Evan Cory Levine is a dynamic, Philadelphia-based entertainer, bandleader and producer who has been lauded as a “guitar virtuoso and absurdist performer.” He is widely in-demand as a guitarist and vocalist for ensembles specializing in 1920s jazz music, but his full artistic range is both diverse and timeless. You can catch him at various venues around town with his group, The Singular Band, or as a solo performer for private events, such as weddings, birthday parties or other celebrations.
Evan performs with Michael Arenella & His Dreamland Orchestra, The Red Hot Ramblers, The Joshua Fialkoff Quartet, and The Perseverance Jazz Band. In addition to his Singular Band, he performs in The Mahogany Stompers, a duo with percussionist Julius Masri, and The Howling Kettles, an old-timey trio with members spread across the United States.
Evan’s musical style is largely informed by the jazz and blues players of the 20’s through 40’s, but he draws inspiration from a wide array of musicians and entertainers, including Django Reinhardt, Mississippi John Hurt, Oscar Aleman, Oscar Moore, Joseph Spence. Outside of guitar, there’s Fats Waller, Sarah Vaughan, The Boswell Sisters, Randy Newman, Tom Waits, Naftule Brandwein, Otis Redding, Booker T & The MGs and The Temptations.
“His vocal approach is almost like a tightwire act of bravado; committing himself 100 percent, he emotes with each ounce of his breath, summoning a dialect that sounds mildly tipsy and wholly road-tested.” – Metroland
Evan is also an active producer and has worked extensively as a live sound technician. He builds electronic instruments equipment to use in his recording studio and in his solo experimental project, Fink Tank.