Janet Evra

Janet Evra
Background information
Birth nameJanet Kimberley Irvine
Born (1988-07-04) July 4, 1988 (age 36)
OriginGloucester, England
GenresLatin jazz, samba, jazz, indie jazz, French jazz, bossa nova
OccupationJazz singer/bassist
LabelsLotown, Plum Jazz
Websitejanetevra.com

Janet Irvine Buchanan, (born 4 July 1988) popularly known as Janet Evra, is an English-born vocalist, bassist, guitarist, songwriter and bandleader. Evra sings in English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French and performs in jazz, indie jazz, French jazz, bossa nova, samba, and Latin jazz styles.[1][2]

Early life

Janet Irvine was born in Gloucester, England. She grew up in a musical household and learned the piano, cello, and guitar as a child.

She was a member of Cheltenham indie rock band Knave in 2006, performing on vocals and rhythm guitar.

She received a B.A. from Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, and a M.S. from the University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability in Ann Arbor, Michigan.[3] She then lived in Alton, Illinois and worked in the sustainability field for an environmental non-profit.[4] She then moved to St. Louis, Missouri.

Career

Evra performs at music festivals and concerts in the US and Europe. She has performed shows in Sweden and Switzerland and at the 2019 Deva Jazz Festival in Romania, the 2021 Linna Jazz Festival in Finland, and the 2023 Brecon Jazz Festival in the United Kingdom.[5]

Evra released her debut album Ask Her to Dance in 2018.[4][6][7] In 2019 Evra released 'Wish You Were Here', a single, and in 2020 she released singles 'Summer Love Song', 'Floating on Life', and 'I'd Rather Be Lonely With You'.[8] Evra signed with Lotown Records in 2020. In 2021 Evra released her second album, Janet Evra & Ptah Williams: New Friends, Old Favorites. In 2022 Evra signed with Plum Jazz and released her third album, Hello Indie Bossa.[9] In 2023 Evra released a single 'Almost True' featuring Randy Brecker; also in 2023 Evra released her fourth album, Meet Me in Paris, a French jazz-themed record which JAZZIZ awarded "Album of the Week".[10][11] In 2024 Evra released singles 'Summer Nights are for Loving' featuring Taylor Eigsti, 'Tenderly' featuring Diego Figueiredo, and 'Kiss Me and You'll Find Out' featuring Jeff Coffin.

Evra is an Artist in Residence at The Sheldon in St. Louis.[12] Evra was a 2019-2020 Artist in Residence at the Kranzberg Arts Foundation, also in St. Louis.[13]

Evra has collaborated with Randy Brecker, Taylor Eigsti, Marcus Miller, Veronica Swift, Andrea Motis, Wycliffe Gordon, Tracy Silverman, Bob Reynolds, Dave Weckl, Sara Gazarek, Mohini Dey, Severi Pyysalo, Yusa, Jeff Coffin, Roy Wooten, Eric Marienthal, Chad Lefkowitz-Brown, Diego Figueiredo, Gregory Hutchinson, and Alex Hutchings, among other musicians.[9][14]

Evra is the co-creator of St. Louis Music Box, a social media music video series.[15][16]

Evra also leads the musical group The Bon Bon Plot performing French jazz music.[4]

Personal life

Evra is married to Will Buchanan, a guitarist and producer. The two regularly perform together.[4][15]

References

  1. ^ Leftridge, Steve. "British-Born Janet Evra Is Making Glorious Jazz in St. Louis". Riverfront Times. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  2. ^ Johnson, Kevin C. (1 December 2021). "Janet Evra delivers a fresh, romantic jazz spin to St. Louis' music scene". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Janet Buchanan | Center for Sustainable Systems". css.umich.edu. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d Schaeffer, Christian. "The Bon Bon Plot's Janet Evra Takes Center Stage with Her Solo Debut". Riverfront Times. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  5. ^ "Janet Evra tours in Finland in August - Jazz Finland". jazzfinland.fi. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  6. ^ Jazz, All About (17 May 2019). "Janet Evra: Ask Her to Dance album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  7. ^ "Reviews: Janet Evra - Ask Her To Dance". Gesso Magazine. 2 April 2019. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  8. ^ Miserez, Laura (18 July 2020). "Behind the scenes of Janet Evra's new single, "Summer Love Song"". www.stlmag.com. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  9. ^ a b "Plum Jazz". plumjazz.com. Retrieved 22 February 2022.
  10. ^ "Album of the Week: Janet Evra, 'Meet Me in Paris' - JAZZIZ Magazine". JAZZIZ Magazine. 15 October 2023. Retrieved 10 November 2023.
  11. ^ Jazz, All About (16 December 2023). "Janet Evra: Meet Me in Paris album review @ All About Jazz". All About Jazz. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  12. ^ Allen, Heather (3 December 2024). "The Sheldon Welcomes Janet Evra as Artist-in-Residence". Classic 107.3. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  13. ^ "Music Artists-in-Residence Archives". Kranzberg Arts Foundation. Retrieved 31 December 2020.
  14. ^ Johnson, Kevin C. (17 May 2023). "Janet Evra, Anita Jackson, Ptah Williams usher in St. Louis record label Plum Jazz". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  15. ^ a b Miserez, Laura (17 August 2021). "With the St. Louis Music Box Series, musicians Janet Evra and Will Buchanan find a new passion project". www.stlmag.com. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  16. ^ Osby, Jasmine (4 December 2024). "St. Louis Music Box brings jazz musicians together online". STLtoday.com. Retrieved 12 December 2024.