Bill Evans (bluegrass) explained

Bill Evans
Birth Name:William G. Evans
Birth Date:2 September 1956
Birth Place:Norfolk, Virginia
Genre:Bluegrass, old-time music, country, folk
Occupation:Musician
Instrument:Banjo
Years Active:1982–present
Label:Native & Fine Records
Associated Acts:Cloud Valley, Dry Branch Fire Squad, Bluegrass Intentions, Due West, Peter Rowan, Bill Evans String Summit

William G. Evans (born September 2, 1956) is an American musician, author, and instructor noted for his banjo proficiency and knowledge of the history of the instrument.

Biography

Evans earned a master's degree in Music from University of California, Berkeley in 1992, with a focus on ethnomusicology. He learned banjo in person from masters such as Tony Trischka, Alan Munde, Bill Keith, Ben Eldridge, Sonny Osborne, and J. D. Crowe.[1]

Cloud Valley

Evans' first band was Charlottesville, Virginia-based Cloud Valley with Missy Raines (bass), Charlie Rancke (guitar), and Steve Smith (mandolin).[2] The progressive bluegrass band released two albums: A Bluegrass Ensemble in 1983 and Live In Europe in 1985. Their final performance was in Winfield, Kansas in 1985, but Evans still collaborates with individual band members.[3]

Dry Branch Fire Squad

For some time, Evans performed and recorded with Dry Branch Fire Squad.[4] [5]

Bluegrass Intentions

Evans was a member of the bluegrass ensemble Bluegrass Intentions with Suzy Thompson (fiddle, Cajun accordion, vocals), Eric Thompson (mandolin, guitar, vocals), Larry Cohea (bass, vocals), and Alan Senauke (guitar, vocals). They released one album Old as Dirt on Evans's Native and Fine record label in 2002.[6] [7]

Due West

Bluegrass group Due West featured Evans, Jim Nunally (guitar), Erik Thomas (mandolin), Cindy Browne (bass) and Chad Manning (fiddle). Their one album is These Boots released in 2003.[8] [9]

Bill Evans String Summit

The Bill Evans String Summit is Evans, Scott Nygaard (guitar), Michael Witcher (dobro), Cindy Browne (bass), Tashina Clarridge (violin), and Tristan Clarridge (violin, cello). Group members bring together their influences from their backgrounds in jazz, classical, and world music.[10]

Recent collaborations

Evans has been touring and holding workshops several weeks each year with Alan Munde (Country Gazette). He has also been recording with long-time bluegrass fiddler Fletcher Bright. Evans tours frequently with mandolin player Steve Smith from Cloud County, and with fiddler Megan Lynch.[11] He also has been touring with Dan Crary (guitar) and Steve Spurgin (bass).[12]

Education and teaching

Evans has taught ethnomusicology at San Francisco State University, the University of Virginia, and Duke University. Evans gives private banjo lessons at his home in Albany, California. He also stages banjo workshops at major music festivals all over the country.[13]

A convocation by Evans "The Banjo in America: A Musical and Cultural History" has been presented in various venues across the country. This convocation traces the history of the banjo from West African to the New World, with performances on vintage instruments of music from the 1700s to today.[14]

Music Instruction Author

In 2007, Wiley Publishing published the book Banjo for Dummies authored by Evans.[15] This was followed in 2016 in by Bluegrass Banjo for Dummies.[16]

In recent years, Evans has been the author of the "Off the Record" instructional column for Banjo Newsletter magazine.[17]

Evans and Dix Bruce co-authored the Parking Lot Pickers Songbook published by Mel Bay Publications.[18]

Endorsements

American Made Banjo Company created the Bill Evans Signature Series 5 String Kel Kroydon banjo.[19]

Awards

In 2024, Evans was inducted into the American Banjo Hall of Fame in the Instruction & Education category.[20]

Evans was awarded Steve Martin Banjo Prize on November 10, 2022.[21]

The album "Bill Evans Plays Banjo" was cited by the Chicago Tribune as a Top 10 Bluegrass Recording of 2001.

In 1997, Evans was awarded a musical composition fellowship by the Kentucky Arts Council.[22]

In 1996, Evan's album Native and Fine earned an honorable mention in the category of Acoustic Instrumental Recording of the Year from the NAIRD (National Association of Independent Record Retailers and Distributors).

Discography

Solo albums

As a member of Cloud Valley

As a member of Dry Branch Fire Squad

As a member of Bluegrass Intentions

As a member of Due West

As producer

Also appears on

Music Instruction

DVDs

Books

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bluegrass Banjo with Bill Evans. Peghead Nation. July 6, 2017.
  2. Book: Hicks Henry, Murphy. May 1, 2013. Pretty Good for a Girl: Women in Bluegrass. University of Illinois Press . 9780252095887 . 1. July 6, 2017.
  3. Web site: Bill Evans. Twangin': Who's Who. July 7, 2017.
  4. Book: Tony Trischka. Banjo for Beginners: An Easy Beginning Method. 1 April 2005. Alfred Music Publishing. 978-0-7390-3733-1. 45–.
  5. News: Kasten. Roy. Dry Branch Fire Squad - Live At Last!. July 7, 2017. No Depression. December 31, 1996.
  6. Web site: Bluegrass Intentions. Eric & Suzy Thompson. July 7, 2017.
  7. Book: Griffin, Sid. 2005. Bluegrass Guitar: Know the Players, Play the Music. Hal Leonard Corporation . 9780879308704 . 1. July 7, 2017.
  8. News: staff writer. Bill Evans to present convocation, Due West to perform at Carleton. July 5, 2017. Northfield News. Feb 12, 2003.
  9. Web site: The Bands Past and Present. Jim Nunally website. July 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170317140838/http://www.jimnunally.com/jimnunally/Bands.html. March 17, 2017. dead.
  10. News: Lawless. John. Bill Evans String Summit makes CA debut. July 5, 2017. Bluegrass Today. March 18, 2006.
  11. Web site: Bill Evans & Megan Lynch. Freight & Salvage. July 7, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20150911192624/http://www.thefreight.org/bill-evans-megan-lynch-0. September 11, 2015. dead.
  12. News: uncredited. An Interview with Bill Evans. July 6, 2017. Banjo Cafe. April 26, 2016.
  13. News: Bartlett. Jean. Bill Evans mighty banjo breakdown – Saturday in Pacifica. July 7, 2017. Pacifica Tribune. April 5, 2011.
  14. Web site: Convocation: Bill Evans. Carlton College. July 7, 2017.
  15. News: Lawless. John. Bill Evans – Banjo For Dummies. July 6, 2017. Bluegrass Today. December 14, 2006.
  16. News: Perry. Ian. Bluegrass Banjo for Dummies by Bill Evans. July 6, 2017. The Banjo Newsletter. April 1, 2016.
  17. Web site: Bill Evans in Banjo Newsletter. Banjo Newsletter. July 7, 2017.
  18. Book: Bruce, Dix. Dec 29, 2010. Parking Lot Picker's Songbook. Mel Bay Publications . 9781610658638 . 1. July 7, 2017.
  19. Web site: Bill Evans Signature Banjo. American Made Banjo Company. July 6, 2017.
  20. Web site: 2019-02-13 . Hall of Fame Celebration . 2024-06-21 . American Banjo Museum . en-US.
  21. Web site: Bill Evans Wins the 2022 Steve Martin Banjo Prize. Peghead Nation.
  22. Web site: Lecture Concert: Bill Evans - the Banjo in America. Kobe Shoin Women's University. July 7, 2017.

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