Evan Christopher

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Evan Christopher
Evan Christopher (right) with pianist Tom McDermott, 2006.
Background information
Birth name	Evan Christopher
Born	c. 1974
Origin	Long Beach, California, U.S.
Genre(s)	Dixieland Creole
Occupation(s)	Clarinetist
Instrument(s)	Clarinet
Label(s)	Arbors Records STR Digital
Associated acts	Dick Hyman

Evan Christopher is a jazz clarinetist, born in 1974 in Long Beach, California. A master of many styles, he is best known for his playing in the traditional New Orleans jazz of Dixieland and the Creole style.

He began learning the clarinet at the age of 11. In high school, he was a recipient of the Louis Armstrong National Jazz Award and was one of the first graduates of the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts.[1] He continued his studies at the University of Southern California on various scholarships, and graduated cum laude from California State University, Long Beach.

After working and recording with various artists in California, Christopher moved to New Orleans. There, he worked with bands and musicians that ranged from Al Hirt to funk and brass bands. In 1996, he accepted an offer to join the Jim Cullum Jazz Band in San Antonio, Texas. During his three year stint with this band, he was the featured clarinetist on their weekly public radio series, Riverwalk Jazz.

He recorded a CD titled This Side of Evan in 1998, and has appeared at many musical festivals in the U.S. and Europe. He has also appeared on the Tonight Show.

Evan shares an interest in choro music from Brazil with pianist Tom McDermott, with whom he recorded the album Danza, released by STR Digital records in 2002.