NYC-living Evan Francis has been a professional musician since about 1998, composing and performing on saxophone, flute, clarinet, congas, bongo and singing.
Recently, he has been named a "Rising Star" in the Flute category of the Downbeat Magazine Critic's poll. He has performed/recorded/toured around the world
with notables like Stevie Wonder, Michael Buble, Taylor Eigsti, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Helen Sung, Meshell Ndegeocello, The Pacific Mambo Orchestra,
Lyrics Born, Talib Kweli, Art Davis and many more. His flute and saxophone playing was featured on the Grammy-winning debut record of the Pacific Mambo
Orchestra in 2013. His composing and bandleading skills have been employed in the form of various projects, including "Spaceheater", "Spaceheater's Blast
Furnace" and "The Evan Francis Group".
Francis grew up in Los Angeles, moved to San Francisco in 2003, and moved again to NYC in 2012. He's happy to be on earth at the same time as you.
Press quotes for the Evan Francis Group:
“Aside from being a hefty instrumentalist, he's a terrific composer …..Francis likes to experiment. He's the composer's equivalent to a restless teenager, always
shifting grooves or mixing and matching”
-Rachel Swan, East Bay Express
"San Francisco's Evan Francis Group comes off like a cross between a big band, a funk combo and an Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble. The leader's vibrant compositions,
brainy yet approachable, tie the eclectic mix together."
-Time Out New York
“I can visualize the spirits of Rahsaan Roland Kirk & Eric Dolphy looking on with pride… a bit of the funk/soul/house groove, tasty beats...it's invigorating & refreshing
to hear a contemporary jazz group actually moving the dialog ahead.”
-Jeffrey Jones, Music Director WOJB FM 88.9
review for Ian Carey's Sink/Swim (featuring Francis on saxophones/flute):
"Carey's themes are catchy and original, and all the improvisations are fresh and inventive, highlighted by Francis's sparkling saxophone and Carey's own warm, flowing
trumpet work."
—Lewis Porter, author of Jazz: From Its Origins to the Present and John Coltrane: His Life and Music
Recently, he has been named a "Rising Star" in the Flute category of the Downbeat Magazine Critic's poll. He has performed/recorded/toured around the world
with notables like Stevie Wonder, Michael Buble, Taylor Eigsti, Miguel Atwood-Ferguson, Helen Sung, Meshell Ndegeocello, The Pacific Mambo Orchestra,
Lyrics Born, Talib Kweli, Art Davis and many more. His flute and saxophone playing was featured on the Grammy-winning debut record of the Pacific Mambo
Orchestra in 2013. His composing and bandleading skills have been employed in the form of various projects, including "Spaceheater", "Spaceheater's Blast
Furnace" and "The Evan Francis Group".
Francis grew up in Los Angeles, moved to San Francisco in 2003, and moved again to NYC in 2012. He's happy to be on earth at the same time as you.
Press quotes for the Evan Francis Group:
“Aside from being a hefty instrumentalist, he's a terrific composer …..Francis likes to experiment. He's the composer's equivalent to a restless teenager, always
shifting grooves or mixing and matching”
-Rachel Swan, East Bay Express
"San Francisco's Evan Francis Group comes off like a cross between a big band, a funk combo and an Afro-Cuban jazz ensemble. The leader's vibrant compositions,
brainy yet approachable, tie the eclectic mix together."
-Time Out New York
“I can visualize the spirits of Rahsaan Roland Kirk & Eric Dolphy looking on with pride… a bit of the funk/soul/house groove, tasty beats...it's invigorating & refreshing
to hear a contemporary jazz group actually moving the dialog ahead.”
-Jeffrey Jones, Music Director WOJB FM 88.9
review for Ian Carey's Sink/Swim (featuring Francis on saxophones/flute):
"Carey's themes are catchy and original, and all the improvisations are fresh and inventive, highlighted by Francis's sparkling saxophone and Carey's own warm, flowing
trumpet work."
—Lewis Porter, author of Jazz: From Its Origins to the Present and John Coltrane: His Life and Music