Evan Stone is a drummer that knows how to put together great bands, and that's exactly what he's done for his first release on the Red Jazz label. On Sticks & Stone, Vol. 1 Evan Stone is the bandleader, co-producer, and still provides the unmistakable musical drumming style that is all his own. From the down beat of track one to the last chorus of the final tune, Evan Stone leads this wonderful collection of Los Angeles / Orange County based musicians through a fantastic mix of jazz standards and driving originals that is sure to please purist and casual listeners alike.

CREDITS: Evan Stone has toured the United States with trumpeter/bandleader Maynard Ferguson and traveled throughout Australia and New Zealand with pop artist Toni Childs. Evan formed the Progressive/New Thing Rock band Salty The Pocketknife which released their debut recording in 2003. When not leading his own bands throughout the west coast, Evan tours with the Greg Adams Band (Tower of Power) and pop artists Aly & AJ.

Evan has shared the stage alongside these notable artists: Larry Carlton (Steely Dan); Gerald Albright (Whitney Houston); Tom Scott (Joni Mitchell); Thom Rotella (Beach Boys, Frank Sinatra); Jeff ?Skunk? Baxter (Steely Dan); Max Bennett (Joni Mitchell); Chris Botti (Sting); Paul Carmen (Frank Zappa); Lenny Castro (Toto, Stevie Wonder); Melvin Davis (Chaka Khan, Pointer Sisters); Wilton Felder (The Crusaders); Brandon Fields (Tower of Power); Mike Garson (David Bowie); Grant Geissman (Chuck Mangione); Greg Adams (Tower of Power); Tim Landers (Al Dimeola, Billy Cobham); Alex Ligertwood (Santana); Jeff Lorber; Eric Marienthal (Chick Corea); John Tesh; and Diane Schuur

In addition, Evan Stone has played with Kei Akagi, John Beasley, Brian Bromberg, David Garfield, Gilbert Castellanos, Darek Oles, Bob Sheppard, Chuck Manning, Doug Webb, Steve Cardenas, Theo Saunders, Otmaro Ruiz, Luther Hughes, Bob Cooper, Dr. Art Davis, Llew Matthews, Rob Mullins, and Anthony Wilson.

REVIEWS:

Studio City Sun, June 16, 2006 by Bill Bentley

Evan Stone, Sticks & Stone/Vol. 1 (Red Jazz)

Talk about a left field surprise. Drummer Evan Stone has been busy making a solid name for himself in Southern California (check out Peter Erskine's shining endorsement in the liner notes), working with a variety of jazz groups and never missing a beat. Stone's drumming is always inventive, but he never forgets he's the timekeeper in service of the song. On this new label's debut release, he turns on the heat, alongside saxophonist Matt Otto and several other impeccable players. The bar is raised mighty high on songs like Billy Strayhorn's "Isfahan" and Dexter Gordon's "Cheesecake," but two Otto originals and contributions from other band members makes Sticks & Stone both first in hopefully a series of volumes from a most adventurous aggregation, and Red Jazz a label to keep a wide-open ear. Check out his website: (asamandrummeth) or (redjazz) -----------------------------------------------------------------

12/01/06 ALL ABOUT JAZZ Ollie Bivins

Artist: Evan Stone Album: Sticks & Stone/ Vol.1 Label: Red Jazz

Drummer Evan Stone has played with jazz artists such as Maynard Ferguson, Brian Bromberg, Darek Oles and Dr. Art Davis. Stone's first album on the upstart Red Jazz label, aptly titled (Sticks & Stone), consists of five standards along with four original compositions by members of his band-all Los Angeles and Orange County musicians.

Throughout the nine song set, Stone repeatedly demonstrates his ability to more than ably play in various different jazz formats. Leading off, Stone leads the band on a full steam ahead take of "You and the Night and the Music" as he, tenor saxophonist Matt Otto, and pianist Josh Nelson continually push and prod one another, steadily building in intensity and then suddenly stopping the tune on a dime. The Band takes a light-footed,quick jaunt throught the usually more solemnly played Billy Strayhorn tune,"Isfahan". On Dexter Gordon's "Cheesecake", the group goes down the soul-jazz road, highlighted by the funky organ of Joe Bagg and the tasteful guitar stylings of Steve Cotter. All the time, Stone never misses a beat.

Pianst Josh Nelson's "For My Friends" is a gently swinging tune that cries out for someone to add lyrics to. Bagg's soulful "Grapes" recalls some of the more soul-jazz work of guitarist John Scofield and organist Larry Goldings, with the leader Stone holding down the fort with a funky groove. Sticks & Stone/Vol.1 is an impressive debut from Evan Stone that bodes extremely well for his future in jazz music as a leader in his own right. -----------------------------------------------------------