You've seen it before, and Lucianne Evans is no different. Her reviews will contain words like "stunning and captivating, but her favorite description is...honest." Lucianne is originally from Pittsburgh, and so she wears integrity proudly, like a fabulous dress. This debut CD, FLAMINGO, is sharing the "Blue Chip Awards" list with the biggest names in jazz. It has received the honor of being voted one of 17 "Top Vocal CD's of 2002" in the Jazz Education Journal, the magazine of the IAJE (International Association of Jazz Educators), as chosen by Dr. Herb Wong, IAJE past president, and longtime Chair of Recordings. This award sparked a recent tour of California, where she sold out the Jazz and Blues Company, in Carmel, and played LA, and San Francisco. They return for another tour this Winter. Living in the Blue Ridge mountains, this group had a record crowd to date for the Western North Carolina Jazz Society, and have been called ultra-hip," the "most booked," and "ubiquitous," in Asheville.
Lucianne got her start in Montreal, and was featured in the Montreal International Jazz Festival on multiple occasions. While headlining on the club circuit, she made several appearances on Canadian TV and radio. She worked with such artists as Skip Bey, James Gelfand, J.P. Zanella, and others before moving to Asheville, NC.
Then suddenly...talent and chemistry collided for a few years. New York pianist Tom Coppola insisted on froming a band. Tom has extensive experience recording and touring with musicians such as Herbie Mann, Peggy Lee, Paulhino Da Costa, Marvin Gaye, Brook Benton, Cissy Houston, The Tommy Dorsey Band, Patty Lupone, Lenny White, and others. He has also worked with Chet Baker, Marcus Miller, David "Fathead" Newman, Dave Valentin, Tito Puente, Bernard Purdie, Anthony Jackson, and Manhattan Transfer.
They traveled to New York to produce their 2002 release, FLAMINGO, featuring two rhythm sections: Ralph Hamperian and Drori Mondlak for the straight-ahead stuff; and Paulo Braga, Leo Traversa, and Cafe, for the latin. In the original session (Acoustic Recording, Brooklyn, engineer Michael Brorby), twenty songs were recorded in twelve hours, fourteen were mixed, and eleven were chosen. This represents a typical evening with Evans & Coppola. FLAMINGO comes in a jewel free box, modeled after the IMPULSE label, only in 'flamingo' pink and black, and features an eight page fold-out booklet.
"Where or When" is Lucianne's original vocalese, and this cut topped an impressive score at 13 out of 200 worthy vocalists in the 2002 JazzConnect.Com International Online Vocal Competition. The album explores it's other deepest roots on "Flamingo," the title cut, and "Hold Back the Rain," an emotion charged original.
"Their debut CD, FLAMINGO is sensitive, sensual, stellar...and SCORCHING." (Dr. Herb Wong, who is beyond category)
"Evans & Coppola was one of the best concerts ever presented at the Jazz and Blues Company." (Gary Hamata, managing director, Jazz and Blues Company)
"I really like the whole record" (Giacomo Gates, jazz vocalist/vocalese artist)
"She is serendipity!" (Beth Peerless, Monterey Herald)
"Evans comfort and sincerity in singing are as engaging as your first college sweetheart, and that fine jazz tune the two of you shared on your first date." (Jeff Kaliss, San Francisco Chronicle)
"Coppola's incredible playing is some of the most informed jazz piano anywhere." (Steve Wildsmith, Knoxville Daily Times)
"North Carolina based singer Lucianne Evans has a clear and charming voice, one to keep an ear on." (Ken Franckling, photographer and jazz critic)
"Ken Burns did an historic documentary, 'JAZZ', over PBS. It sparked much controversy as to what is jazz. Well, there is no controversy about what Evans & Coppola do...they swing."
(Andy "Jazzman" Smith, host of NPR's "The Jazzman Show," WKMS-FM,Kentucky)
"An obvious chemistry between these two performers." (Tony Kiss, Asheville Citizen Times)
"Ultra hip..." (Dan Armonitis, Creative Loafing, Greenville, SC)
"The most regularly booked of the jazz classicists in the Western Carolinas." (Marsha Barber, The Mountain XPress, Asheville, NC)
"Blessed with the intelligence to set free all the necessary elements of a good vocal instrument, she can flat-out SING, SCAT, and SWING." (Andy "Jazzman" Smith, host of "The Jazzman Show" WKMS)
"Tom Coppola is a master artist. He weaves his harmony around her lyrics, affecting sensuality, cohesion and sophistication."
"Like cream, she should rise to the top of her game. She has star quality. One would expect her future to be assured."
(both comments; Mary Lee Hester, ex editor of the Mississippi Rag, and freelance journalist)
"Led by a stunning voice, equally at home with mellow tones or soul piercing cries of joy and anguish...fabulous" (Lolly Golt, Montreal En Ville)
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