Glen Burnie man nominated for a Grammy

By LISA BEISEL Staff Writer
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Norman Evans didn't know he was nominated for a Grammy award until he went online.

The 47-year-old Glen Burnie resident is a member of the Recording Academy and wanted to make sure he got his vote in by the deadline.

Just for fun, he scrolled down to contemporary jazz, the style of music he composes and plays - and saw his own name.

"I never knew I had to exhale until I got nominated," he said.

Next week, members of the Recording Academy will vote on the 50 nominees and the pool will be whittled down to just five finalists. The 50th Annual Grammy Awards will be in February.

Mr. Evans has been recording in his Glen Burnie home for about 11 years.

Though it seemed sudden, the nomination didn't happen overnight. Mr. Evans traces his beginnings in music back to elementary school, when his mom would give him $5 to buy a beat-up guitar so he'd stop drumming on her pots and pans.

His small hometown of New Haven, Conn., was a breeding ground for musicians. Many professionals lived in the bedroom community and worked in New York, and Mr. Evans recalled doo-wop singers on corners, and clubs at which jazz, country and rock musicians played.

"I was really fortunate to come up at a period where you could be mentored and had great artistic programs," he said. "I had a lot of really great teachers that made sure that I didn't make missteps."

The best advice came from people who had made mistakes themselves, he said.

When he was a kid, he'd listen to all sorts of music ranging from Brazilian to classical. Foundations are important, he said, and all of them have an influence on what he does today.

"If it's well-written, and well-executed, I'm going to love it," Mr. Evans said.

The self-described workaholic sometimes has to be reminded to take a break from his passion.

"I'll work 24/7 'til someone hits me on the head and tells me to go outside," he said. "I work four to five months straight. I forget what outside looks like."

He can play lots of instruments, including guitar, trombone, drums and clarinet, but his focus is saxophone and keyboard. Keyboards is the most important because it allows him to compose, he said.

When he was younger, he played the trombone, but there's not a lot of band work for trombone players. But there was another reason to give up the big brassy instrument.

"Girls don't like trombone players," he said, laughing. "That was enough to stop that."

Mr. Evans likes jazz because it covers a wide variety of music. His music is influenced by gospel, pop, rock and country. The key is to bring elements of each into his own work.

"If I had to do one thing only, it would probably bore me. It just wouldn't be interesting," he said. "Music can be fun, it can be inspiring, it can be uplifting and all those things. But I think it always should be an experience that allows the listener to connect with."

Mr. Evans said it's rare for someone without a major record label backing them to get as far as he has. His music is played on 250 to 300 radio stations across the country, thanks to hard work and "sweat equity." Now, he has stations calling him to ask him for his albums.

"For me, you just marvel in all that. You feel that your work being recognized," he said.

Though the phrase "it's an honor to be nominated" has become cliche in pop culture, Mr. Evans said he feels that way. Only 50 albums were nominated for Grammys for best contemporary jazz album; among them are some of his heroes in jazz music.

"That's a weird feeling. It's almost surreal," he said. "That just makes you pause."

His sister Pam Fowler said she was taken aback to see Mr. Evans' name on the list.

"For Norman to be in that company of men and musicians that he has looked up to musically, who we've seen perform...it was just absolutely amazing," she said.

Mr. Evans has always dreamed big.

"As a kid, my whole thing was to be very successful. I didn't want just one Grammy, I wanted to win a couple," he said.

And Ms. Fowler said it was clear that he would achieve his goals.

"Norman is the person who was going to persevere and succeed at whatever he chose to do..." Ms. Fowler said. "Norman never wavered in his direction for his life. He knew what he was going to do, and he knew how to get there."

He'd advise young musicians to be realistic, and learn the foundations of all types of music.

"Remember you don't need to reinvent the wheel, you just need to understand how to go different places with it," he said. "It's going to be tough, but just because it's going to be tough doesn't mean it can't be done."

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Published 12/08/07, Copyright © 2007 Maryland Gazette,
Glen Burnie, Md.