Jamie Evans

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Jamie Evans, British jazz pianist

Jamie Evans was born in England in 1941 and was trained as a classical pianist as a child and also studied classical clarinet.

He was captivated by jazz when he heard the music in the 1950s and with his schoolmate, trumpeter Geoff Fatty Brown started playing gigs and sessions in the south London/Surrey area while still a pupil at Purley Grammar School, Surrey.

After cutting his teeth with local trad bands, as a teenager he joined the Richard Williams band, led by the Hollywood Oscar-winning animator who was based in west London at the time. Playing in a swing/mainstream style was far more suited to his style and he learned from the company of fellow Williams band members Ron Rubin (bass), Peter Shade (vibes) and John Ritchie (trombone).

In 1963, he was offered the piano chair in the originally-Scottish outfit, the Clyde Valley Stompers. Led by Roy Pellett (clarinet), the band included Ian Hunter-Randall (trumpet), Les Muscutt (guitar/banjo) and Ernie O'Malley (drums). The Clydes toured Britain, recorded, did TV and radio shows and even co-topped the bill with the Beatles at one point. However the Beatles and the massive advent of the British beat movement put the Clydes and many like them out of business.

After a few years working in Fleet Street on the Daily Sketch, the hours of which were always evenings and nights, he returned to the scene in the late 60s in a quartet led by Sandy Brown-influenced clarinettist, Dave Keen. This led to a pub residency with the Ted Wood band. Ted, brother of the rather famous Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones, was later to become vocalist with the Temperance Seven.

More to follow when I get time, you lucky people!