Orrin Evans and the Captain Black Big Band - Presence

Boasting a raw, vigorous sound, a raucous, unpredictable vibe, and a membership ranging from elders to rising stars, the Captain Black Big Band has rapidly seized the attention of the jazz world to become one of the most vital big bands on the modern scene. That's no surprise given the leadership of pianist/composer Orrin Evans, who imbues the ensemble with his distinctively bold, bracing sensibility.

Founded in late 2009, Captain Black was conceived as a vehicle for Evans to combine the power and scale of a big band with the freedom and spontaneity of a small group. From its beginnings at Chris' Jazz Cafe in Evans' native Philadelphia through its long-running Monday night residency at New York's Smoke Jazz & Supper Club, the band has evolved into just that -- a flexible and tightrope-walking unit whose daring approach lends the music an exhilarating edge.

The band now has two critically-acclaimed albums to its name -- its 2011 self-titled debut and 2014's Mother's Touch (both Posi-Tone) -- with a third due this winter via the Smoke Sessions label. They were named Rising Star Big Band of the Year in the 61st annual DownBeat Critics Poll, and placed in the top five for Big Band of the Year in the most recent poll. The magazine's review called Mother's Touch "extraordinary... a sweet summertime powerhouse of a record that slips and slides with breathtaking compositions, arrangements, solos and grandeur."