2007 Shepherd Express Award "Best Acoustic Guitar Player"

[Edie Antoinette]

My Son..Evan Christian!!!!

Guitar Aficionado Best of Milwaukee 2007 by Shepherd Express Staff December 06, 2007 ACOUSTIC MUSICIAN Evan Christian Evan Christian's commitment to mastering the flamenco guitar is so great that he moved to Spain to study the craft. That's not to say that his playing is completely grounded in tradition, though. In the studio, he pairs his flamenco guitar riffs with smooth, hip-hop-inflected neo-soul and synthesized, peppy funk in the vein of Prince. He shows off his guitar chops at his regular gigs at the Jazz Estate most Mondays. (Evan Rytlewski) Runners-up: Lisa Marie Gatewood, Moxie Chicks By KENYA C. EVANS November 23, 2007 Flamenco guitarist Evan Christian performs solo at The Jazz Estate on Monday nights and Jackalope Lounj on Thursday nights. "I’m doing traditional flamenco, and my own material, which is blues, soul. Some of it’s in Spanish," Christian explains. Milwaukee’s Evan Christian is driven to become one of the finest flamenco guitar players in the world. And for Christian, practice makes perfect. He began his musical rendezvous as an upright bass player in fourth grade. His skill evolved into a natural obsession. His burning passion led him to self-taught lessons of the bass, electric and acoustic guitar. Flamenco music spoke to him most intuitively. "(Flamenco is) the highest level of an acoustic guitar player, I think. You’re using all 10 of your fingers at the same time," says Christian. He has been performing and producing music for the past 10 years, touring the Midwest with his group, the Evan Christian Quartet. Last summer, he toured internationally with Milwaukee’s own R&B sensation Cincere, entertaining the armed forces in the Middle East and Mediterranean. In 2004, he debuted with "Fuego," a CD taking listeners on a sensual journey of acoustic flamenco. He recently completed his second CD, "The Mosaic," which is more experimental and eclectic than "Fuego," and is working on his third. He plans to relocate and promote both CDs in New York and seek a record deal with national release. "A deal is just distribution," he says. "It’s a big part of it, but I’m not letting the fact that I don’t have one right now stop me." Two years ago, Christian decided to take his music abroad and study flamenco in Spain. The trip took him on a journey of personal and artistic growth. With nothing but his guitar on his back and "Fuego" CDs in his bag, he voyaged overseas and immersed himself into the world of flamenco music. Although his original plan to attend school didn’t happen, he began an unofficial apprenticeship with local guitarists and masters of flamenco. During his eight months in Madrid, he proved himself as an artist, built a strong fan base, gained the confidence of performing solo and fraternized with some of the greatest flamenco players in Spain. Christian’s eye-opening experiences during his study abroad in Spain and international tours with Cincere only reinforced his beliefs about the importance of practice. He practices three to five hours a day, every day, and when he’s not practicing or writing music, he’s performing. "You can’t do anything on stage that you can’t do in your room," Christian says. "And the best ones are the ones that practice the most, and invest the most time." I absolutely could NOT be prouder of my "Suggah Bird" ♥

[stepfatherofsoul]

Congrats to your son ... please give me info about his CDs!

[Hoss]

Didn't the Flinstones drive wooden cars??

[Edie Antoinette]

She has her hands on the 'steering wheel' JUST like you!!!!
If it ain't a wooden hotrod we can pretend it is..LOL

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

You sure she riding a wooden car....LMBO. I can't make out what that thing is....LOL

[Edie Antoinette]

Evan can play all the other instruments too--self taught.

[Edie Antoinette]

LOL LOL..Sole, I almost fell out the chair laffin..I saw a pic of your mother when she was a baby girl and she had the NERVE to be hot roddin in a little wooden car..same pose as you in your no. 7..it's uncanny!!!!!! LOL

[Shelley "SoleMann" King]

Look at my Brother....SMILE. Po Big Jim....LOL. See you never would have caught me...ROFLMBO

[Edie Antoinette]

Thanks Hoss! No, Evan is the baby..he didn't get the rake treatment like the oldest boy--your look-alike Big Jim (Chris)..and when I whacked it across Chris' back it snapped in half and he didn't even FEEL it..!!! ROFL

[Hoss]

Congrats to Mr Evan:) Is that the lil guy you had to chase with the rug rake??LOL