BEVAN MANSON is a musical jack-of-all-trades as a composer, arranger, and jazz pianist. He has received composing and arranging commissions from Sierra Chamber Music, the Pacific Philharmonic Foundation, the San Francisco Symphony, First Night Boston, the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra, clarinetist Gary Gray, and L.A. Chamber Orchestra violist Victoria Miskolczy, among others.
Aside from the above, his music has also been performed by ArcoVoce (Washington, D.C.), the National Jazz Orchestra de Montreal, clarinetists Andrew Leonard and Chester Brezniak, the Encore Saxophone Quartet, members of the Lyris Quartet, flutist Gina Izzo, the New Hollywood String Quartet, and the Southern California Viola Choir.
Flutist Katherine Fink of the Brooklyn Philharmonic premiered Bevan’s ‘California Concertino’, with Paul Dunkel conducting, at the N.Y. Flute Fair. Along with chamber music, a version with soloist Sara Andon was released on Albany Records.
He has written and conducted string arrangements for saxophonist Gary Smulyan at New York's Blue Note jazz club, and recently wrote string arrangements for Manhattan Transfer singer Cheryl Bentyne’s new Sondheim album, of which JazzTimes Magazine commented that “ a kaleidoscopic, edge-of-sanity Comedy Tonight that, courtesy of arranger Bevan Manson, blends Baroque courtliness with Big Top buffoonery.” He recently produced and wrote several chamber orchestra arrangements for L.A. singer Cathy Segal-Garcia’s new album as well.
“Manson’s composing is brilliant, inventive, witty but never self-consciously clever.” -Rafael’s MusicNotes. com (Cincinnati)
"I like Bevan's music on YT very much; the first movement of the piece for piano and string trio is the kind of clear American water (or whisky) I want to drink".
-John Harbison
“Manson’s Piano Quartet is powerfully polyrhythmic…also with sweet lyricism”. -Washington Post
As a jazz pianist, Bevan has performed with George Garzone, Ira Sullivan, Cecil McBee, Jimmy Guiffre, Gunther Schuller, Ed Neumeister, Ron Jones L.A. Big Band, Bob Sheppard, Matt Wilson, Darol Anger, The Fringe, Marina Pacowski, Joel Harrison, Amanda Carr, Tony D’Aveni, his own trio, and many others.
His Piano Quartet received an American Music Center (now New Music USA) grant.
‘Santa Monica Mountains’, Bevan’s guitar concerto with chamber orchestra will be recorded by the Channel Islands Chamber Orchestra in 2022 with soloist Evan Taucher.
Bevan’s new (mostly) trio album, ‘The Jazz Cave’, has been recently released on the Meistero Music label. He has previously recorded on the Iris, GM Recordings, A-Records (Netherlands), and Mark labels as well.
The San Jose Mercury News/Pacifica Tribune said “Bevan spreads a Bach-like web of composition in his improvising, telling a compelling story” while the Boston Globe called him a‘highly imaginative yet accessible jazz pianist”.
His music has been featured in several major films, including Morgan Spurlock’s movie, ‘The Greatest Story Ever Sold’. His music has appeared in several TV series including‘Breaking Bad’. Bevan recently wrote underscore for the upcoming ‘Sounds of the Silents’ documentary.
He has been Director of UC Jazz at UC Berkeley (1998-2003), and a faculty member at
New England Conservatory (1987-1997)., and is currently a faculty member at Ventura
College.
Bevan is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music.
Piano Quartet link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miZkw86gzYY
Concertino link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqhURorwqTk