Joe Evans (musician)

Joe Evans (October 7, 1916 – January 17, 2014) was a jazz alto saxophonist.[1][2]

Born in Pensacola, Florida,[1] he was active between 1939 and 1965, playing in the big bands of Jay McShann (coinciding with Charlie Parker), Jimmy Forrest and Gene Ramey; Don Redman and Louis Armstrong.[2] In 1944 he recorded with Mary Lou Williams, as a member of a band including Coleman Hawkins, Bill Coleman and Denzil Best.[3] At the beginning of 1945, he recorded for J. Mayo Williams's independent label, Chicago, leading a combo comprising Jesse Drakes, Duke Jordan, Gene Ramey, J. C. Heard and Etta Jones.[4]

Later that same year[5] and in 1946, he recorded with Andy Kirk's orchestra as part of a lineup that included Fats Navarro, Reuben Phillips, Jimmy Forrest, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Hank Jones, Floyd Smith, Al Hall and Ben Thigpen.[6] Other musicians he performed and recorded with include Cab Calloway, Billie Holiday, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson and Lionel Hampton.[2]

In 2008, University of Illinois Press published his autobiography, Follow Your Heart, co-authored by Christopher Brooks, a professor of anthropology at Virginia Commonwealth University.[7]

Evans died in Richmond, Virginia of renal disease on January 17, 2014.[8]