EEE: Eubanks-Evans-Experience
Kevin Eubanks and Orrin Evans. Imani Records.
For 18 years, guitarist Kevin Eubanks was on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, first as a member of the late night talk show band starting in 1992 and then as its music director from 1995 to 2010.
He left not because of any controversy with Leno but because he wanted to do a deeper dive into his passion for jazz.
This disc is the debut duo recording between him and a very gifted jazz pianist, Orrin Evans, and the result is an instrumental set that’s both mellow and ambitious.
Eubanks showcases his smooth jazz style, with a technique so fluid there are times you almost forget he’s playing electric guitar.
At one point, he gets his guitar to sing like a violin. Another time, he gives his guitar the low, resonant sound of a cello.
Evans provides a bouncy, uptempo stride on piano, along with rich sounds that complement Eubanks and vice versa.
The pair’s improvisation and bold, adventurous songs lead listeners on an enjoyable journey.
Eubanks wrote three of the seven songs and co-wrote one with Evans. Evans wrote the rest, except for a cover of a Tom Browne song called “Dreams of Loving You.”
Eubanks and Evans are longtime friends with Philadelphia roots.
Eubanks joined the band Prism after leaving The Tonight Show.
Evans was nominated for a 2018 Grammy, and was recently named artist-in-residence of the DC Jazz Festival.
It’s a fine collaboration — sophisticated, balanced, and fun.
“What I love about Kevin is he’s not afraid of the journey,” Evans said. “When you have nothing to prove, the possibilities of the music are just amazing, and that’s pretty much what’s happening here.”
First Published May 18, 2022, 11:00 a.m.
