Andy Sheppard facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Andy Sheppard
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Sheppard at the Moers Festival, 2012
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| Background information | |
| Born | 20 January 1957 Warminster, Wiltshire, England |
| Genres | Jazz |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Tenor saxophone, soprano saxophone |
| Years active | 1978–present |
| Associated acts | Sphere, Gil Evans, Carla Bley, George Russell, Steve Lodder, Kathryn Tickell, John Parricelli, Joanna MacGregor, Dave Buxton, Steve Swallow |
Andy Sheppard (born 20 January 1957) is a talented British jazz musician. He plays the saxophone and also writes music. Andy has won several awards at the British Jazz Awards. He has worked with many famous jazz artists like Gil Evans, Carla Bley, and Steve Swallow. In 2019, he received a special Doctor of Music degree from the University of Bristol.
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About Andy Sheppard
Andy Sheppard was born in Warminster, England, in 1957. When he was 19, he started playing the saxophone. He joined a group called Sphere in the late 1970s, only three weeks after first picking up the instrument!
In the early 1980s, Andy played in jazz clubs across the UK and Europe. He also performed with world music groups. He even played with well-known jazz improvisers like Keith Tippett. While still with Sphere, Andy moved to Paris, France. There, he worked with French bands such as Lumière and Urban Sax.
In the mid-1980s, Andy came back to the UK. He often played on the Old Profanity Showboat in Bristol, England. His first solo album, called Andy Sheppard, came out in 1987. Famous musicians like Randy Brecker and Steve Swallow played on it. This album was very popular. It helped Andy win the Best Newcomer prize at the 1987 British Jazz Awards. The next year, he won the Best Instrumentalist Award.
In 1987, Andy also joined George Russell's Living Time Orchestra. He toured with the legendary Gil Evans. His second solo album, Introductions in the Dark, was released in 1989. It was unusual because it even appeared on the UK pop music charts! Because of this success, Andy won Best Album and Best Instrumentalist at the 1989 British Jazz Awards. He was also featured in TV shows by the BBC and HTV. He even toured the world, taking the first Western jazz group to play in Outer Mongolia.
Andy formed his first big band in 1990. It was called the Soft on the Inside Band, named after his album. Many great musicians played in this band. Later, this band changed into In Co-Motion. They released their own album in 1991. After this, Andy signed a deal with Blue Note Records, a famous jazz label. They released his album Rhythm Method in 1993. The In Co-Motion band grew even bigger for this album and was called Big Co-Motion. Big Co-Motion recorded a live album at the famous London jazz club Ronnie Scott's. This album, Delivery Suite, came out in 1994.
In 1997, a TV movie called The Music Practice was made. It was based on Andy Sheppard's music. The movie was part of a competition in the Czech Republic.
Andy's Music Albums
Andy Sheppard has released many albums as a band leader. He has also played on albums with many other artists.
As a Leader
- Andy Sheppard (1987)
- Introductions in the Dark (1989)
- Soft on the Inside (1990)
- In Co-Motion (1991)
- Rhythm Method (1993)
- Delivery Suite (1994)
- Movements in Colour (2009)
- Trio Libero (2012)
- Surrounded by Sea (2015)
- Romaria (2018)
With Carla Bley & Steve Swallow
Andy Sheppard has often worked with the talented musicians Carla Bley and Steve Swallow. They have released several albums together:
- Songs with Legs (1995)
- The Lost Chords (2004)
- Trios (2013)
- Andando el Tiempo (2016)
- Life Goes On (2020)
As a Sideman (Playing with Other Artists)
Andy has also played on albums for many other artists, including:
- With Carla Bley: Fleur Carnivore (1989), The Very Big Carla Bley Band (1991), and more.
- With Rita Marcotulli: Koine (2002), On the Edge of a Perfect Moment (2005), and others.
- With John Martyn: The Apprentice (1990), Cooltide (1991), and several live albums.
- With George Russell: New York (1988), The London Concert (1989), and The 80th Birthday Concert (2005).
- With Sphere: Sphere (1981) and Present Tense (1985).
- With Judie Tzuke: Ritmo (1983) and Turning Stones (1989).
