Australian Art Orchestra
CD

Moved by Rhythm Patterns

Review of Into The Fire

Learning saxophone is only one facet of Sandy Evans, in love with Carnatic music.

To the general belief that the wind instrument saxophone is best suited only for men, Sandy Evans is really an exception. She is seen as an inspiration Down Under for many women, who want to take to this instrument. Sandy Evans was recently in India funded by the Australian Arts Council to learn Carnatic music. And her guru is flautist B.V. Balasai.

Sandy does not even agree that it is tough for a woman to play the saxophone. Back in Sydney, she plays the instrument for 15 Jazz ensembles. This apart she composes music for films, theatre productions and the bands for which she plays. As a member of the Australian Art Orchestra, she writes music for them too.

A teacher too

Teaching saxophone at the Sydney Grammar School, she also conducts courses on jazz and saxophone improvisation at the Sydney Improvised Music Association.

Is she then a jazz specialist? “Well, I like being called that but in order to expand my horizon, I do team up with groups that promote world music, from all over the globe,” asserts Sandy.

Surprisingly Sandy has had her initial training in piano under her mother at a very tender age of three and thereafter shifted to Western classical flute at the Conservatorium at Sydney.

It was during her high school that she started learning saxophone where she had a teacher who was passionate about jazz. “After high school, I left for the States to learn nuances of jazz and the role of sax in it from Dave Liebmann and Joe Lovano the two famous jazz players there.”

“Playing the sax on the roof top of the Sydney Opera house to usher in the new millennium nine years ago has been one of the most unforgettable moments in my life. It was broadcast worldwide. Testimony, a composition of mine, was a tribute to Charlie Parker of the United States whom I consider the best saxophone player in the world,” reminisces Sandy.

Indian music “It was around the late Nineties when I came to India as a member of the Australian Art Orchestra, that I got first taste of Indian music. We performed at Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. An awe inspiring percussion solo by Karraikudi Mani and T.V. Vasan made an emotional impact on me. I was astounded by the scope in Carnatic music for improvisation in the rhythm patterns. The ocean of Carnatic music is deep and the music is very powerful. That’s why I am here to begin my quest in acquiring a sound knowledge of Carnatic ragas and rhythm. I would be able to fuse it in my jazz compositions to evolve a new sound.”

Sandy is all praise for Balasai, his knowledge and his passionate approach to ragas. Learning the myriad rhythm patterns from Mani has been a unique experience.

This sojourn has helped her acquire the basic understanding of Carnatic music and she is confident of coming back to know more. “Thanks to Pt. Ravishankar, John Coltrane, a famous jazz player was able to compose a jazz piece based on a raga. The composition titled India sans harmony was an instant hit during 1960.” Sandy Evans wants to try something on these lines.

Sandy Evans is the first recipient of the Bell award for ‘Best Jazz Musician of the Year’ and also has won three ARIA awards for her recordings in Australia.

- The Hindu (V. Balasubramanian), 1 May 2009

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