THE MEMORISTS
© 2008 by Tanya Evanson / Mother Tongue Media

An audio CD of poetry with music jewels of Jazz, Africa, Anatolia & Arabia. These are bridges between East and West, Language and Music. Based on work written during four years of life in Istanbul, Turkey, this fusion CD features collaborations with classical and gypsy musicians from Electronic World Music group Mercan Dede: Goksel Baktagir, Aykut Sutoglu, Onur Il, Yunus Balcioglu and Burak Malcok as well as collaborations with well-known Vancouver Jazz, Funk and World Music artists Pepe Danza, Sam Shoichet, Linx, Carlos Joe Costa and Serwan Yamolky. Recorded in Istanbul, Turkey by Serkan Alkan and in Vancouver, Canada by William Benavides of Somos Music.

"Many verses have flowed under the bridge since 2004's Invisible World CD. Relocated to Istanbul, poet Evanson immersed in that country's musical depth and explored new spiritual views. The result is an album of 16 tracks with backing from leading Turkish, Romany and Vancouver jazz players that takes you on a journey from entrancing "Dervish Weaponry -- Dervis Silahi" nights to the funky groove of "Turkish Coffee" and beyond. Always over the great music is her powerful voice and taut storytelling. This is the rarest of things: A great spoken-word album. A- "

© 2004 by Tanya Evanson / Mother Tongue Media

An audio CD launched in 2004 at Cafe Montmartre in Vancouver BC, Canada, feautring original poems, songs, stories and traditional prayers in a rich context of African, Latin American, Jazz, Arabic and Hip Hop music. Based on work written during extensive world travels, it features collaborations with a wide cultural spectrum of Canadian musicians in the spirit of Spoken World Music. Musicians include Carlos Joe Costa, John Howard, C.R. Avery, Emad Armoush, Serwan Yamolky, Tim Gerwing and Pepe Danza.

"She calls her art 'spoken world.' There isn't a better description for Evanson's groovy tales, fluidly rapped in Spanish, Arabic, French and English. All avoid the uni-meter curse of most live poets and spark. 4/5"
STUART DERDEYN - THE PROVINCE 07/2004