ALAN EVANS TRIO
''WOODSTOCK SESSIONS, VOL. 1''
2014
72:17
**********
01 - They Call Me Velvet 10:31
02 - If You Want My Love 08:16
03 - Thor 06:01
04 - Have You Seen Him 10:40
05 - The Lay Down 08:21
06 - Crooooz 06:51
07 - What Happens off in the Woods 04:24
08 - Who Dare Knock 08:03
09 - Just Another Dream 01:47
10 - Cosmic Hazeldust 07:16
**********
Alan Evans/drums, vocals
Beau Sasser/guitar
Danny Mayer/B3 organ
**********
ABOUT THE ALBUM
Doug Collette, www.allaboutjazz.com
The Alan Evans Trio, nee Alan Evans' Playonbrother, were the first band to formally avail themselves of the resources of Applehead Studios for a live with studio audience session in Woodstock New York in 2013. Patterned to a great degree on Levon Helm's Midnight Rambles at his own barn, ultra contemporary facilities in a rustic setting, these events present a unique opportunity for musicians and fans alike to immerse themselves in the spontaneity of the moment even as the engineers-Michael Birnbaum, Kevin Salem and Chris Bittner-are capturing it all for posterity.
Drummer Evans, guitarist Danny Mayer and keyboardist Beau Sasser make the most of their opportunity from the start as the three burst from the proverbial starting gate at a furious pace on "They Call Me Velvet." Early band introductions preface the vocal interlude and more frenetic funk-rock on "If You Want My Love" where the eminently reasonable similarities surface to the drummer bandleader's Soulive forebears: it's an identical instrumental lineup, the crucial difference lying in the relative simplicity of the sound: the former doesn't stray from Hammond B3 organ while the latter, fully capable of patient and pointed soloing as on "The Lay Down," usually restricts himself more to rhythm work than the brilliant Eric Krasno.
Further comparison might be fatuous since the Evans Trio hasn't been collaborating together as long as Soulive (who began in 1999), but the passing spoken interludes, such as that introducing "Thor," bring to mind Krasno and Evans sibling keyboardist Neal in their Lettuce project. Alan Evans sings with as much gusto as he plays his kit, but his voice is nowhere as distinctive as his drum work, which marries rock with funk in a way that renders apt comparisons to Jimi Hendrix' Band of Gypsies (and further illuminates references to the iconic guitarist via AE3's change in moniker to mirror the name of Evan's own studio).
The Alan Evans Trio shines at digging deep into grooves like that of "Have You seen Him," at 10:40 the longest track here and, given the group's streamlined approach, wisely placed in the tracklist. Subsequent cuts "The Lay Down" and "Crooooz" taper off in duration, while even shorter numbers as "Just Another Dream," maintain the pacing as this recording concludes.
Yet these live renditions of studio recordings reinforce the Evans Trio's aptitude for working with comparable skill in either setting. Woodstock Sessions Vol. 1 is obviously an ideal setting for all involved, including the audience, generally kept low in the mix, but acting as a subtle reminder of their presence and, by extension, the enticing ambiance of this unique situation.
**********
MORE ABOUT THE ALBUM
Jeremiah Shea, www.woodstocksessions.com
On the night of August 24th, 2013, a small group of fans joined the Alan Evans Trio at a small farm/recording studio turned venue in Upstate New York, acting as the catalyst to the free and inspired sense of playing that the three embody. The energy of the crowd added something truly unique, creating an atmosphere that was captured here on this album.As cars arrived, the grazing animals took notice that they’d soon be sharing their hidden farm. A wooden barn lay tucked up a dirt road and buried into its surroundings. The setting for the evening couldn’t have been more apropos, as that night’s creation would be as musically organic as where it was made. The Alan Evans Trio and Applehead Recording Studios played host to the first installment of the Woodstock Sessions, a pioneering idea bringing a band and its fans together to share in the birth of an album.
After enjoying a feast and absorbing the elemental surroundings, AE3 and fans made their way inside the humble barn and entered a room that felt sanctified. The intimate space allowed the newly bonded group to gather in tightly for a prodigious experience. Alan Evans, Danny Mayer, and Beau Sasser took their positions, and the recording began without the ability or desire to stop. Two hours later, the final notes rang out to a symphony of cymbals and it was realized that this was music in its purest sense. “No overdubs, no second chances – just a moment captured in time,” as summed up by guitarist Danny Mayer.
This is music for the music lover. What was left behind is not just notes to a beat, but a perfect balance struck without compromise – the energy of a live show and the sound quality of a recording. Whether you argue they took the concert to the studio or the studio to the concert, one thing can be agreed upon: this was the way music was meant to be heard, an album as live as it could ever be…so live you can feel it.
**********
TO THE TOP
**********
''WOODSTOCK SESSIONS, VOL. 1''
2014
72:17
**********
01 - They Call Me Velvet 10:31
02 - If You Want My Love 08:16
03 - Thor 06:01
04 - Have You Seen Him 10:40
05 - The Lay Down 08:21
06 - Crooooz 06:51
07 - What Happens off in the Woods 04:24
08 - Who Dare Knock 08:03
09 - Just Another Dream 01:47
10 - Cosmic Hazeldust 07:16
**********
Alan Evans/drums, vocals
Beau Sasser/guitar
Danny Mayer/B3 organ
**********
ABOUT THE ALBUM
Doug Collette, www.allaboutjazz.com
The Alan Evans Trio, nee Alan Evans' Playonbrother, were the first band to formally avail themselves of the resources of Applehead Studios for a live with studio audience session in Woodstock New York in 2013. Patterned to a great degree on Levon Helm's Midnight Rambles at his own barn, ultra contemporary facilities in a rustic setting, these events present a unique opportunity for musicians and fans alike to immerse themselves in the spontaneity of the moment even as the engineers-Michael Birnbaum, Kevin Salem and Chris Bittner-are capturing it all for posterity.
Drummer Evans, guitarist Danny Mayer and keyboardist Beau Sasser make the most of their opportunity from the start as the three burst from the proverbial starting gate at a furious pace on "They Call Me Velvet." Early band introductions preface the vocal interlude and more frenetic funk-rock on "If You Want My Love" where the eminently reasonable similarities surface to the drummer bandleader's Soulive forebears: it's an identical instrumental lineup, the crucial difference lying in the relative simplicity of the sound: the former doesn't stray from Hammond B3 organ while the latter, fully capable of patient and pointed soloing as on "The Lay Down," usually restricts himself more to rhythm work than the brilliant Eric Krasno.
Further comparison might be fatuous since the Evans Trio hasn't been collaborating together as long as Soulive (who began in 1999), but the passing spoken interludes, such as that introducing "Thor," bring to mind Krasno and Evans sibling keyboardist Neal in their Lettuce project. Alan Evans sings with as much gusto as he plays his kit, but his voice is nowhere as distinctive as his drum work, which marries rock with funk in a way that renders apt comparisons to Jimi Hendrix' Band of Gypsies (and further illuminates references to the iconic guitarist via AE3's change in moniker to mirror the name of Evan's own studio).
The Alan Evans Trio shines at digging deep into grooves like that of "Have You seen Him," at 10:40 the longest track here and, given the group's streamlined approach, wisely placed in the tracklist. Subsequent cuts "The Lay Down" and "Crooooz" taper off in duration, while even shorter numbers as "Just Another Dream," maintain the pacing as this recording concludes.
Yet these live renditions of studio recordings reinforce the Evans Trio's aptitude for working with comparable skill in either setting. Woodstock Sessions Vol. 1 is obviously an ideal setting for all involved, including the audience, generally kept low in the mix, but acting as a subtle reminder of their presence and, by extension, the enticing ambiance of this unique situation.
**********
MORE ABOUT THE ALBUM
Jeremiah Shea, www.woodstocksessions.com
On the night of August 24th, 2013, a small group of fans joined the Alan Evans Trio at a small farm/recording studio turned venue in Upstate New York, acting as the catalyst to the free and inspired sense of playing that the three embody. The energy of the crowd added something truly unique, creating an atmosphere that was captured here on this album.As cars arrived, the grazing animals took notice that they’d soon be sharing their hidden farm. A wooden barn lay tucked up a dirt road and buried into its surroundings. The setting for the evening couldn’t have been more apropos, as that night’s creation would be as musically organic as where it was made. The Alan Evans Trio and Applehead Recording Studios played host to the first installment of the Woodstock Sessions, a pioneering idea bringing a band and its fans together to share in the birth of an album.
After enjoying a feast and absorbing the elemental surroundings, AE3 and fans made their way inside the humble barn and entered a room that felt sanctified. The intimate space allowed the newly bonded group to gather in tightly for a prodigious experience. Alan Evans, Danny Mayer, and Beau Sasser took their positions, and the recording began without the ability or desire to stop. Two hours later, the final notes rang out to a symphony of cymbals and it was realized that this was music in its purest sense. “No overdubs, no second chances – just a moment captured in time,” as summed up by guitarist Danny Mayer.
This is music for the music lover. What was left behind is not just notes to a beat, but a perfect balance struck without compromise – the energy of a live show and the sound quality of a recording. Whether you argue they took the concert to the studio or the studio to the concert, one thing can be agreed upon: this was the way music was meant to be heard, an album as live as it could ever be…so live you can feel it.
**********
TO THE TOP
**********