Tenor saxophonist David Evans, also a fine arranger, has been associated with the Portland, Oregon, music scene since 1994. Prior to that he worked out of another town considered not too shabby for jazz, New Orleans. While some of his activities there involved the traditional jazz groups of leaders such as clarinetist Pete Fountain, Evans was also heard in bands accompanying rhythm and blues royalty such as B.B. King, crooners such as Johnny Mathis, and top touring soul acts including Gladys Knight & the Pips, the Four Tops, and the Temptations. Musicians such as Nicholas Payton, Brian Blade, and John Vidacovich were Evans' associates back in the days when he called The Big Easy home.
Portland may not be the same kind of nightlife town, but the amount of jazz opportunities there have not left Evans with an empty calendar. He has worked with a wide range of talent in that city, including the witty pianist and singer Dave Frishberg, and Mel Brown, an excellent drummer who should not be confused with the funky guitarist of the same name. On that sound-alike note, Evans himself faces quite an array of talented performers that he shouldn't be mistaken for, including a British guitarist from the '70s with a cult following. Discographer Tom Lord notes the existence of three jazzmen with this name, missing the existence of this saxophonist completely. Most active was a drummer named Dave Evans who appeared on some two dozen records between the '60s and '80s. There is also a trombonist and a jazz guitarist with this name, neither of whom has recorded extensively.
