Humphrey Lyttelton, Louis Armstrong and John Evans, May 1956
Memorial Evening for John Evans 1934–2015
With The Dick Williams Six, Lynn Saunders, Tim Wacher and Chris Hodgkins
Tue 5 April at 8pm
Café Jazz, St. Mary’s Street, Cardiff.
Tel: 02920 387026
www.pjscardiff.co.uk
John Evans was born July 21st, 1934, in Cardiff. He started playing clarinet at 15. His friends would come round to practice and when their neighbour Mr Rogers couldn’t take any more he would tap on the living room window and that was the sign to stop.
In 1952 John did his National Service in the RAF and played in the Fighter Command Band. After completing his National Service John went to the Guild Hall School of Music and after that he stayed in London and worked as a professional musician. John played with many bands including Freddy Randell, Mick Mulligan and George Melly, Lynn Saunders, as well as backing top-line cabaret entertainers such as Clinton Ford. John also played drums and sax.
With John Evans and Lynn Saunders
A Young John Evans
In 1957 he met Jean and they lived in a flat in Earls Court which they shared with Ray Warleigh. Jean and John were married in 1961. Sian was born in 1964 and Jemma in 1967.
“The Complete Works”
To support his new family he became an English Lecturer at Southgate College, forming a band there called “The Complete Works”.
He taught there for the next 18 years continuing as a semi-professional musician.
Dick Williams Six, Café Jazz Cardiff: Bob Tunnicliffe, Mike Pincombe, Dick Williams, Brian Jobson, John Evans.
Graham Read, Brian Masters, John Evans
Lynn Saunders, John Evan, Dave Weir and Colin Graham
After he took early retirement in the mid 80’s he worked full time as a musician. He played with Trevor Anthony on drums, the Bob Guthrie Band, the JCM Band, Gentle Jazz and Harlem Airshaft with Mike Nash, Chris Hodgkins and Max Brittan. John was also a member of the Anglo Welsh Allstars and Dick Williams Six.
Mike Nash, Max Brittain, Chris Hodgkins, Clive Pracy, John Ferguson, John Evans
Left to right: John Beecham, Eric Gilchrist, John Evans (third left), John Barnes, Tim Wacher, Chris Barber, Don Cook, Phil Brown, Alan Bradley, John Keen, Chris Hodgkins, Digby Fairweather, John Wacher, and a youthful Emile Martin, June 2006.
Very sad to hear about John. Did a few gigs with him and Mole Benn in the late-’80s. Also a bit sad that Diz Disley didn’t get a mention in the picture with Armstrong in 1956.