Magical is how drummer Evan Stone describes the experience –for the players
and the audience—when his group The Translucent Ham Sandwich Band hits
the stage and all the pure elements of the improvisational unknown telepathize
between the musicians.
Called a sensory smorgasbord, The Translucent Ham Sandwich Band uses
multimedia to accompany their dive into uncharted territory, a completely
improvisational experience from the first note to the last.
'Sink or swim' – Stone’s lifelong mantra.
“You can’t live your life in fear,” he asserts.
Most musicians would not be willing to take that risk, but for Stone it is bliss,
where he is able to utilize all the skills he has amassed since he was a preteen,
growing up on Long Island, New York absorbing the family music – some jazz
standards, rhythm and blues, classic rock, singer/songwriter/folk, pop
and favorites including The Beatles, The Police, Led Zeppelin and Stevie Wonder,
to his musical epiphany of seeing Al Di Meola perform live, shortly
after his move to California at the age of 16.
That Coach House performance was one of several defining moments in Stone’s
life. With drummer Tom Brechtlein at the helm, executing drumming techniques
Stone had never witnessed before, with his use of ghost notes,
odd time signatures, finesse, and musicality, a world of percussive possibilities
opened up, including adding Brechtlein to his arsenal of drumming instructors who
would also include, Roy Burns, Vinnie Colaiuta, Peter Erskine, Jeff Hamilton and several others over the course of many years.
Stone began to explore new rhythmic directions by
studying such artists as Steve Gadd and David Garibaldi, but another
profound life altering moment occurred when his parents took him to see
the Marsalis Brothers in concert with Jeff “Tain” Watts on drums.
“That’s the very moment I decided what I wanted to do with my life;
I want to be a Jazz Musician,” Stone states.
At the same time, Stone was determined not to abandon the music he loved
playing as he grew up, and desired to be a well-rounded drummer.
By 12, Stone was certain he was going to be a professional musician, already
playing trumpet in the school band, as well as drums in a neighborhood trio,
inspired by the popularity of MTV. By the following year, they were
playing in local clubs and for their high school events, but by his sophomore year,
the family moved to the west coast. Stone instantly became friends with the
neighborhood musician Gannin Arnold with whom he formed a trio called
Minimum Three while Arnold turned him on to new artists with whom he was not
familiar, including Frank Zappa, Allan Holdsworth and Al Di Meola.
While still in high school, a demo of eight tunes procured them an opening slot at
the Coach House in front of an audience of 500. At 16, it was a sink or swim
moment. The following year they became the house band at the Coach House,
lasting about five years, during which time they opened up for such acts as the
Yellowjackets, Stanley Jordan, and even Chick Corea’s Elektric Band.
Stone himself then enjoyed road and performance gigs as he was ultimately hired for drumming duties with artists such as, Toni Childs, Aly & AJ, Maynard Ferguson,
John Tesh, as well as Tower of Power’s trumpeter Greg Adams, which parlayed into a
project called 'East Bay Soul' where Stone relished performing 'Tower of Power' songs
with such incredible musicians as Phil Perry, Eric Marienthal, Tom Scott and Lenny Williams.
After releasing a straight ahead jazz album, Sticks and Stone, Vol. 1, Stone
reached a crossroads. Did he want to do a second volume of Jazz standards or create
an outlet for his true calling – original music and performance?
Stone decided on the latter and thus, the Translucent Ham Sandwich Band was born.
After many years of concentrating on his band and recording the THSB album,
'Music From the Future', Stone has diversified once again, working with other projects and
producing other artists in his home recording facility, Black Jack Studio in Fullerton, Ca.
Now I am at the point in my life where I want to spend more time writing and recording my own original music and also utilize my production skills to work with and discover up and coming artists to help develop them on their musical path and journey.
Producing feels like a very natural step for me in my progress as an artist.
I am fully enjoying the process of musical creation and collaboration.