Alan Evans Trio - Drop Hop (2012)

Co-founder, writer and drummer of Soulive for over 15 years, Alan Evans proudly presents his newest creation, Alan Evans Trio: an inspiring and fresh organ trio lineup. Enlisting the support of good friends and talented players Danny Mayer on guitar (On the Spot Trio), and Beau Sasser (Melvin Sparks, Akashic Record) the trio's sound proves hard-driving and groovy with deep, funky melodies and powerful, rhythmic counterplay. Alan Evans Trio opens a window into another side - an emotional introspection, as dark as it is powerful. Their passionate progressions emanate an electrified, smoky, 70s-era CTI Records zeitgeist. Mention the name Alan Evans to a room full of music lovers, and you will get a consensus nod at one of the most celebrated and tenacious drummers in the jazz, funk, and soul scene. A producer, recording engineer, guitarist, percussionist, vocalist and writer, Alan's repertoire of skills have been perfected with more than a decade of dedication. "I've known for a long time what my purpose is this time around. All I want to do is try to make people happy with what makes me and my family happy… Music," says Alan about his new trio project. For Alan, the idea of Alan Evans Trio hatched soon after he transitioned from Playonbrother Studios in Hatfield, MA to his own home recording studio. Alan then enlisted the ingenious talent of both Danny Mayer and Beau Sasser for the project. Alan had met Danny Mayer first as a Soulive fan, but then connected on a musical level when his band, On the Spot Trio (OTS), came out to Playonbrother Studios to record their first album, with Alan at the helm as producer. Alan had played gigs with Beau Sasser for some time, and had a great deal of respect for Beau's masterful proficiency on the organ, and knowledge of the history behind the instrument. Alan muses of Alan Evans Trio's beginnings, "This is when it all started to come together for me. Danny was straight killin' it, playing guitar exactly the way I would. I knew that Danny and Beau together would be scary." Danny and Beau both consented to a recording session with one another. Alan set up the mastering date, began thinking about a release date, tour, and even began designing the website and logo. After a successful national tour in support of their critically-acclaimed debut album, Drop Hop (Royal Family Records), Alan Evans Trio is back from their voyage across the galaxy with a much-anticipated follow-up album, Merkaba (Royal Family Records), which hits Earth on Tuesday March 19, 2013. Produced and recorded by the Soulive legend himself, Alan recorded the entire album in his home studio in South Deerfield, MA. Passionate and inspired, Alan Evans says of Merkaba: “I can't wait for everyone and anyone to hear this album. This album is all of me. This album is for the loves of my life and there are songs on here that I never thought would see the light of day but the timing was perfect.”