Herschel Evans
Encyclopedia
Herschel "Tex" Evans was a tenor saxophonist
who worked in the Count Basie Orchestra
. He had also worked with Lionel Hampton
and Buck Clayton
. He is also known for starting his cousin Joe McQueen
's interest in the saxophone.
Evans was born in Denton, Texas
, but spent some of his childhood in Kansas City, Kansas, where his cousin Eddie Durham was a trombonist and guitarist. Durham persuaded him to switch from alto to tenor sax, the instrument that ultimately established Evans's reputation. After perfecting his craft in the famous jam sessions held in the jazz district between Twelfth and Eighteenth streets in Kansas City, Evans returned to Texas in the 1920s and joined the Troy Floyd orchestra in San Antonio in 1929. He stayed with the band until it dispersed in 1932. Evans performed for a time with Lionel Hampton and Buck Clayton in Los Angeles, and in the mid-1930s returned to Kansas City to become a featured soloist in Count Basie's big band.
For the next three years Evans's reputation as a tenor saxophonist was at its peak. His musical duels with fellow band member Lester Young are considered jazz classics. Count Basie's popular "One O'Clock Jump" featured the contrasting styles of the two musicians and brought to each the praise of both critics and the general public. The composition displayed Evans's full-bodied, emotional timbre and Young's high-pitched, light, and buoyant tone, contrasting sounds that highlighted each other. Evans's greatest single success was his featured solo in Basie's hit "Blue and Sentimental."
Evans also made records with such notable jazz figures as Harry James, Theodore S. (Teddy) Wilsonqv, and Lionel Hampton. Evans has been credited with influencing fellow tenorists Buddy Tate, Illinois Jacquet, and Arnett Cobb. Although not a prolific composer, Evans wrote a number of popular works, including the hits "Texas Shuffle" and "Doggin' Around." On February 9, 1939, at the age of 29, he died of heart disease in New York City.
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
who worked in the Count Basie Orchestra
Count Basie Orchestra
The Count Basie Orchestra is a 16 to 18 piece big band, one of the most prominent jazz performing groups of the swing era, founded by Count Basie. The band survived the late '40s decline in big band popularity and went on to produce notable collaborations with singers such as Frank Sinatra and Ella...
. He had also worked with Lionel Hampton
Lionel Hampton
Lionel Leo Hampton was an American jazz vibraphonist, pianist, percussionist, bandleader and actor. Like Red Norvo, he was one of the first jazz vibraphone players. Hampton ranks among the great names in jazz history, having worked with a who's who of jazz musicians, from Benny Goodman and Buddy...
and Buck Clayton
Buck Clayton
Buck Clayton was an American jazz trumpet player who was a leading member of Count Basie’s "Old Testament" orchestra and a leader of mainstream-oriented jam session recordings in the 1950s. His principal influence was Louis Armstrong...
. He is also known for starting his cousin Joe McQueen
Joe McQueen
Joe McQueen is a professional jazz saxophone musician.-Biography:He was raised in Ardmore, Oklahoma. He played tuba and then saxophone in the Ardmore High School band. He was also on the football squad....
's interest in the saxophone.
Evans was born in Denton, Texas
Denton, Texas
The city of Denton is the county seat of Denton County, Texas in the United States. Its population was 119,454 according to the 2010 U.S. Census, making it the eleventh largest city in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex...
, but spent some of his childhood in Kansas City, Kansas, where his cousin Eddie Durham was a trombonist and guitarist. Durham persuaded him to switch from alto to tenor sax, the instrument that ultimately established Evans's reputation. After perfecting his craft in the famous jam sessions held in the jazz district between Twelfth and Eighteenth streets in Kansas City, Evans returned to Texas in the 1920s and joined the Troy Floyd orchestra in San Antonio in 1929. He stayed with the band until it dispersed in 1932. Evans performed for a time with Lionel Hampton and Buck Clayton in Los Angeles, and in the mid-1930s returned to Kansas City to become a featured soloist in Count Basie's big band.
For the next three years Evans's reputation as a tenor saxophonist was at its peak. His musical duels with fellow band member Lester Young are considered jazz classics. Count Basie's popular "One O'Clock Jump" featured the contrasting styles of the two musicians and brought to each the praise of both critics and the general public. The composition displayed Evans's full-bodied, emotional timbre and Young's high-pitched, light, and buoyant tone, contrasting sounds that highlighted each other. Evans's greatest single success was his featured solo in Basie's hit "Blue and Sentimental."
Evans also made records with such notable jazz figures as Harry James, Theodore S. (Teddy) Wilsonqv, and Lionel Hampton. Evans has been credited with influencing fellow tenorists Buddy Tate, Illinois Jacquet, and Arnett Cobb. Although not a prolific composer, Evans wrote a number of popular works, including the hits "Texas Shuffle" and "Doggin' Around." On February 9, 1939, at the age of 29, he died of heart disease in New York City.
External links
- [ All Music]