Evan Marshall is one of the few mandolin players who has a preference for solo performances and solo arrangements. His repertoir is composed of some of the most famous classical masterpieces arranged for the solo-mandolin. Up to now I have not presented Evan Marshall in this blog – it’s time to do so!
Evan is a virtuoso player who can play everything on the mandolin. He masters the so called duo-style technique perfectly and uses this for his solo arrangements. It’s incredible what Evan can play on his Gilchrist mandolin – I just can say my favorite quote “little mandolin – big sound”.
In the interview on the Mandozine website Evan tells that the first piece that he tried to play as a solo was the famous guitar piece Recuerdos de la Alhambra by Tarrega. He thought that it should be possible to transfer the guitar tremolo technique to the mandolin too. Later he discovered the classical mandolin methods by Pettine and mandolin solo pieces by Francia that were using the same technique earlier.
But not only duo-style, also other incredible techniques are used by Evan. Check the following Caprice No. 3 and see what he can do with the tear-off (or pull-off) technique to play an incredible number of notes in the shortest time:
Evan is also playing in other ensembles. With Scott Gates and Brian Oberlin he played as a mandolin duo. Last year Brian Oberlin and Evan have recored a duo CD “Twin Mandolin Slingers”. This is a short video of one of their duo performances:
Evan has also played for many years in a Disneyland show in Anaheim, California as a member of the Band Billy Hill & the Hillbillies. Especially the solo arrangement of the William Tell Ouverture was his signature piece and a great success in those shows. There are some videos from a show in 1997. In the following example Evan plays the violin – which was his first instrument before he made the mandolin his favorite instrument:
Playlist Evan Marshall Solo-Mandolin / Mandolin Duets and more
Including more than 60 videos: William Tell Ouvertüre von G. Rossini, Pastorale von Händel, Ave Maria by Schubert, Ode to Joy by Beethoven, some Xmas-songs from his Christmas-CD, Caprices by Evan Marshall, Mozart violin concert, Bluegrass Duets with Scott Gates, Vivaldi concer in a duo arrangement and much more. Enjoy Evan Marshall!
Additional Informationen
- New Website Evan Marshall
- Wikipedia about Evan Marshall
- youtube channel Evan Marshall
- Mandozine interview with Evan Marshall
Classical music, bluegrass, and pop are fused through the mandolin playing of Evan Marshall. Inspired equally by late classical violinist Jascha Heifitz and the dean of country guitar, Chet Atkins, Marshall has crafted a highly experimental approach to the mandolin that blends bass lines, chordal accompaniment, and tremolo melodies without overdubs.
- Website Evan Marshalls Mandolin Conservatory
- Kickstarter Project Twin Mandolin Slingers
- Wikipedia about Krazy Kirk and the Hillbillies
CD recommendations (Amazon partnerlink)
| The Lone Arranger |
A Mandolin for Christmas |
Twin Mandolin Slingers |