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Evans/Robson Quartet
Evans/Robson Quartet at St Mary’s Underground. Image by Grant Leslie.
Personnel
Sandy Evans tenor and soprano saxophone
Andrew Robson alto and baritone saxophone, recorder
Brett Hirst bass
Hamish Stuart drums
“The Sandy Evans/Andrew Robson Quartet members are close to OZ jazz royalty”
This collaboration features renowned saxophonists Sandy Evans and Andrew Robson in a dynamic ensemble rich with energy, passion, groove, spontaneity, and imagination. Completing the stellar line-up are the sensational bass player Brett Hirst and brilliant drummer Hamish Stuart.
Evans and Robson have worked together in several projects since the early 1990s including, Ten Part Invention, the Mara Big Band and Robson’s Thomas Tallis Project, but for the first time, the Evans/Robson Quartet sees them join forces to co-lead a small group.
The project features compositions by Evans and Robson that explore a wide range of contemporary jazz and improvised music. Evans’ powerful tenor sound and soaring soprano melodies combined with Robson’s great sense of groove and an uncanny instinct for melodic lyricism create a beautiful and engaging musical dialogue. One of Australia’s most accomplished rhythm sections generates a funky, joyous improvised space that can be deep, driving, fun-filled, or tender.
The band has performed for SIMA, the Orange Winter Jazz Festival, Foundry616, Jetsets, Monday Night Confessions, Geoff’s Jazz at Smiths and Pearl Beach Hall. Upcoming Curl Curl Creative Space
The quartet’s first recording is due for release in 2024.
The collective history of these four musicians spans some of the most celebrated jazz groups Australia has produced: Robson (Orszaczky/Mike Nock/James Greening/Ten Part Invention/Mara!) Evans (Women and Children First/Clarion Fracture Zone/The catholics/Ten Part Invention/Mara!/austraLYSIS) Stuart (The catholics/Orszaczky/Barney McAll/VinceJones/Phil Treloar), Hirst (Mike Nock/Mark Isaacs/Lior/Phil Slater/Katie Noonan/Vince Jones).
Press about previous projects by the leaders:
“Robson brought to the music passion and a prodigious technique tempered by lyricism and good taste.”
“Evans has been among the country’s preeminent tenor and soprano players for 40 years, while Robson has been a scalding and imaginative alto player for a decade less.”
“In bassist Brett Hirst and drummer Hamish Stuart they have a rhythm section that can cruise like a Cadillac or bellow like a Harley Davidson, and, however loose the music becomes, this pair has a way of keeping it wedded to the hips and toes.”
“Some of the original pieces fizzed with rhythmic witticisms, while “The Tea Horse Road” had Robson on descant recorder and Stuart drumming with his hands, the whole building in intensity to a coarse grained soprano solo from Evans. “Call to the Waning Moon” combined desperate cries from both saxophones, and especially affecting was an Evans tribute to the late Aboriginal singer/songwriter, Archie Roach: a piece with a slight Scottish accent and ardent solos over a slow 3/4. Where many bands look for ways to carve a niche, this one is simply at ease in its own musical skin.”
More information and reviews
Orange Winter Jazz Festival – John Shand | Music & Other Spheres 26/9/2023,
The Sandy Evans/Andrew Robson Quartet members are close to Oz jazz royalty, essentially coming from the same generation as The Necks. Evans has been among the country’s preeminent tenor and soprano players for 40 years, while Robson has been a scalding and imaginative alto player for a decade less. In bassist Brett Hirst and drummer Hamish Stuart they have a rhythm section that can cruise like a Cadillac or bellow like a Harley Davidson, and, however loose the music becomes, this pair has a way of keeping it wedded to the hips and toes.
Some of the original pieces fizzed with rhythmic witticisms, while “The Tea Horse Road” had Robson on descant recorder and Stuart drumming with his hands, the whole building in intensity to a coarsegrained soprano solo from Evans. “Call to the Waning Moon” combined desperate cries from both saxophones, and especially a”ecting was an Evans tribute to the late Aboriginal singer/songwriter, Archie Roach: a piece with a slight Scottish accent and ardent solos over a slow 3/4. Where many bands look for ways to carve a niche, this one is simply at ease in its own musical skin.
Read more from John Shand on his blog Music & Othere Spheres.