THJB BIOGRAPHIES

Mike Evans: Banjo/Leader

I've loved the bright ringing sound of the banjo ever since I was a boy. When I was 19 years old and in my freshman year at The University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, my high school sweetheart (and now my wife of 40 years and also the THJB manager), Linda, bought me a tenor banjo for Christmas. Throughout my college days I plunked away never learning very much. When I went to graduate school at the University of California at Santa Cruz, Linda and I frequently went to Shakey's pizza parlors to hear some of the great California banjoists. I was inspired! After moving to Columbus, I took a weekend job playing banjo at Shakey's in Columbus and I gradually learned to play by "on the job training" (making all the possible mistakes and working on correcting them). I now play with several small Dixieland groups around Columbus in addition to the Toll House Jazz Band and occasionally I do solo banjo gigs. My biggest thrill playing the banjo was when I got to substitute for two weeks for the regular banjo player aboard the American Queen river boat. I've played Dixieland banjo with a number of local bands in the Columbus area including the Steamboat Syncopators and Louisiana Purchase and on occasion I have pinch hit for the High Street Stompers of Columbus and for the Buck Creek Jazz Band in Washington DC. I particularly enjoy playing with the Toll House Jazz Band because this is such a congenial group of guys and everyone in the band is willing to spend the time needed to develop interesting arrangements.