August 28, 2025 • 27 mins
Evan Sherman oozes the soothing essence of jazz, that quiet confidence that lulls you into a sense of calm.
Today, we're talking to the Grammy-winning drummer about his career trajectory. Hailing from the great Garden State, Sherman has been a professional musician since his teenage years, having played alongside greats like Ron Carter, Cyrus Chestnut, Roy Hargrove, Jimmy Heath, John Lee, and Branford and Wynton Marsalis.
In 2021, he released his debut quintet album, "Sidewalkin',' and he can be heard on Samara Joy's Grammy-winning 2023 recording of "Tight," and the 2024 release of "Portrait," as drummer and arranger.
Hang tight to hear from Evan Sherman and experience that soothing essence for yourself.
Thanks for listening!
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The Jersey Arts Podcast is one medium of Feature Stories on Discover Jersey Arts (jerseyarts.com), where articles and videos also cover New Jersey’s vibrant arts and entertainment scene.
Discover Jersey Arts is presented by ArtPride New Jersey. The program was co-founded by, and is currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Additional support for JerseyArts.com content is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (00:03):
This is Gina Marie Rodriguez and you're
listening to the Jersey ArtsPodcast.
Is it just me, or is jazz oneof the coolest musical genres
out there?
I'm not talking aboutpreference, I'm talking about
essence.
When I say cool, I don't meanin vogue or impressive.
I mean chill, soothing, calming.
(00:29):
While cool jazz is a subgenreall its own, among others, like
Latin swing and modern jazz, theart form itself has always
brought me a sense of peace, nomatter the tempo or the
syncopation.
Evan Sherman knows what I mean.
He oozes that essence, thatquiet confidence that lulls you
(00:50):
into a sense of calm.
Today, we're talking to theGrammy-winning drummer about his
career trajectory.
Hailing from the Great GardenState, Sherman has been a
professional musician since histeenage years, having played
alongside greats like Ron Carter, cyrus Chestnut, roy Hargrove,
jimmy Heath, john Lee andBrantford and Winton Marsalis.
(01:12):
In 2021, he released his debutquintet album, Sidewalkin' and
he can be heard on Samara Joy'sGrammy-winning 2023 recording of
Tight and the 2024 release ofPortrait as drummer and arranger
.
Hang tight to hear from EvanSherman and experience that
soothing essence for yourself.
(01:34):
Hello sir, how are you?
It's very nice to meet you.
Evan Sherman (01:39):
Nice to meet you, Gina.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (01:41):
I'm so grateful to have you here, and
can I just say this and I hopeyou take it the way it's
intended your vibe is so coolthat it just it reads jazz to me
, if that makes sense at all.
Thank you, thank you Of courseI'm excited to talk to you
because you are a fellowJerseyan.
So first I want to ask youwhere in Jersey are you from?
Evan Sherman (02:05):
From Milburn, New Jersey.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (02:07):
Oh, from Milburn.
Awesome, I grew up in Colonia,so not too far, half hour ish.
Evan Sherman (02:13):
I think my first traveling baseball game when I
was eight was in Colonia.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (02:19):
Wow, there you go.
There's our connection.
I love that.
But speaking of your youth,you've been playing.
If I have this correct, you'vebeen playing the drums since you
were five, professionally sinceabout 13, right, but you
started very young, so I kind ofwant to know how you got into
(02:40):
music and why the drums.
Evan Sherman (02:42):
That's correct, I guess.
From what I can remember, myparents and brother played music
.
I have an older brother he'sfive years older, and I've seen
pictures of him playing guitarto me as I'm an infant, and my
dad and mom, they play all kindsof instruments.
(03:04):
My dad plays mostly guitar andbass, my mom plays piano,
everyone sings a little bit, sonaturally, to complete the
family quartet, I had to pickthe drums.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (03:18):
You had no other choice.
Evan Sherman (03:20):
Yeah, I just wanted to join in and it was
either that or actually therewas really.
No, I don't think I had much ofa choice.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (03:32):
Well, thank God, you're good at it.
Evan Sherman (03:35):
Well, I think it helps to have an early start and
to have such a supportivenurturing environment and
parents and brother.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (03:47):
Absolutely .
I was just talking to anotherartist about that, how the
family structure and thatsupport system is huge in any
venture and like when you don'thave that that you can feel the
difference.
So I'm grateful for you thatyou have that support structure
and that you know you are whoyou are now.
You're, I mean, like I said,amazing.
I have zero musical talentwhatsoever, so whenever I
(04:13):
interview musicians I inevitablysay something stupid just wait
for it, it's coming.
If I could tell you a story fora second about why I love
drummers so much, I will neverhave the hand-eye coordination
that you guys have.
Like you're doing differentthings with each hand at the
same time and your foot'sworking on the pedal and I have
(04:34):
zero idea how to do that.
I took piano lessons, like whenI was younger.
Teacher got so frustrated withme because my left hand would
not do anything.
Evan Sherman (04:43):
Only the right one was working.
So I have no idea how you guysdo it, but I applaud you, sir,
thank you, thank you, of course,can you?
talk to me a little bit aboutwhat we can expect at the back
deck at the Morris Museum.
Sure, well, I don't know whatto expect, so I would expect the
unexpected.
I don't know what to expect, soI would expect the unexpected.
(05:08):
I would say that if I were topick out a theme with my curated
performances, there's usually atheme of well, okay, now that
theme is starting to get alittle broader.
But I would say this year,because in past years, like last
year, I had a group of my peersand then maybe I don't know,
(05:32):
sometime in the week leading upto last year's gig, I was on
tour with the band that I'vebeen playing with for three
solid years now the band thatI've been playing with for three
solid years now and I hadplanned in the months leading up
(05:53):
to the gig I had asked if thatband would play and this band we
support the vocalist, samaraJoy, and I guess we were on the
road.
I don't know where we were inthe world.
I guess we were on the road.
I don't know where we were inthe world.
It could have been Asia orEurope, or South America or
Canada or Alabama, I'm not surewhere, but I think I asked the
(06:14):
boss, ms Joy.
I said we're going to play thisgig in New Jersey and maybe the
week leading up to it or theday before, I can't remember.
But she said, yeah, I'll comein and sing.
So we had a surprise guest lastyear which was super special.
And then in previous years I'vebrought full big bands, like 16
(06:37):
piece big bands, which is kindof a nightmare, especially post
COVID, cause you know you haveeveryone has to come out on the
train and and you know, once umonce the pie is split between 16
people, you know it becomes alabor of love for everyone.
Um, so this year I want to keepum kind of a mentor theme.
(07:03):
I have so many great mentorsand, um, I'm going to hopefully
have um a few mentors joining meand uh, you know, leading up to
the gig you never know whatmight come up more spont
spontaneously last minute and,and we'll be open to that, we'll
(07:23):
just kind of keep it like aloose.
And what I like about the backdeck is that it's like a, a
picnic kind of a spirit up thereand everyone's like looks like
they're on like blankets andlawn chairs and uh having wine
and and it's a very serenebackdrop, so we're going to kind
(07:47):
of just go with the flow.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (07:51):
I love that and you really sold me on
it with serene and picnic andthe wine.
I mean I'll take the wine too,but it sounds like a really nice
vibe and even just you sayingthat we're kind of going with
the flow really speaks to, likeI said, your, your vibe, you're
just like so cool, so chill, andthat, to me, is how I think of
(08:12):
jazz.
Evan Sherman (08:13):
Jazz music simultaneously makes me want to
get up and move but also calmsmy nervous system, and I wonder
if you have like some kind ofreaction to that music yeah, um
well, what I love about thismusic and I think what makes me
who I am today, is growing uparound mentors like Jimmy Heath,
(08:36):
who I met when he was like 84years old and knew him till he
was like in his early 90s.
You relax and have fun, andhave serious fun.
That's when you'll get all thenutrients from the music and
(09:02):
from life in general, and so Iguess naturally I try to
continue in that tradition.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (09:10):
That's amazing and it kind of made me
feel like that's what I'mgetting when I listen to the
music, like I'm.
I am learning to be chillthrough you.
It's like through osmosis, butthrough the music.
I love that you were mentioningSamara Joy before and I know
that you've performed withdifferent vocalists, and I would
be remiss if I didn't bring upVanessa Perea, because I know
(09:30):
you've worked with her on heralbum Playdate.
I happen to have grown up downthe street from Vanessa, so I
just wanted to give her a shoutout and also talk a little bit
about her album and thedifferent albums that you've.
What's the proper terminology?
Were you a side man on?
Is that?
Can you tell me about some ofthe albums?
Can you tell me?
Evan Sherman (09:50):
about some of the albums you've done.
Vanessa is one of my dearestfriends and collaborators and
I'm so thankful to her andRobert Edwards, her husband, for
believing in me when I wasreally like early in my teens I
(10:13):
think I was still a teenagerwhen we recorded that album
actually and I mean when itcomes to my first gigs over New
(10:44):
Jersey and New York with themover the years and I still play
with them and still see them notas often as I would like, but
anytime I get to play withVanessa or Robert, I'm very
happy.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (10:59):
I'm so glad I mentioned them.
It's a nice little throwback.
Evan Sherman (11:02):
Colonia.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (11:03):
Yep, colonia is where it's at, and
your baseball team.
Evan Sherman (11:08):
Yeah, yeah.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (11:09):
You mentioned, you know, going
around New york and new jersey,but you've been all over the
world at this point, so can youtalk a little bit about what
that's like?
I can't imagine that it's easyto be traveling constantly yeah,
yeah, just thinking about it.
Evan Sherman (11:26):
Um, yeah, it's a lot on on the body to uh be
going up and down and up anddown, sometimes twice in a day.
I'm getting better atnavigating the airports, you
know.
I know the little secret waysthat you can, you know, get past
(11:46):
security faster or check yourbag faster, or get a card if you
stick a penny in a in in thething, like like the all kinds
of funny tricks, um that comewith traveling that, I think,
just help you navigate life.
And I I always think that uh,being in new york and having to
(12:10):
navigate in New York City isreally good training for the
rest of the world.
Because, uh, you know, you goto Japan and it feels like
heaven because everything is soclean and and pristine and the
food is good and the people arenice, and then you come to New
York, it almost feels like theother side, it feels like, feels
(12:30):
like the underworld when you goto New York.
But yeah, it's been amazing.
I mean, the past three yearsI've traveled more than I ever
have and been to Asia a bunch oftimes and Europe too many times
, south America a couple times.
(12:52):
I just got back from Southamerica.
A couple weeks ago it wasunbelievable to hear brazilian
samba in a samba club in saopaulo.
It kind of changed me forevergetting to sit for three hours
in this club and and listen tothe real folkloric music.
(13:12):
So it's just giving me a really.
I'm just like learning so muchby seeing all these places and
getting to enjoy the food andthe culture and try to speak a
little bit in their language orlisten to their music or you
know.
All that kind of stuff has beenvery inspiring and I'm very
(13:36):
grateful.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (13:37):
I mean, I can't even imagine that like to
be able to absorb culture inthat way.
I'm a little envious, but wewon't talk about that.
This might be a taboo question,but since we're talking about
all of the places that you'vetraveled, do you have a venue
that is your favorite to performin or that you feel most
comfortable in?
Evan Sherman (14:16):
for my whole life.
I love playing in New York andI love, um, all of the clubs
here, like Smalls and uh uh,mesro, the.
Those places are like home,like home away, like I can
always go there and and feel athome and welcome Um.
And then there's like thereally bucket list prestigious
places like the Village Vanguard, which I've been fortunate to
(14:37):
play at a bunch of times and andthen this year got to play at
Carnegie Hall in the big roomfor the first time.
So in New York that's kind ofalways very special because also
I can go back home afterwardsand sleep in my own bed and not
(14:57):
have to worry about leavingsomething in a hotel room.
Um, and then something thatI've been also just like wowing
at is that this year not onlydid I get to play at carnegie
hall for the first time, but weplayed in royal albert hall in
london, which is another bucketlist uh venue which has so much
(15:22):
history.
So I guess I really love whenthese places have a lot of
history, like if a lot of greatmusicians or, like I saw at
royal albert hall there was apicture there was like a benefit
for the Titanic.
So like you know this deephistory.
You like walk around theseplaces and you're just like, wow
, it's extra inspiring.
(15:44):
So those are a few, but youknow.
And then you go to Brazil andthen you hear that music and
then it's time for you to playBrazilian music and it's almost
intimidating but very inspiringand it helps you reach for
farther than you probably should.
(16:06):
But then you end up getting alittle closer.
You end up getting a littlecloser and I think that's kind
of been the theme of myprogression is thinking that I
can do something that I can't,but trying and getting just a
little bit closer to it.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (16:26):
What a great answer, though.
I mean, it's that history thathas inspired you and moved you,
and it still is.
So I think that was a greatanswer to the question.
Thank you for sharing, and wehaven't left anybody out.
I mean, basically, you'veenjoyed every place that you
have performed and they eachvenue, has something to offer.
Can I also ask you about yourtelevision appearances, Because
(16:47):
I know you've been on a numberof shows.
Right, You've done appearanceson the Grammys, Because I know
you've been on a number of shows.
Right, You've done appearanceson the Grammys the Tonight Show
with Jimmy Fallon, Late Showwith Stephen Colbert, Today Show
60 Minutes, Jennifer Hudson,Kelly Clarkson, the list goes on
.
I once again, I'm jealous, butwe won't go there.
So can you tell me any maybefun anecdotes?
(17:07):
Do you have any fun anecdotesfrom having performed on any?
Evan Sherman (17:11):
of those shows, sure, sure.
Well, they've all been superfun.
A lot of early mornings.
I think we've done the TodayShow three times live now and I
always heard it was a very earlycall for that and for me,
because it takes me a while toset up the drums.
(17:32):
Um, I think the last couple oftimes I've done that I've had to
uh, my call was 2 30 am 2, 30.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (17:42):
Oh, my god , I thought you were gonna say
three.
Evan Sherman (17:44):
Wow, still, still, both are early, my god yeah, so
so this, this last time we didI think it was in the fall, uh,
sometime in the fall, and I wasplaying, uh, I was leading, uh,
some late night gigs at jazzlincoln center's disease club,
(18:05):
uh, and again I I hired samara'sband for that gig because we
had just been traveling on theroad together and you know we'll
, we have a vast repertoire ofinstrumental things and then you
know Samara wants to come andand sit in.
We have like endless options.
So it's, it's a really greatcommunity that I'm just lucky to
(18:30):
be a part of.
So so I had called upon thisgroup to join me.
So then the Today Show thingcame up, and it was.
We were playing at 11 pm atdizzy's and that gig ended
around 1 am.
(18:51):
We went to a diner, we had someeggs, then I went to
brockefeller center straightfrom there.
Wow, actually you know what.
We had also played in tribecaearlier the night before.
So we did two sets at theDjango in Tribeca at 7 pm, then
(19:15):
we played at 11 pm at Dizzy'sand we went to the diner.
Then we went to the Today Showat 2 30 in the morning and then
I think our soundcheck was at 5and then at 8 am, at 8am or 9am,
we were live on television, sohow about that for a schedule?
Gina Marie Rodriguez (19:35):
Oh my gosh , that is a marathon.
Yeah, a marathon, I would havecrashed and burned through.
Evan Sherman (19:42):
Well, it was just like a really fun, like
adrenaline, filled 12 hours.
I would say I can imagine thatadrenaline is what is?
Gina Marie Rodriguez (19:49):
I would say.
I can imagine that adrenalineis what is pushing you forward
there.
But that's exciting, I mean, isthere?
I mean, aside from, like, allthat prep time, is there
anything that is difficult ordifferent about performing for a
television audience versus anun-televised performance?
Yes, well, some of the showshave an audience there.
Audience versus an un-televisedperformance.
Evan Sherman (20:09):
Yes, well, some of the shows have an audience
there and some of them don't.
The Today Show does not have anaudience, but you have Hoda and
Al Roker and the rest of thestars watching you.
So that's very exciting.
And then some of the othershows, you know they have an
(20:31):
in-house audience.
So it's just uh, it's, it'susually exciting.
I mean, one of the challengesis that you, you have to sound
checks like five times, you haveto play the song like.
So by the fourth or fifth timeyou're kind of like, oh man,
like it's not feeling as fresh.
You have to kind of try to keepit fresh.
But it's always been fun and itusually comes out well, and
(20:56):
mostly that's because we haveSamara.
She just sings and it justsounds so good that whatever we
do is you know, it usually worksout just because she sounds so
good.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (21:10):
I love that.
So, looping back around as wewrap up, what would you say to
New Jersey audiences and NewYork, since they're in our
backyard, if they want to comeout to see you at the Morris
Museum?
What would you say they canlook forward to on September
20th?
Evan Sherman (21:27):
I would say it's going to be a unique
presentation of authentic jazzmusic.
I have very picky taste, sowhoever's going to be there is
going to be wonderful, and thenyou'll have to deal with me
whether you like it or not.
No, but yeah, it'll just be.
(21:51):
Uh, you know, I have ideas inmind and and you never really
know until you get up there andas to what's going to happen.
And and that's part of the, thebeauty of it, um, and and it's
it's rare these days toexperience, um the authenticity
of this music, because a lot ofthe creators of it that I was
(22:13):
fortunate to learn from areeither not not on the planet
anymore or you know so.
So the, what's the word, theproduct or the, the output that
um comes from that tree.
I'm getting very abstract here,but the, the thing that was
(22:37):
passed to me, um, and I justfeel like it's rare, um, like
jimmy heath and and roy hargrove, like they, they affect
everything I do, um because theyuh being around them, and like
(22:58):
I was just watching this videowhere I'm uh in high school and
I'm just like sitting therestaring at this at the at the
dizzy gillespie Big Bandrehearse and Roy Hargrove's
conducting and my mentor, louisNash, is playing drums and I'm
the only kid in there, really.
So whatever I do is just aproduct of what I've been
(23:21):
through growing up and I justthink it's a lot of fun for me
to just kind of let that flowthrough me, and I think it's
because I love them so much andthey made me feel so good.
I think letting their energyflow through me will give me the
(23:47):
best chance of carrying on thatfeeling for other people.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (23:55):
I think that's the joy of jazz, isn't it
?
Like that free spirit that gowith the flow and the osmosis we
were talking about before?
Like these greats, theselegends are living through you
and then passing on to youraudience, which is amazing and
wonderful.
You've had so many experiencesthat others may not have had and
(24:16):
may never have the opportunityto have, but you're taking all
of that and passing it on to newaudiences and possibly new
generations.
Evan Sherman (24:25):
Thank you, gina, thank you.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (24:28):
You can see Evan Sherman and his
surprise guests at the MorrisMuseum back deck on September
20th at 7.30pm.
For tickets and moreinformation, be sure to visit
MorrisMuseum.
org.
If you liked this episode, besure to review, subscribe and
tell your friends.
A transcript of this podcast,links relevant to the story and
(24:49):
more about the arts in NewJersey can be found at
JerseyArts.
com.
The Jersey Arts Podcast ispresented by Art Pride New
Jersey, advancing a state ofcreativity since 1986.
This show was co-founded by,and currently supported by funds
from, the New Jersey StateCouncil on the Arts.
This episode was hosted, editedand produced by me, Gina Marie
(25:09):
Rodriguez.
Executive producers are JimAtkinson and Isaac Serna-Diez,
and my thanks, of course, toEvan Sherman for speaking with
me today.
And now I'll let Evan Shermanand his big band play us out.
This is Cedars Blues.
¶¶, ¶¶, ¶¶, ¶¶.
This is Gina Marie Rodriguez and you're
listening to the Jersey ArtsPodcast.
Is it just me, or is jazz oneof the coolest musical genres
out there?
I'm not talking aboutpreference, I'm talking about
essence.
When I say cool, I don't meanin vogue or impressive.
I mean chill, soothing, calming.
(00:29):
While cool jazz is a subgenreall its own, among others, like
Latin swing and modern jazz, theart form itself has always
brought me a sense of peace, nomatter the tempo or the
syncopation.
Evan Sherman knows what I mean.
He oozes that essence, thatquiet confidence that lulls you
(00:50):
into a sense of calm.
Today, we're talking to theGrammy-winning drummer about his
career trajectory.
Hailing from the Great GardenState, Sherman has been a
professional musician since histeenage years, having played
alongside greats like Ron Carter, cyrus Chestnut, roy Hargrove,
jimmy Heath, john Lee andBrantford and Winton Marsalis.
(01:12):
In 2021, he released his debutquintet album, Sidewalkin' and
he can be heard on Samara Joy'sGrammy-winning 2023 recording of
Tight and the 2024 release ofPortrait as drummer and arranger
.
Hang tight to hear from EvanSherman and experience that
soothing essence for yourself.
(01:34):
Hello sir, how are you?
It's very nice to meet you.
Evan Sherman (01:39):
Nice to meet you, Gina.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (01:41):
I'm so grateful to have you here, and
can I just say this and I hopeyou take it the way it's
intended your vibe is so coolthat it just it reads jazz to me
, if that makes sense at all.
Thank you, thank you Of courseI'm excited to talk to you
because you are a fellowJerseyan.
So first I want to ask youwhere in Jersey are you from?
Evan Sherman (02:05):
From Milburn, New Jersey.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (02:07):
Oh, from Milburn.
Awesome, I grew up in Colonia,so not too far, half hour ish.
Evan Sherman (02:13):
I think my first traveling baseball game when I
was eight was in Colonia.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (02:19):
Wow, there you go.
There's our connection.
I love that.
But speaking of your youth,you've been playing.
If I have this correct, you'vebeen playing the drums since you
were five, professionally sinceabout 13, right, but you
started very young, so I kind ofwant to know how you got into
(02:40):
music and why the drums.
Evan Sherman (02:42):
That's correct, I guess.
From what I can remember, myparents and brother played music
.
I have an older brother he'sfive years older, and I've seen
pictures of him playing guitarto me as I'm an infant, and my
dad and mom, they play all kindsof instruments.
(03:04):
My dad plays mostly guitar andbass, my mom plays piano,
everyone sings a little bit, sonaturally, to complete the
family quartet, I had to pickthe drums.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (03:18):
You had no other choice.
Evan Sherman (03:20):
Yeah, I just wanted to join in and it was
either that or actually therewas really.
No, I don't think I had much ofa choice.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (03:32):
Well, thank God, you're good at it.
Evan Sherman (03:35):
Well, I think it helps to have an early start and
to have such a supportivenurturing environment and
parents and brother.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (03:47):
Absolutely .
I was just talking to anotherartist about that, how the
family structure and thatsupport system is huge in any
venture and like when you don'thave that that you can feel the
difference.
So I'm grateful for you thatyou have that support structure
and that you know you are whoyou are now.
You're, I mean, like I said,amazing.
I have zero musical talentwhatsoever, so whenever I
(04:13):
interview musicians I inevitablysay something stupid just wait
for it, it's coming.
If I could tell you a story fora second about why I love
drummers so much, I will neverhave the hand-eye coordination
that you guys have.
Like you're doing differentthings with each hand at the
same time and your foot'sworking on the pedal and I have
(04:34):
zero idea how to do that.
I took piano lessons, like whenI was younger.
Teacher got so frustrated withme because my left hand would
not do anything.
Evan Sherman (04:43):
Only the right one was working.
So I have no idea how you guysdo it, but I applaud you, sir,
thank you, thank you, of course,can you?
talk to me a little bit aboutwhat we can expect at the back
deck at the Morris Museum.
Sure, well, I don't know whatto expect, so I would expect the
unexpected.
I don't know what to expect, soI would expect the unexpected.
(05:08):
I would say that if I were topick out a theme with my curated
performances, there's usually atheme of well, okay, now that
theme is starting to get alittle broader.
But I would say this year,because in past years, like last
year, I had a group of my peersand then maybe I don't know,
(05:32):
sometime in the week leading upto last year's gig, I was on
tour with the band that I'vebeen playing with for three
solid years now the band thatI've been playing with for three
solid years now and I hadplanned in the months leading up
(05:53):
to the gig I had asked if thatband would play and this band we
support the vocalist, samaraJoy, and I guess we were on the
road.
I don't know where we were inthe world.
I guess we were on the road.
I don't know where we were inthe world.
It could have been Asia orEurope, or South America or
Canada or Alabama, I'm not surewhere, but I think I asked the
(06:14):
boss, ms Joy.
I said we're going to play thisgig in New Jersey and maybe the
week leading up to it or theday before, I can't remember.
But she said, yeah, I'll comein and sing.
So we had a surprise guest lastyear which was super special.
And then in previous years I'vebrought full big bands, like 16
(06:37):
piece big bands, which is kindof a nightmare, especially post
COVID, cause you know you haveeveryone has to come out on the
train and and you know, once umonce the pie is split between 16
people, you know it becomes alabor of love for everyone.
Um, so this year I want to keepum kind of a mentor theme.
(07:03):
I have so many great mentorsand, um, I'm going to hopefully
have um a few mentors joining meand uh, you know, leading up to
the gig you never know whatmight come up more spont
spontaneously last minute and,and we'll be open to that, we'll
(07:23):
just kind of keep it like aloose.
And what I like about the backdeck is that it's like a, a
picnic kind of a spirit up thereand everyone's like looks like
they're on like blankets andlawn chairs and uh having wine
and and it's a very serenebackdrop, so we're going to kind
(07:47):
of just go with the flow.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (07:51):
I love that and you really sold me on
it with serene and picnic andthe wine.
I mean I'll take the wine too,but it sounds like a really nice
vibe and even just you sayingthat we're kind of going with
the flow really speaks to, likeI said, your, your vibe, you're
just like so cool, so chill, andthat, to me, is how I think of
(08:12):
jazz.
Evan Sherman (08:13):
Jazz music simultaneously makes me want to
get up and move but also calmsmy nervous system, and I wonder
if you have like some kind ofreaction to that music yeah, um
well, what I love about thismusic and I think what makes me
who I am today, is growing uparound mentors like Jimmy Heath,
(08:36):
who I met when he was like 84years old and knew him till he
was like in his early 90s.
You relax and have fun, andhave serious fun.
That's when you'll get all thenutrients from the music and
(09:02):
from life in general, and so Iguess naturally I try to
continue in that tradition.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (09:10):
That's amazing and it kind of made me
feel like that's what I'mgetting when I listen to the
music, like I'm.
I am learning to be chillthrough you.
It's like through osmosis, butthrough the music.
I love that you were mentioningSamara Joy before and I know
that you've performed withdifferent vocalists, and I would
be remiss if I didn't bring upVanessa Perea, because I know
(09:30):
you've worked with her on heralbum Playdate.
I happen to have grown up downthe street from Vanessa, so I
just wanted to give her a shoutout and also talk a little bit
about her album and thedifferent albums that you've.
What's the proper terminology?
Were you a side man on?
Is that?
Can you tell me about some ofthe albums?
Can you tell me?
Evan Sherman (09:50):
about some of the albums you've done.
Vanessa is one of my dearestfriends and collaborators and
I'm so thankful to her andRobert Edwards, her husband, for
believing in me when I wasreally like early in my teens I
(10:13):
think I was still a teenagerwhen we recorded that album
actually and I mean when itcomes to my first gigs over New
(10:44):
Jersey and New York with themover the years and I still play
with them and still see them notas often as I would like, but
anytime I get to play withVanessa or Robert, I'm very
happy.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (10:59):
I'm so glad I mentioned them.
It's a nice little throwback.
Evan Sherman (11:02):
Colonia.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (11:03):
Yep, colonia is where it's at, and
your baseball team.
Evan Sherman (11:08):
Yeah, yeah.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (11:09):
You mentioned, you know, going
around New york and new jersey,but you've been all over the
world at this point, so can youtalk a little bit about what
that's like?
I can't imagine that it's easyto be traveling constantly yeah,
yeah, just thinking about it.
Evan Sherman (11:26):
Um, yeah, it's a lot on on the body to uh be
going up and down and up anddown, sometimes twice in a day.
I'm getting better atnavigating the airports, you
know.
I know the little secret waysthat you can, you know, get past
(11:46):
security faster or check yourbag faster, or get a card if you
stick a penny in a in in thething, like like the all kinds
of funny tricks, um that comewith traveling that, I think,
just help you navigate life.
And I I always think that uh,being in new york and having to
(12:10):
navigate in New York City isreally good training for the
rest of the world.
Because, uh, you know, you goto Japan and it feels like
heaven because everything is soclean and and pristine and the
food is good and the people arenice, and then you come to New
York, it almost feels like theother side, it feels like, feels
(12:30):
like the underworld when you goto New York.
But yeah, it's been amazing.
I mean, the past three yearsI've traveled more than I ever
have and been to Asia a bunch oftimes and Europe too many times
, south America a couple times.
(12:52):
I just got back from Southamerica.
A couple weeks ago it wasunbelievable to hear brazilian
samba in a samba club in saopaulo.
It kind of changed me forevergetting to sit for three hours
in this club and and listen tothe real folkloric music.
(13:12):
So it's just giving me a really.
I'm just like learning so muchby seeing all these places and
getting to enjoy the food andthe culture and try to speak a
little bit in their language orlisten to their music or you
know.
All that kind of stuff has beenvery inspiring and I'm very
(13:36):
grateful.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (13:37):
I mean, I can't even imagine that like to
be able to absorb culture inthat way.
I'm a little envious, but wewon't talk about that.
This might be a taboo question,but since we're talking about
all of the places that you'vetraveled, do you have a venue
that is your favorite to performin or that you feel most
comfortable in?
Evan Sherman (14:16):
for my whole life.
I love playing in New York andI love, um, all of the clubs
here, like Smalls and uh uh,mesro, the.
Those places are like home,like home away, like I can
always go there and and feel athome and welcome Um.
And then there's like thereally bucket list prestigious
places like the Village Vanguard, which I've been fortunate to
(14:37):
play at a bunch of times and andthen this year got to play at
Carnegie Hall in the big roomfor the first time.
So in New York that's kind ofalways very special because also
I can go back home afterwardsand sleep in my own bed and not
(14:57):
have to worry about leavingsomething in a hotel room.
Um, and then something thatI've been also just like wowing
at is that this year not onlydid I get to play at carnegie
hall for the first time, but weplayed in royal albert hall in
london, which is another bucketlist uh venue which has so much
(15:22):
history.
So I guess I really love whenthese places have a lot of
history, like if a lot of greatmusicians or, like I saw at
royal albert hall there was apicture there was like a benefit
for the Titanic.
So like you know this deephistory.
You like walk around theseplaces and you're just like, wow
, it's extra inspiring.
(15:44):
So those are a few, but youknow.
And then you go to Brazil andthen you hear that music and
then it's time for you to playBrazilian music and it's almost
intimidating but very inspiringand it helps you reach for
farther than you probably should.
(16:06):
But then you end up getting alittle closer.
You end up getting a littlecloser and I think that's kind
of been the theme of myprogression is thinking that I
can do something that I can't,but trying and getting just a
little bit closer to it.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (16:26):
What a great answer, though.
I mean, it's that history thathas inspired you and moved you,
and it still is.
So I think that was a greatanswer to the question.
Thank you for sharing, and wehaven't left anybody out.
I mean, basically, you'veenjoyed every place that you
have performed and they eachvenue, has something to offer.
Can I also ask you about yourtelevision appearances, Because
(16:47):
I know you've been on a numberof shows.
Right, You've done appearanceson the Grammys, Because I know
you've been on a number of shows.
Right, You've done appearanceson the Grammys the Tonight Show
with Jimmy Fallon, Late Showwith Stephen Colbert, Today Show
60 Minutes, Jennifer Hudson,Kelly Clarkson, the list goes on
.
I once again, I'm jealous, butwe won't go there.
So can you tell me any maybefun anecdotes?
(17:07):
Do you have any fun anecdotesfrom having performed on any?
Evan Sherman (17:11):
of those shows, sure, sure.
Well, they've all been superfun.
A lot of early mornings.
I think we've done the TodayShow three times live now and I
always heard it was a very earlycall for that and for me,
because it takes me a while toset up the drums.
(17:32):
Um, I think the last couple oftimes I've done that I've had to
uh, my call was 2 30 am 2, 30.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (17:42):
Oh, my god , I thought you were gonna say
three.
Evan Sherman (17:44):
Wow, still, still, both are early, my god yeah, so
so this, this last time we didI think it was in the fall, uh,
sometime in the fall, and I wasplaying, uh, I was leading, uh,
some late night gigs at jazzlincoln center's disease club,
(18:05):
uh, and again I I hired samara'sband for that gig because we
had just been traveling on theroad together and you know we'll
, we have a vast repertoire ofinstrumental things and then you
know Samara wants to come andand sit in.
We have like endless options.
So it's, it's a really greatcommunity that I'm just lucky to
(18:30):
be a part of.
So so I had called upon thisgroup to join me.
So then the Today Show thingcame up, and it was.
We were playing at 11 pm atdizzy's and that gig ended
around 1 am.
(18:51):
We went to a diner, we had someeggs, then I went to
brockefeller center straightfrom there.
Wow, actually you know what.
We had also played in tribecaearlier the night before.
So we did two sets at theDjango in Tribeca at 7 pm, then
(19:15):
we played at 11 pm at Dizzy'sand we went to the diner.
Then we went to the Today Showat 2 30 in the morning and then
I think our soundcheck was at 5and then at 8 am, at 8am or 9am,
we were live on television, sohow about that for a schedule?
Gina Marie Rodriguez (19:35):
Oh my gosh , that is a marathon.
Yeah, a marathon, I would havecrashed and burned through.
Evan Sherman (19:42):
Well, it was just like a really fun, like
adrenaline, filled 12 hours.
I would say I can imagine thatadrenaline is what is?
Gina Marie Rodriguez (19:49):
I would say.
I can imagine that adrenalineis what is pushing you forward
there.
But that's exciting, I mean, isthere?
I mean, aside from, like, allthat prep time, is there
anything that is difficult ordifferent about performing for a
television audience versus anun-televised performance?
Yes, well, some of the showshave an audience there.
Audience versus an un-televisedperformance.
Evan Sherman (20:09):
Yes, well, some of the shows have an audience
there and some of them don't.
The Today Show does not have anaudience, but you have Hoda and
Al Roker and the rest of thestars watching you.
So that's very exciting.
And then some of the othershows, you know they have an
(20:31):
in-house audience.
So it's just uh, it's, it'susually exciting.
I mean, one of the challengesis that you, you have to sound
checks like five times, you haveto play the song like.
So by the fourth or fifth timeyou're kind of like, oh man,
like it's not feeling as fresh.
You have to kind of try to keepit fresh.
But it's always been fun and itusually comes out well, and
(20:56):
mostly that's because we haveSamara.
She just sings and it justsounds so good that whatever we
do is you know, it usually worksout just because she sounds so
good.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (21:10):
I love that.
So, looping back around as wewrap up, what would you say to
New Jersey audiences and NewYork, since they're in our
backyard, if they want to comeout to see you at the Morris
Museum?
What would you say they canlook forward to on September
20th?
Evan Sherman (21:27):
I would say it's going to be a unique
presentation of authentic jazzmusic.
I have very picky taste, sowhoever's going to be there is
going to be wonderful, and thenyou'll have to deal with me
whether you like it or not.
No, but yeah, it'll just be.
(21:51):
Uh, you know, I have ideas inmind and and you never really
know until you get up there andas to what's going to happen.
And and that's part of the, thebeauty of it, um, and and it's
it's rare these days toexperience, um the authenticity
of this music, because a lot ofthe creators of it that I was
(22:13):
fortunate to learn from areeither not not on the planet
anymore or you know so.
So the, what's the word, theproduct or the, the output that
um comes from that tree.
I'm getting very abstract here,but the, the thing that was
(22:37):
passed to me, um, and I justfeel like it's rare, um, like
jimmy heath and and roy hargrove, like they, they affect
everything I do, um because theyuh being around them, and like
(22:58):
I was just watching this videowhere I'm uh in high school and
I'm just like sitting therestaring at this at the at the
dizzy gillespie Big Bandrehearse and Roy Hargrove's
conducting and my mentor, louisNash, is playing drums and I'm
the only kid in there, really.
So whatever I do is just aproduct of what I've been
(23:21):
through growing up and I justthink it's a lot of fun for me
to just kind of let that flowthrough me, and I think it's
because I love them so much andthey made me feel so good.
I think letting their energyflow through me will give me the
(23:47):
best chance of carrying on thatfeeling for other people.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (23:55):
I think that's the joy of jazz, isn't it
?
Like that free spirit that gowith the flow and the osmosis we
were talking about before?
Like these greats, theselegends are living through you
and then passing on to youraudience, which is amazing and
wonderful.
You've had so many experiencesthat others may not have had and
(24:16):
may never have the opportunityto have, but you're taking all
of that and passing it on to newaudiences and possibly new
generations.
Evan Sherman (24:25):
Thank you, gina, thank you.
Gina Marie Rodriguez (24:28):
You can see Evan Sherman and his
surprise guests at the MorrisMuseum back deck on September
20th at 7.30pm.
For tickets and moreinformation, be sure to visit
MorrisMuseum.
org.
If you liked this episode, besure to review, subscribe and
tell your friends.
A transcript of this podcast,links relevant to the story and
(24:49):
more about the arts in NewJersey can be found at
JerseyArts.
com.
The Jersey Arts Podcast ispresented by Art Pride New
Jersey, advancing a state ofcreativity since 1986.
This show was co-founded by,and currently supported by funds
from, the New Jersey StateCouncil on the Arts.
This episode was hosted, editedand produced by me, Gina Marie
(25:09):
Rodriguez.
Executive producers are JimAtkinson and Isaac Serna-Diez,
and my thanks, of course, toEvan Sherman for speaking with
me today.
And now I'll let Evan Shermanand his big band play us out.
This is Cedars Blues.
¶¶, ¶¶, ¶¶, ¶¶.
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