- Pat Metheny: “Now is the greatest possible time to be a musician–for Sibelius alone!”
- Sibelius helps Scarsdale students score hits for elementary orchestra
- Sibelius 7 scores Software Line of the Year award for 2011
- Tina Andersson scores Abbey Road Anthem Competition win with Sibelius
- Sibelius helps young composers’ works to the stage in Carnegie Hall
- Come and see Sibelius at The NAMM Show 2012
- John Ashton Thomas on using Sibelius to score more than 50 films
- Sondheim’s Company brought back to the stage with a little help from Sibelius
- Film composer Ryan Leach on Sibelius: “It’s so much easier than Finale”
- Electronic Musician reviews Sibelius 7: “More intuitive” and “outstanding sounds”
From “Soulbop” to “Soulgrass”, famed saxman Bill Evans gets there with Sibelius
Bill Evans, a Grammy award-winning jazz saxophonist with 13 CDs to date, played to sold out audiences this past week at Yoshi’s Jazz club in Oakland, California. Evans had just wrapped up his 2005 European tour and was in Oakland with an amazing lineup of musicians to promote his upcoming CD Soulgrass, a mixture of bluegrass, jazz and soul.
The virtuoso sax player credits Sibelius software as playing an integral part in creating Soulgrass, “(Sibelius) has become an invaluable tool for me, especially when I’m in the process of recording a new CD.” Evans adds in his typical self-effacing manner that “Sibelius was so easy to use, even I could be an expert.” (This despite musical talent and technique that can only be described as frightening).
In our opinion, the “Soulgrass” album is a brilliant follow-on to the “Soulbop” album and tour from last summer. The Soulbop band was led jointly by Evans and world-renowned trumpeter Randy Brecker. Soulgrass, which is scheduled for release this September, was recorded in Nashville and features Bela Fleck on banjo, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, and Sam bush on mandolin, as well as Jerry Douglass on dobro, Victor Wooten and Mark Egan splitting the bass chair, and Vinnie Colaiuta on drums. Bruce Hornsby and John Scofield played on a track, and Pat Bergeson played ‘some tasty acoustic guitar and harmonica.’
Evans brought a slightly altered but similarly staggering lineup with him to Yoshi’s (San Francisco bay area). Bela Fleck, Vinnie Colaiuta, Jimmy Haslip and Darol Anger played track after track from Soulgrass and brought the house down. The compositions deftly weave the textures and joyfulness of bluegrass music with fast-moving changes and, that deep in the pocket groove that Evans is known for.
As early as twenty-two years old, Evans attracted the attention of Miles Davis. Drawn to the young musician’s talent, Davis offered him a spot playing in his 1980 comeback band and later featured the saxophonist on four of his albums: Decoy, Man With the Horn, Star People and the Grammy® Award-winning We Want Miles. Evans has also performed with John McLoughlin, Mick Jagger, Dave Grusin and Lee Ritenour. He has toured Japan, Canada and Europe with his bands “Soulbop” and “Push,” and has always been a strong advocate for Sibelius. “When I walk into the studio,” remarks Evans, “and show the other musicians the music, they are always impressed by the quality.”
To learn more about Bill Evans and the upcoming release of Soulgrass, please visit: http://billevanssax.com.
