Album Notes

Composer/Arranger John Evans is best known for his work with saxophonist David Sanborn on the RIAA certified gold, Grammy-nominated album, HIDEAWAY. Evans and his group Dream have recorded their second album, "The Winding Road".

Here's what Jackie Anderson - Host of Midday Jazz on WJAB-FM Radio said about John Evans & Dream's first album: "You can feel the magic from start to finish with "DREAM". Smooth jazz at its finest. Don't miss this one."

In 2007, shortly after its' release, Evans' DREAM album made it to the number one slot for all genres at CD Baby. The album then remained in the top 10 of Best Selling Smooth Jazz albums for over 125 weeks.

Evans has added some new players to Dream, including the legendary Chuck Rainey on Fender bass. Rosana Eckert and Jennifer Perryman, both award winning alumnae of the University of North Texas Jazz Vocal Studies program, join Annagrey Labasse to add their extraordinary talents to the vocal sounds of John Evans & Dream.

"The Winding Road" album has some of Evans' most memorable tunes, uncluding "Easy Love" and "In A Gentle Way". These two tunes showcase the outstanding talents of Larry Spencer on flugelhorn and Ron Jones on soprano sax. Both Larry and Ron are alumni of the famous One O'Clock Lab Band at the University of North Texas, in Denton.

Personnel for John Evans & Dream: Ron Jones (saxophones & flute), Larry Spencer (trumpet & flugelhorn), Brady Mosher (guitars), Johnny Hooper (guitars), John Evans (keyboards), Chuck Rainey (Fender bass), Gene Glover (congas & percussion), Mike Collier (drums & vocals), Jennifer Perryman (vocals), Rosana Eckert (vocals), Annagrey Labasse (vocals).

Here is a review from BILLBOARD:

JOHN EVANS & DREAM, “The Winding Road”
Composer/arranger John Evans has been a master of smooth jazz for some 30 years, since he helped escort veteran saxophonist David Sanborn to RIAA gold with the composition “Creeper.” His previous solo release “Dream,” was an unqualified smash, where it topped the CD Baby sales chart in 2007 and remained in the top 10 of its Smooth Jazz Album chart for more than two years. Sophomore CD “The Winding Road” on Studio Records LLC, again aligns Evans with his ensemble Dream, and keeps the genre’s fires burning -”if cool to the touch -”with a six-track triptych of gently swaying melodic embers. Among the set’s most virtuous qualities is its attention to nuance and diversity in the arrangements. Album opener “Easy Love” adds a touch of harmonic vocals - courtesy of Rosana Eckert and Annagrey Labasse - to a pleasingly swaying percussive backdrop, a la playful 1960’s Herb Alpert; while “In A Gentle Way” is full - on radio-ready smooth jazz, calming and genial. Both tracks showcase Larry Spencer on flugelhorn and Ron Jones on soprano sax. Meanwhile, “Love Will Find A Way” features a sonic serenade from Jones and Larry Spencer on trumpet, interacting with one another like teasing inamorata; and “I Was A Fool,” composed by Evans, with lyrics by his wife Sandy, offers a full vocal performance that accompanies a sensual melody line including drummer Mike Collier and Jennifer Perryman with Jones on sax. “Tight Squeeze,” a highlight of “The Winding Road,” tosses a bossa nova vibe into the mix, with a Latin-infused arrangement that offers Jones an opportunity to shine on flute, with Spencer on horns. The title track closes the album like a luminescent mid-summer sunset: beautiful, calming and gentle on the senses. Evans’ “Road” is destined to be traveled again and again. With each journey, listeners are sure to see new sites and hear new sounds. Just exceptional.