Sandy Evans
Sandy Evans brings soprano and tenor saxophone into free improvisation, contemporary jazz and intercultural writing where koto, tabla and electronics sit beside the horn. Her lines can turn flute-like, almost vocal, or push hard against the group.
With austraLYSIS she risks emotion and inwardness in long acoustic and electro-acoustic improvisations, stretching styles without dropping tension. GEST8, co-led with Tony Gorman, folds Japanese koto and live computer into original pieces that can swing, take a West African groove, or open into abstraction, built so every texture earns its place. On RockPoolMirror she answers dawn photographs of Shoalhaven Gorge in duets and sketches that honour stillness, stone and water as much as flight, giving partners room to speak. She writes for koto ensemble, leads her own trio and sextet, and moves through bands from Clarion Fracture Zone to the Australian Art Orchestra. The through-line is curiosity about sound and a refusal to keep the saxophone in one neighbourhood.
Sandy Evans is featured on the following titles
RockPoolMirror
Sandy Evans loved Belinda Webster’s dawn photographs of Shoalhaven Gorge from the early 2000s. A Tasmanian supporter funded the project; Evans wrote music to be heard with the images; and an eclectic circle of friends agreed to play and record it.
Composer
Producer
Sandy Evans is featured on the following titles
Present Tense
An unusual release of music improvised live with computer-generated improvisations. Sandy Evans is astonishing here. Roger Dean has provided most of the germinal material.
Performing as austraLYSIS
austraLYSIS works across acoustic free improvisation and live computer interaction, pitting saxophones, piano and percussion against electronics in music that holds tension, risks emotion and never settles into one style.
History Goes Everywhere
austraLYSIS Electroband occupies a special place in Australian music. Formed in 1990 by Roger Dean, this trio has carved out a unique territory, pitting acoustic instruments against computer-generated material in live performance.
The Next Room
An unusual two-CD set of free improvisation: each disc holds one continuous hour-long piece. Tony Buck, Roger Dean and Sandy Evans are sharply different musical personalities, yet the long-form dialogues hold together.
Composer
Moving the Landscapes
austraLYSIS appears in Australia in several guises, united by pianist, bassist and composer Roger Dean. All involve improvisation; this recording presents the acoustic face of the group.
Performing as GEST8
Kaleidoscope
GEST8, the brainchild of Sandy Evans and Tony Gorman, extends their search for new colours in improvisation and jazz. Kaleidoscope is the band’s debut recording.
Composer
Compositions by Sandy Evans also appear on
Pearl of May
Satsuki Odamura and her Koto Ensemble return with new Australian works for koto by Sandy Evans and Ian Cleworth, and a solo bass-koto piece by Mark Isaacs. The title marks her thirtieth anniversary in Australia.
Composer
Sandy Evans is a member of
austraLYSIS
austraLYSIS works across acoustic free improvisation and live computer interaction, pitting saxophones, piano and percussion against electronics in music that holds tension, risks emotion and never settles into one style.