David Went.com

"Keeping great music live and swinging"

Performing These Days

This takes one of four formats:
  • solo with fabulous backing tracks using my own Bose PA.
  • as a duo with my fantastic pianist John Blackwell.
  • as host and vocalist with my own 'Joey Evans Big Band' or as a guest vocalist with the wonderful 'Five Star Swing Big Band', led by great trumpeter and band leader Chris Smith.
  • or with my own 'Joey Evans Quartet'.

All electrical equipment is PAT tested.

Corporate Clients
  • Browns Restaurant
  • Brasserie Blanc
  • Loch Fyne
  • Canary Wharf
  • The Masons

Private Events
  • Weddings
  • Birthdays
  • New Years Eve
  • Valentines
  • Mothers/Fathers day

Background


I started singing at the age of 7 when I was recruited into the local church choir. This was St.Michael's Church in St. Albans. This was a fantastic entry into music and the choir was a good one, winning many competitions. My voice changed, secondary school came along and public singing then took a back seat until my late twenties.

So, moving on to the 1990's, in 1994 a now great friend mentioned he was looking for a singer for his rhythm n blues band. Without hesitation I said I'll do it!. I passed the audition and was in.

After a few years and a change in jobs, I started a tribute band to "The Committments' with a couple of colleagues. This was the first taste of a larger band and sound that included brass and this took me through to the late 1990's.

Over many years, I had grown to love the music of Matt Monro and Nat Cole due to the influence of my step father. Leslie 'Barry' Ayrton was a lovely man and a great singer and he would entertain whenever possible. So, this led me to formulate a new plan, to put together a quartet to support the change in direction for my singing.

A friend and great jazz guitarist Mark Ridout, put me in contact with my now pianist, John Blackwell. John introduced me to Les Arnold (brother of film music producer David Arnold) for the drums and Nigel Emerton on the bass. I called the band 'The Joey Evans Quartet'. I loved the character 'Joey Evans', played by Frank Sinatra in the film 'Pal Joey'.

In 2006 I had the pleasure of taking up the Master of Ceremonies duties at the fantastic 'Talk of the Town Live' club in Milton Keynes. I performed with my quartet there and also with the Mick Davis Big Band. We had the pleasure of hosting many an 'A list' tribute artists including Andy Prior and Mark Halliday from the original London West End 'Rat Pack Show', Joanne Copeman, the worlds No1 and only endorsed Tribute to Dame Shirley Bassey, just to name a couple.

In 2009 I added a brass section to the quartet to produce a big band for a full stage show. I was very pleased to have good friend Andy Prior join me for the show. Andy had completed over 100 shows in the West End as understudy to Stephen Triffitt who was playing the role of Sinatra. Stephen is now generally recognised as the top of the heap, the A number one, Sinatra tribute globally. It's also reported that Frank Sinatra jr was of the same view. You're not going to get better than that!