Dave McEvoy

performer | creator | collaborator

(photo credit: Jarrad Payne)

Dave is an Australian pianist and composer. He holds a Masters degree in Music Performance from the Elder Conservatorium at the University of Adelaide. Alongside his work as a performer and composer, Dave is an arranger, Hammond organist, keyboardist, musical director, collaborator, and educator.

(photo credit: Flik Freeman)

Widely respected for his musical sensitivity, reliability, and breadth of experience, Dave has collaborated and performed with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, Kyrie Anderson, Broadway Barbara, Nancy Bates, Yawuri Penny Bonney, Boswell Project, Tom Burlinson, Flora Carbo, Miriam Crellin, Laura Fygi,  Jon Gordon, Lauren Henderson, Jess Hitchcock, Ryan Martin John, Leroy Jones, Jo Lawry, Kelly Menhennett, Louise Messenger, James Morrison, James Muller, Ngananyi Lakinyeri, Warren Milera, Michelle Nicole, Libby O’Donovan OAM, Lisa Ono, Enne R. Project, Scott Rathman Jr, John Riley, Lady Rizo, Glenn Skuthorpe, Will Vinson, Tom Voss Big Band, and Anita Wardell. 

(photo credit: Stephen Trutwin)

Recordings:

  • A Grand Piano in the Ancient Forest of Takayna (2025) – solo piano recordings captured in the threatened rainforest of Takayna, north west Lutruwita/ Tasmania
  • Seasons (2024) – Original compositions for quartet, recorded in Naarm/Melbourne, featuring Lauren Henderson, Sam Anning, and Kyrie Anderson
  • Stars (2023) – Duo album with Anita Wardell
  • Borscht (2022) – Quartet project of original compositions, alongside spoken word by Fleur Green, and archival recordings of Jacinda Ardern
  • Hwyl (2020) – Trio collaboration with Bonnie Aue and Kyrie Anderson
  • Ochre (2020) – Quintet album of original compositions

‘Anita Wardell has become an even better jazz singer on this latest release … the addition of Dave McEvoy on piano, displaying an overall warmth and depth to the arrangements … McEvoy plays with a wonderfully joyous touch … with his exhilarating solos and perfect intuitive gentle support for Wardell, who delivers some of the best jazz vocals you can hear today.’ [4.5/5 stars] Barry O’Sullivan, Dingo Australian Jazz Journal

Recent Work

  • A Grand Piano in the Magnificent Forest of Takayna – Four solo improvisations, recorded in April 2025, in support of the Bob Brown Foundation’s campaign to protect Takayna from logging and mining
  • Workshop facilitator for the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra’s 2025 Jam Sessions – community workshops focused on collective improvisation and spontaneous creation
  • International performances with Brazilian-Japanese artist Lisa Ono in 2025 – a four-time Japanese Gold Disc Award winner, and recipient of Brazil’s National Order of Rio Branco
  • Musical Director and pianist for Blak Country: First Nations Country Music Showcase – Adelaide Guitar Festival 2024 and Country Arts SA regional tour in 2025
  • Seasons (2024) featured on ABC Jazz
  • Australian, UK, and German tours in 2023 with BBC Award-winning vocalist Anita Wardell, promoting their duo release Stars
  • Musical direction, original score, and live performance for Dead Man’s Cell Phone – part of State Theatre Company South Australia’s 2023 Stateside program
Dave McEvoy: Seasons (2024) https://davemcevoymusic.bandcamp.com/album/seasons
Anita Wardell and Dave McEvoy: Stars (2022) https://open.spotify.com/album/4UmI2j17IwyHnJKyoiOFsU?si=S1woswK2TBKaRkU_FCPG8w
Gooey Deliria: Gooey Deliria – awaiting release (L to R: Flora Carbo, Dave McEvoy, Dylan Paul, Kyrie Anderson, with audio engineer Ryan Martin John) (2022)
Borscht: Borscht (Django Rowe, Dave McEvoy, Flik Freeman, Kyrie Anderson) https://borscht-australia.bandcamp.com/album/borscht (2021)
Alexander Ioakim: Liminal https://alexanderioakim.bandcamp.com/album/l-i-m-i-n-a-l (2021)
Anderson-Aue-McEvoy: Hwyl https://andersonauemcevoy.bandcamp.com/album/hwyl (2020)
Dave McEvoy: Ochre https://davemcevoymusic.bandcamp.com/album/ochre, (2020)
Pinchpot, an animated film by Greg Holfeld. Soundtrack composed and performed by Dave McEvoy. Winner of the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) award for ‘Best Short Animation 2019’. Official selection at the Cophenhagen Jazz Film Festival 2020. https://www.gregholfeld.com/animation
Award-winning show: Nancy Bates’ Talking ‘Bout A Revolution (Nancy Bates, Tom Kneebone, Dave McEvoy, Flik Freeman, Kyrie Anderson), Adelaide Fringe Festival, 2022
With the Boys Club. L to R: Dave McEvoy, Kyrie Anderson, Bonnie Aue, Kate Fuller, 2020
Playing with Soul-Centric, 2019 (photo credit: Stephen Trutwin)
L to R: Kyrie Anderson, Dave McEvoy, Nancy Bates, Major ‘Moogy’ Sumner, Annie Siegmann, Ryan Martin John. Survival Day gig, 2021
Ochre album launch, Wizard Tone Studios. Back row L to R: Allye Sinclair (cello), Dylan Paul (bass), Sam Riley (bass), Dave McEvoy (piano), Shireen Khemlani (bass), John Aue (bass), Alana Dawes (bass); front row L to R: Jarrad Payne (audio engineer), Tim Bowen (bass), Kyrie Anderson (drums), Anita Wardell (voice), Milush Piochaud (bass), 2021
Ochre recording session; L to R: Gemma Phillips (cello), David Phillips (double bass), Dave McEvoy (piano), Kyrie Anderson (drums), Anita Wardell (voice), Jarrad Payne (audio engineer), 2019
Artwork: Greg Holfeld https://www.gregholfeld.com

Link to gigs, music and merch: https://linktr.ee/davemcevoy

Dave McEvoy