and energy
on his own multiple musical projects.

“People have had to make adjustments and be reborn to a certain extent,” Evans says.“
We’re past the point where we didn’t know what was going on or what the future would
look like. Now we’re settling into what our ‘new normal’ will be, embracing the 
magic of now and the shape of what will happen next.”

“Making music has always been an essential part of my life, but presenting music
is also a passion,” Evans said. “The chance to create and fellowship with the music
scene in D.C. is a welcome one, and I am so excited about the possibilities. My 
sincere thanks to South Arts and DC Jazz Festival for the opportunity.”

Evans plans to promote a musical and cultural exchange between Washington, D.C.,
and his hometown of Philadelphia. He will also conduct a master class as part of
DC Jazz Festival Education and participate in DCJF’s “We Get To Talk” podcast series
with host Sunny Sumter, CEO of the festival.

Additionally, Evans will premiere a new work, engaging in creative partnerships 
with D.C.’s artist community, including cross-discipline engagements. These will
include pop-up performances with D.C. artists throughout the residency and a series
of performances outside of the festival.

The Captain Black Big Band, with a special guest vocalist, will also perform on 
the main stage of the [2022 DC JazzFest](https://www.dcjazzfest.org/dcjazzfest).

![Orrin Evans album cover.jpg](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/7a87396/
2147483647/strip/true/crop/1500x1500+0+0/resize/880x880!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%
2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F51%2Fad%2F164a899f40ebb3eb0e74c72fbd83%2Forrin-
evans-album-cover.jpg)

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