For this remarkable collaboration, vocalist Ms. Lisa Fischer and pianist Orrin Evans present a moving, spiritually charged take on the beloved 18th century hymn “Amazing Grace,” followed by a conversation about the song and their histories with it.

Our Alone Together series is a celebration of spontaneous creation, presenting exclusive and unrehearsed duo performances captured live in the intimacy of the SFJAZZ Center. Whether they’re longtime collaborators or meeting on stage for the first time, these world class artists are improvisors of the highest level, creating powerful musical dialogues in the moment.

For this remarkable collaboration, vocalist Ms. Lisa Fischer and pianist Orrin Evans present a moving, spiritually charged take on the beloved 18th century hymn “Amazing Grace,” followed by a conversation about the song and their histories with it.

Composed in 1772 by the English clergyman and abolitionist John Newton, “Amazing Grace” is an autobiographical account of his spiritual conversion to Catholicism and has become one of the most recognizable and recorded songs in the English language. The song gained popularity in the U.S. during the Second Great Awakening in the American South during the early 19th century and has become a core part of the Black spiritual songbook.
Orrin Evans recorded the song on his 2023 album “The Red Door” with vocalist Sy Smith.

A favorite at SFJAZZ, Fischer made a standout appearance in the Oscar-winning documentary 20 Feet From Stardom and has enjoyed a highly successful solo career while performing for over two decades with both the Rolling Stones and soul giant Luther Vandross. She won a GRAMMY for her standout track “How Can I Ease the Pain” from her 1991 album So Intense and has toured with artists ranging from Tina Turner, Gregory Porter, and Chris Botti to Sting and industrial rock juggernaut Nine Inch Nails.

Carrying on the proud tradition of masterful Philadelphia keyboardists, Orrin Evans is “jazz’s most resourceful and invigorating contemporary pianist” (The New York Times).
After studies with fellow Philadelphian Kenny Barron at Rutgers University, he parlayed his sideman stints with Bobby Watson, Branford Marsalis and Ralph Peterson Jr. into a superlative career as a composer and bandleader. He leads the Captain Black Big Band and co-leads the trio Tarbaby, and served a three-year stint with The Bad Plus in 2017.

Personnel:
Lisa Fischer: vocals
Orrin Evans: piano