Evan was born in Melbourne to Greek Egyptian parents, who immigrated to Australia in the 1960’s. He grew up in a musical household with his brothers George and Stephan who were seasoned bass guitarists.
My Brothers had a deep passion for music, so I listened to their record collection and was exposed to Funk and Rock at an early age.
At seventeen, as he browsed through the vinyls at Allan’s music store in Melbourne, he was drawn to the glamour and romance of a record cover; ‘Royal Garden Blues’ by Branford Marsalis. ‘From then on, it was always Jazz, specifically the saxophone’.
Evan’s training and performance career spans over two continents and twenty-five years. His musical education began in Melbourne, where he spent many years under the wing of esteemed musician and teacher, John Barrett (The Don Lane Show, New Faces, Tonight Live with Steve Vizard). He studied at the Victorian College of the Arts, the Australian Musical Examinations Board and the University of New England, before inevitably finding himself on the well-known musical path of the greats, to America.
Setting up home in Boston MA, he attended Berklee College of Music, where he studied with the Late Joe Viola (Woodwind Chair at Berklee), Jerry Bergonzi (the great Boston tenor saxophonist), and Charlie Banacos (improvisation master to the stars, including Michael Brecker and Mike Stern).
Now settled in Launceston, Evan shares his unique style with the Tasmanian audience. His most recent engagements include the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Devonport Jazz Festival, Clarence Jazz Festival, Launceston Country Club, Ghost Rock Winery and the Republic Bar, Hobart.
Evan’s playing has been described as ‘musical passion personified’ and ‘just as much fun to watch as to listen to’. His dynamic style and melodic inventiveness captivates audiences, offering venues and festivals a highly sophisticated performance that resonates long after the final note has been played.
