Currently living in Seattle, guitarist Park Evans performs around the U.S. and Canada with vintage swing/rockabilly/country outfit Birch Pereira and the Gin Joints.
Originally from Ithaca, New York he grew up studying with classical guitarist Karl Wolff and British fingerstyle master Martin Simpson. Evans moved to Minnesota to attend Saint Olaf College where he studied composition and classical guitar. In Minneapolis he studied jazz guitar with Kevin Daley and Dean Magraw.
Evans has performed in multiple groups in the twin cities including genre-bending jazz projects Spirit of Chanhassen (led by Norah Jones and Mark Giuliani bassist Chris Morrisey), Enormous, Fire Bell, and the Park Evans Quintet, indie rock with Corey Palmer & Love Trade, and reggae/world music with New Primitives. He has worked extensively with jazz vocalists Sophia Shorai and Katie Gearty as well as collaborating with cellists Michelle Kinney and Jacqueline Ultan, guitarist Mike Michel, and legendary bassist Anthony Cox (Stan Getz, John Scofield).
He has released 5 recordings of his original music; 'Impossible Party' (2003), 'Surviving Desire' (2006), 'Satori for a Hungry Ghost' (2012), 'Impossible Vacation' (2015), and 'Incendios' (2018). He also works as a studio musician and can be heard on numerous sessions including jazz, rock, alt-country, reggae, and folk and as a music educator with over 20 years of experience teaching.
“Park Evans’ guitar playing is emotive, vocal in quality. Mastering effected sound is like mastering another instrument and Park has married his guitar to his effects organically.” -Jazz Police
“An accomplished guitarist..draws upon his classical background to create a variety of moods that perfectly compliment the arrangement...refreshingly tasteful guitar playing..fans of John Scofield will enjoy the contemplative technique that Evans brings to the table” - All About Jazz
Photographer: Donald Olson '13