John-Michael's rock box with musicians Kevin Eubanks and Orrin Evans

John-Michael's guests are world renown musicians Kevin Eubanks and Orrin Evans who have a new musical project called EEE (The Eubanks-Evans Experience.)  the debut duo recording by two of jazz's most acclaimed and eclectic artists.

Due out March 18, 2022, EEE brings together guitar great Kevin Eubanks with adventurous pianist

Orrin Evans for a set that's as wide-ranging and unpredictable as audiences have come to

expect from these two risk-takers. Created in an atmosphere of spontaneity and try-anything

experimentation, the repertoire veers from gut-rumbling blues to delicate, air impressionism,

mixing up on-the-spot originals with funk-jazz deep cuts and classic tunes by jazz masters.

Eubanks and Evans share more than their Philly roots - though that's not an aspect that 

can be discounted, and the city's tension between brotherly love and gritty attitude

courses through the album's veins.  Both also bring a wealth of experience to the table,

along with a friendship of long standing.  Eubanks, middle brother of the well-known jazz

family, made his name through a series of electrifying releases in the 1980s before spending

a decade and a half as a bandleader for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.  Since that stint

ended in 2010, he reemerged as a vital voice on the modern jazz scene leading his

own bands along with resuming his partnership with bassist Dave Holland in the band

Prism. Eubanks is also currently co-host of  Fox First Run's hit comedy/game show You Bet Your Life with Jay Leno,

which premiered in Fall, 2021 and was recently picked up for Year 2 for the 2022 - 2023 television season.

Nominated for a 2018 Grammy Award his Captain Black Big Band, Evans had

been splitting his time recently between his own prolific performing career and newly

appointed role as the Artist in Residence of the DC Jazz Festival.

While EEE marks the pair's recording debut as a duo, there's an inviting ease and scintillating

chemistry to the meeting of Evans and Eubanks that speaks to the parallel histories as well

as their shared fearlessness. That's reflected in their offbeat choice of material on the album,

most of which was decided upon at the spur of the moment - both in studio and onstage

at Philadelphia's Chris' Jazz Cafe.

The album harkens back to Eubanks' 1983 debut Guitarist with the album's opening track "The Novice Bounce,"

beginning the album with a sauntering improvisation which builds into a soulful bounce, rife with moments

of tasteful interplay. The duo continues with a reimagining of the Tom Browne song "Dreamin' of Lovin' You."

Departing from the funky upbeat feel of  the original, this version is an introspective ballad fully embodying 

the 'dream' aspect of the title. Evans contributed the heartfelt ballad "Dawn Marie," a tribute to his wife

and creative partner, Dawn Marie Evans.

Freedom is a theme that throughout the DNA of this release, and the freedom of two like-minded, 

and deeply well-versed artists playing in a duo context allows for spontaneous creation of the highest echelon.

SPRING 2022 TOUR DATES:

3/30: Oakland, CA @ Yoshi's Oakland
https://yoshis.com/events/buy-tickets/eubanks-evans-experience/detail

3/31: Santa Cruz, CA @ Kuumbwa Jazz
https://www.kuumbwajaz