Jersey Arts Podcast

Experience the Essence of Jazz with Grammy-Winner, Evan Sherman

• ArtPride New Jersey

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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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Gina Marie Rodriguez:

This is Gina Marie Rodriguez and you're listening to the Jersey Arts Podcast. Is it just me, or is jazz one of the coolest musical genres out there? I'm not talking about preference, I'm talking about essence. When I say cool, I don't mean in vogue or impressive. I mean chill, soothing, calming. While cool jazz is a subgenre all its own, among others, like Latin swing and modern jazz, the art form itself has always brought me a sense of peace, no matter the tempo or the syncopation. Evan Sherman knows what I mean. He oozes that essence, that quiet confidence that lulls you into a sense of calm.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

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 Brantford and Winton 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. Hello sir, how are you? It's very nice to meet you.

Evan Sherman:

Nice to meet you, Gina.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

I'm so grateful to have you here, and can I just say this and I hope you take it the way it's intended your vibe is so cool that it just it reads jazz to me, if that makes sense at all. Thank you, thank you Of course I'm excited to talk to you because you are a fellow Jerseyan. So first I want to ask you where in Jersey are you from?

Evan Sherman:

From Milburn, New Jersey.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

Oh, from Milburn. Awesome, I grew up in Colonia, so not too far, half hour ish.

Evan Sherman:

I think my first traveling baseball game when I was eight was in Colonia.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

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've been playing the drums since you were five, professionally since about 13, right, but you started very young, so I kind of want to know how you got into music and why the drums.

Evan Sherman:

That's correct, I guess. From what I can remember, my parents and brother played music. I have an older brother he's five years older, and I've seen pictures of him playing guitar to me as I'm an infant, and my dad and mom, they play all kinds of instruments. My dad plays mostly guitar and bass, my mom plays piano, everyone sings a little bit, so naturally, to complete the family quartet, I had to pick the drums.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

You had no other choice.

Evan Sherman:

Yeah, I just wanted to join in and it was either that or actually there was really. No, I don't think I had much of a choice.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

Well, thank God, you're good at it.

Evan Sherman:

Well, I think it helps to have an early start and to have such a supportive nurturing environment and parents and brother.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

Absolutely. I was just talking to another artist about that, how the family structure and that support system is huge in any venture and like when you don't have that that you can feel the difference. So I'm grateful for you that you have that support structure and that you know you are who you are now. You're, I mean, like I said, amazing. I have zero musical talent whatsoever, so whenever I interview musicians I inevitably say something stupid just wait for it, it's coming. If I could tell you a story for a second about why I love drummers so much, I will never have the hand-eye coordination that you guys have. Like you're doing different things with each hand at the same time and your foot's working on the pedal and I have zero idea how to do that. I took piano lessons, like when I was younger. Teacher got so frustrated with me because my left hand would not do anything.

Evan Sherman:

Only the right one was working. So I have no idea how you guys do it, but I applaud you, sir, thank you, thank you, of course, can you?

Evan Sherman:

talk to me a little bit about what we can expect at the back deck at the Morris Museum. Sure, well, I don't know what to expect, so I would expect the unexpected. I don't know what to expect, so I would expect the unexpected. I would say that if I were to pick out a theme with my curated performances, there's usually a theme of well, okay, now that theme is starting to get a little broader. But I would say this year, because in past years, like last year, I had a group of my peers and then maybe I don't know, sometime in the week leading up to last year's gig, I was on tour with the band that I've been playing with for three solid years now the band that I've been playing with for three solid years now and I had planned in the months leading up to the gig I had asked if that band would play and this band we support the vocalist, samara Joy, and I guess we were on the road. I don't know where we were in the world. I guess we were on the road. I don't know where we were in the world. It could have been Asia or Europe, or South America or Canada or Alabama, I'm not sure where, but I think I asked the boss, ms Joy. I said we're going to play this gig in New Jersey and maybe the week leading up to it or the day before, I can't remember. But she said, yeah, I'll come in and sing. So we had a surprise guest last year which was super special.

Evan Sherman:

And then in previous years I've brought full big bands, like 16 piece big bands, which is kind of a nightmare, especially post COVID, cause you know you have everyone has to come out on the train and and you know, once um once the pie is split between 16 people, you know it becomes a labor of love for everyone. Um, so this year I want to keep um kind of a mentor theme. I have so many great mentors and, um, I'm going to hopefully have um a few mentors joining me and uh, you know, leading up to the gig you never know what might come up more spont spontaneously last minute and, and we'll be open to that, we'll just kind of keep it like a loose. And what I like about the back deck is that it's like a, a picnic kind of a spirit up there and everyone's like looks like they're on like blankets and lawn chairs and uh having wine and and it's a very serene backdrop, so we're going to kind of just go with the flow.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

I love that and you really sold me on it with serene and picnic and the wine. I mean I'll take the wine too, but it sounds like a really nice vibe and even just you saying that we're kind of going with the flow really speaks to, like I said, your, your vibe, you're just like so cool, so chill, and that, to me, is how I think of jazz.

Evan Sherman:

Jazz music simultaneously makes me want to get up and move but also calms my nervous system, and I wonder if you have like some kind of reaction to that music yeah, um well, what I love about this music and I think what makes me who I am today, is growing up around mentors like Jimmy Heath, who I met when he was like 84 years old and knew him till he was like in his early 90s. You relax and have fun, and have serious fun. That's when you'll get all the nutrients from the music and from life in general, and so I guess naturally I try to continue in that tradition.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

That's amazing and it kind of made me feel like that's what I'm getting when I listen to the music, like I'm. I am learning to be chill through you. It's like through osmosis, but through the music. I love that you were mentioning Samara Joy before and I know that you've performed with different vocalists, and I would be remiss if I didn't bring up Vanessa Perea, because I know you've worked with her on her album Playdate. I happen to have grown up down the street from Vanessa, so I just wanted to give her a shout out and also talk a little bit about her album and the different albums that you've. What's the proper terminology? Were you a side man on? Is that? Can you tell me about some of the albums? Can you tell me?

Evan Sherman:

about some of the albums you've done. Vanessa is one of my dearest friends and collaborators and I'm so thankful to her and Robert Edwards, her husband, for believing in me when I was really like early in my teens I think I was still a teenager when we recorded that album actually and I mean when it comes to my first gigs over New Jersey and New York with them over the years and I still play with them and still see them not as often as I would like, but anytime I get to play with Vanessa or Robert, I'm very happy.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

I'm so glad I mentioned them. It's a nice little throwback.

Evan Sherman:

Colonia.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

Yep, colonia is where it's at, and your baseball team.

Evan Sherman:

Yeah, yeah.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

You mentioned, you know, going around New york and new jersey, but you've been all over the world at this point, so can you talk a little bit about what that's like? I can't imagine that it's easy to be traveling constantly yeah, yeah, just thinking about it.

Evan Sherman:

Um, yeah, it's a lot on on the body to uh be going up and down and up and down, sometimes twice in a day. I'm getting better at navigating the airports, you know. I know the little secret ways that you can, you know, get past security faster or check your bag faster, or get a card if you stick a penny in a in in the thing, like like the all kinds of funny tricks, um that come with traveling that, I think, just help you navigate life. And I I always think that uh, being in new york and having to navigate in New York City is really good training for the rest of the world. Because, uh, you know, you go to Japan and it feels like heaven because everything is so clean and and pristine and the food is good and the people are nice, and then you come to New York, it almost feels like the other side, it feels like, feels like the underworld when you go to New York. But yeah, it's been amazing.

Evan Sherman:

I mean, the past three years I've traveled more than I ever have and been to Asia a bunch of times and Europe too many times, south America a couple times. I just got back from South america. A couple weeks ago it was unbelievable to hear brazilian samba in a samba club in sao paulo. It kind of changed me forever getting to sit for three hours in this club and and listen to the real folkloric music. So it's just giving me a really. I'm just like learning so much by seeing all these places and getting to enjoy the food and the culture and try to speak a little bit in their language or listen to their music or you know. All that kind of stuff has been very inspiring and I'm very grateful.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

I mean, I can't even imagine that like to be able to absorb culture in that way. I'm a little envious, but we won't talk about that. This might be a taboo question, but since we're talking about all of the places that you've traveled, do you have a venue that is your favorite to perform in or that you feel most comfortable in?

Evan Sherman:

for my whole life. I love playing in New York and I 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 at home and welcome Um. And then there's like the really bucket list prestigious places like the Village Vanguard, which I've been fortunate to play at a bunch of times and and then this year got to play at Carnegie Hall in the big room for the first time. So in New York that's kind of always very special because also I can go back home afterwards and sleep in my own bed and not have to worry about leaving something in a hotel room. Um, and then something that I've been also just like wowing at is that this year not only did I get to play at carnegie hall for the first time, but we played in royal albert hall in london, which is another bucket list uh venue which has so much history.

Evan Sherman:

So I guess I really love when these places have a lot of history, like if a lot of great musicians or, like I saw at royal albert hall there was a picture there was like a benefit for the Titanic. So like you know this deep history. You like walk around these places and you're just like, wow, it's extra inspiring. So those are a few, but you know. And then you go to Brazil and then you hear that music and then it's time for you to play Brazilian music and it's almost intimidating but very inspiring and it helps you reach for farther than you probably should. But then you end up getting a little closer. You end up getting a little closer and I think that's kind of been the theme of my progression 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:

What a great answer, though. I mean, it's that history that has inspired you and moved you, and it still is. So I think that was a great answer to the question. Thank you for sharing, and we haven't left anybody out. I mean, basically, you've enjoyed every place that you have performed and they each venue, has something to offer. Can I also ask you about your television appearances, Because I know you've been on a number of shows. Right, You've done appearances on the Grammys, Because I know you've been on a number of shows. Right, You've done appearances on the Grammys the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Today Show 60 Minutes, Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Clarkson, the list goes on. I once again, I'm jealous, but we won't go there. So can you tell me any maybe fun anecdotes? Do you have any fun anecdotes from having performed on any?

Evan Sherman:

of those shows, sure, sure. Well, they've all been super fun. A lot of early mornings. I think we've done the Today Show three times live now and I always heard it was a very early call for that and for me, because it takes me a while to set up the drums. Um, I think the last couple of times I've done that I've had to uh, my call was 2 30 am 2, 30.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

Oh, my god, I thought you were gonna say three.

Evan Sherman:

Wow, still, still, both are early, my god yeah, so so this, this last time we did I think it was in the fall, uh, sometime in the fall, and I was playing, uh, I was leading, uh, some late night gigs at jazz lincoln center's disease club, uh, and again I I hired samara's band for that gig because we had just been traveling on the road together and you know we'll, we have a vast repertoire of instrumental things and then you know Samara wants to come and and sit in. We have like endless options. So it's, it's a really great community that I'm just lucky to be a part of. So so I had called upon this group to join me. So then the Today Show thing came up, and it was.

Evan Sherman:

We were playing at 11 pm at dizzy's and that gig ended around 1 am. We went to a diner, we had some eggs, then I went to brockefeller center straight from there. Wow, actually you know what. We had also played in tribeca earlier the night before. So we did two sets at the Django in Tribeca at 7 pm, then we played at 11 pm at Dizzy's and we went to the diner. Then we went to the Today Show at 2 30 in the morning and then I think our soundcheck was at 5 and then at 8 am, at 8am or 9am, we were live on television, so how about that for a schedule?

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

Oh my gosh, that is a marathon. Yeah, a marathon, I would have crashed and burned through.

Evan Sherman:

Well, it was just like a really fun, like adrenaline, filled 12 hours. I would say I can imagine that adrenaline is what is?

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

I would say. I can imagine that adrenaline is what is pushing you forward there. But that's exciting, I mean, is there? I mean, aside from, like, all that prep time, is there anything that is difficult or different about performing for a television audience versus an un-televised performance? Yes, well, some of the shows have an audience there. Audience versus an un-televised performance.

Evan Sherman:

Yes, well, some of the shows have an audience there and some of them don't. The Today Show does not have an audience, but you have Hoda and Al Roker and the rest of the stars watching you. So that's very exciting. And then some of the other shows, you know they have an in-house audience. So it's just uh, it's, it's usually exciting. I mean, one of the challenges is that you, you have to sound checks like five times, you have to play the song like. So by the fourth or fifth time you're kind of like, oh man, like it's not feeling as fresh. You have to kind of try to keep it fresh. But it's always been fun and it usually comes out well, and mostly that's because we have Samara. She just sings and it just sounds so good that whatever we do is you know, it usually works out just because she sounds so good.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

I love that. So, looping back around as we wrap up, what would you say to New Jersey audiences and New York, since they're in our backyard, if they want to come out to see you at the Morris Museum? What would you say they can look forward to on September 20th?

Evan Sherman:

I would say it's going to be a unique presentation of authentic jazz music. I have very picky taste, so whoever's going to be there is going to be wonderful, and then you'll have to deal with me whether you like it or not. No, but yeah, it'll just be. Uh, you know, I have ideas in mind and and you never really know until you get up there and as to what's going to happen. And and that's part of the, the beauty of it, um, and and it's it's rare these days to experience, um the authenticity of this music, because a lot of the creators of it that I was fortunate to learn from are either not not on the planet anymore or you know so. So the, what's the word, the product or the, the output that um comes from that tree.

Evan Sherman:

I'm getting very abstract here, but the, the thing that was passed to me, um, and I just feel like it's rare, um, like jimmy heath and and roy hargrove, like they, they affect everything I do, um because they uh being around them, and like I was just watching this video where I'm uh in high school and I'm just like sitting there staring at this at the at the dizzy gillespie Big Band rehearse and Roy Hargrove's conducting and my mentor, louis Nash, is playing drums and I'm the only kid in there, really. So whatever I do is just a product of what I've been through growing up and I just think it's a lot of fun for me to just kind of let that flow through me, and I think it's because I love them so much and they made me feel so good. I think letting their energy flow through me will give me the best chance of carrying on that feeling for other people.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

I think that's the joy of jazz, isn't it? Like that free spirit that go with the flow and the osmosis we were talking about before? Like these greats, these legends are living through you and then passing on to your audience, which is amazing and wonderful. You've had so many experiences that others may not have had and may never have the opportunity to have, but you're taking all of that and passing it on to new audiences and possibly new generations.

Evan Sherman:

Thank you, gina, thank you.

Gina Marie Rodriguez:

You can see Evan Sherman and his surprise guests at the Morris Museum back deck on September 20th at 7.30pm. For tickets and more information, be sure to visit MorrisMuseum. org. If you liked this episode, be sure to review, subscribe and tell your friends. A transcript of this podcast, links relevant to the story and more about the arts in New Jersey can be found at JerseyArts. com. The Jersey Arts Podcast is presented by Art Pride New Jersey, advancing a state of creativity since 1986. This show was co-founded by, and currently supported by funds from, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. This episode was hosted, edited and produced by me, Gina Marie Rodriguez. Executive producers are Jim Atkinson and Isaac Serna-Diez, and my thanks, of course, to Evan Sherman for speaking with me today. And now I'll let Evan Sherman and his big band play us out. This is Cedars Blues. ¶¶, ¶¶, ¶¶, ¶¶.

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