Since starting in his Father's dance orchestra when only fourteen Andy has
been a leading freelance player on all the fretted instruments for many years.
His career to date includes countless tours, jingles (including the latest
'Django' Intercity commercial), TV, record and club dates in a variety of
styles. His love of jazz however took him to New York in 1996 where he was
introduced to the seven string guitar by Jimmy Bruno. Since then with help from
Bucky Pizzarelli Andy has adopted it as his main instrument.
A devotee of Django Reinhardt and the acoustic 'gypsy' guitar, Andy together
with jazz violinist Chris Hayward leads one of the UK's most popular Grappelli-Reinhardt
based groups. This quartet since it's inception in a small bar in Samois-sur-
Seine (the last home of Django) has grown to become a festival favourite working
all over Europe. Andy is a recognised authority on this unique guitar style and
writes the Gypsy Jazz column in the American publication 'Just Jazz Guitar' and
has contributed articles, reviews and music to other magazines including 'Guitar
Player' and British periodicals 'Jazz Rag' and 'String Jazz'.
Andy is a partner in a modern recording studio in Cheshire and is co-owner in
Crimson records, a label devoted to jazz guitar. As a performer Andy has
appeared recently with John Jorgenson, Jimmy Bruno, Frank Vignola and Adrian
Ingram, with whom he is currently collaborating. Andy has also played more
weddings and barmitzvahs than he will care to admit.
Major UK festival appearances
,
appeared at the guitar show on August 26th 2001 at Penrith Auction Mart.
