Evan Christopher combines virtuosity, immaculate taste, and enthusiasm with a commitment to exploring the full range of possibilities in the New Orleans clarinet tradition. His highly personal brand of "contemporary, early jazz" strives to extend the legacies of early Creole clarinetists such as Sidney Bechet, Barney Bigard and Omer Simeon. Critics remarking on Christopher's dynamic expressiveness have coined his style "close-encounte r music" (NEW YORK TIMES) and have called his respect for the music traditions of New Orleans, "a triumph, joining the present seamlessly to a glorious past." (THE OBSERVER, UK). Join Evan for a dynamic showcase of originals and New Orleans classics that aims to celebrate and extend the New Orleans clarinet tradition. Tonight, Evan Christopher's "Licorice Stick Sundays" series presents BLUES FOR BECHET. Evan's tribute to "The Wizard of Jazz" features Joe Ashlar. Ferocious and fearless, organist and pianist Joe Ashlar and hard-swinging drummer Troy Davis join Evan for an homage to the great Sidney Bechet. The clarinet in New Orleans learned to shout the blues thanks to Bechet, and this formidable organ trio delivers Bechet's compositions as they've never been heard before in tonight's concert. Evan Christopher's Clarinet Road band tonight features: Evan Christopher - clarinet Joe Ashlar - Hammond B3 organ Troy Davis - drums