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Orrin Evans: The Red Door

By Mike Jurkovic
June 13, 2023
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A most generous craftsman, composer and bandleader, pianist

Orrin Evans

piano
b.1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Orrin Evans never fails to bring out the best of whoever he chooses to create with. The Red Door is gratefully, and gracefully, no exception to that rule.

Whatever musical setting Evans chooses to practice his sinewy, r'n'b inflected post-bop in—sideman, big band, trio, quartet, duo, whatever—a sweet animation propels his music and buoys the players gathered around him. In this case the two core units feature bass legend?

Buster Williams

bass, acoustic
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Buster Williams, drummer?Gene Jackson, the late

Wallace Roney

trumpet
1960 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Wallace Roney on trumpet?and fellow?Philadelphian, tenor legend

Larry McKenna

saxophone, tenor
1937 - 2023

" data-original-title="" title="">Larry McKenna.?The other quintet features trumpeter?

Nicholas Payton

trumpet
b.1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Nicholas Payton, saxophonist/flutist?

Gary Thomas

saxophone
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Gary Thomas, bassist?

Robert Hurst

bass, acoustic
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Robert Hurst?and drummer?

Marvin "Smitty" Smith

drums
b.1961

" data-original-title="" title="">Marvin "Smitty" Smith.

Just as it was a standout track on his second recording with the

The Bad Plus

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.2000

" data-original-title="" title="">The Bad Plus, 2019's canny and expressive Activate Infinity (Edition Records), the lead-off title track carousels into consciousness with a brassy, staccato effervescence and witticism courtesy of Payton and Thomas, that Hurst, Evans and Smith quickly wrest control from, deconstruct, then return sprightly to the dance. As

Immanuel Wilkins

saxophone, alto
b.1997

" data-original-title="" title="">Immanuel Wilkins' saxophone did throughout Evan's previous highlight reel, 2021's The Magic of Now (Smoke Sessions Records) Thomas' flute becomes the voice of the circuitous and bluesy "Weezy."

But it may well be "Phoebe's Stroll" that we remember The Red Door for in the years ahead. A jaunty, trio workout of everything that makes Evans tick—his quotable, neo-pop melodicism, his patient way with time, his keen, articulate framing and sense of communal dance—all in one seven plus minute slice of perfection. It's a grand gesture and sure to be a setlist perennial.

Geri Allen

piano
1957 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Geri Allen's antic "Feed the Fire" gets the full-on quintet treatment as Thomas and Payton play cat and mouse around Smith and Hurst's elusive current and Evans' pronounced freneticism. Ditto "Smoke Rings." With Buster Williams providing the smooth, second set of the night groove, McKenna, uncurls an entrancing, deep blue solo that defines "The Good Life." Ever a shaman of the collective, Evans brings onboard

Jazzmeia Horn

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Jazzmeia Horn who, as has become custom, delivers a slyly impassioned reading of Bill McHenry's feminine forward lyric for Evans' "Big Small," which originally appeared sans lyrics on ?Flip the Script (Posi-Tone Records, 2012)

A substantive tribute to those whom Evans claims has gotten him to the pinnacle he inhabits right now and to those who will help him carry it forward, (including

Sy Smith

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Sy Smith?and?

Alita Moses

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Alita Moses, The Red Door is a masterful high point in a career that continues to climb.

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Track Listing

Red Door; Weezy; Phoebe's Stroll; The Good Life; Big Small; Dexter's Tune; Amazing Grace; Feed The Fire; All The Things You Are; Smoke Rings; They Won't Go When I Go; I Have The Feeling I've Been Here Before.

Personnel

Orrin Evans

piano

Robert Hurst

bass, acoustic

Marvin "Smitty" Smith

drums

Gary Thomas

saxophone

Nicholas Payton

trumpet

Additional Instrumentation

Nicholas Payton: trumpet (1, 2, 5, 10); Gary Thomas: tenor sax (1, 5, 10) flute (2); Robert Hurst: bass (1-3, 5-8, 10, 12); Marvin ��Smitty�� Smith: drums (1-3, 5-8, 10, 12); Wallace Roney: trumpet (9); Larry McKenna: tenor sax (4); Buster Williams: bass (4, 9); Jazzmela Horn: vocal (5); Sy Smith: vocal (7); Alita Moses: vocal (11).

Album information

Title: The Red Door | Year Released: 2023 | Record Label: Smoke Sessions Records

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