ABOUT
Eváan / [i'va:n] is a music artist, producer and tenor saxophonist working across electronic music, jazz, hip hop, pop, rock, and hybrid formats. Trained as a saxophonist and shaped by years of live performance, his work places the instrument at the center, whether played acoustically or combined with electronics. Rather than committing to a single genre, Eváan approaches genres as languages, using them to explore different artistic directions while maintaining a clear, performance-focused identity rooted in sound, clarity, and honest expression.
PRESS KIT + TECH RIDER
For detailed info on the music, live performance, and technical setup, you can view the press kit and technical rider.
BIOGRAPHY
Ivan Baryshnikov, professionally known as Eváan [i'va:n], is a saxophonist and producer based in Amsterdam. Born in Moscow in 1990, he began studying music at age 7, first learning recorder and piano before switching to alto saxophone at 10. As a teenager, Ivan played in rock, pop, and ska-core bands, touring and recording two albums before leaving due to ideological differences.
Despite his parents’ wish for him to study engineering, Ivan pursued music, attending a jazz program at a Moscow Provincial College of Arts and later graduating with honours from the Gnesins Academy of Music. Influenced by saxophonists John Coltrane, Michael Brecker, and Bob Berg, he developed his skills as a tenor saxophonist and performer.
At 18, Ivan began producing music, inspired by electronic styles introduced by his older brother. In 2012, he performed with electronic musician Matthew Herbert in London during the Olympics, an experience that deepened his interest in blending acoustic and electronic music. He moved to the Netherlands to pursue a Master of Music degree at the Prince Claus Conservatoire in Groningen, spending a semester in New York City during which he recorded and released his debut album, Journey, performing at venues including Rockwood Music Hall, Bonafide, and Sofar Sounds.
In 2019, Ivan launched Eváan as an artist project to allow for greater versatility beyond traditional jazz contexts, opening space for electronic, hybrid, and genre-crossing work while keeping the saxophone at the center. Shortly after, a combination of challenges—including the COVID-19 pandemic, immigration uncertainty, and financial pressure—forced him to pause his artistic work. During this period, he stepped away from the saxophone for several years and worked in a professional kitchen to support himself and his family.
After this break, Ivan gradually restarted his work, drawing on the research he conducted during his master studies, particularly his paper How to Find a Personal Voice in Music. This process led to the creation of the Tenor Saxophone Rehab Guide, a structured approach that helped him reconnect with the instrument, rebuild his playing, and redefine his artistic direction. Now based in Amsterdam, his work is rooted in jazz tradition but not limited to it, focusing on honest expression and reflection through sound. Alongside his artistic practice, he also shares his experience through teaching and mentoring musicians.