Andy Sheppard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andy Sheppard
Sheppard at the Moers Festival, 2012
Background information
Born	(1957-01-20) 20 January 1957 (age 68) 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 at Aarhus Jazz Festival (Denmark 2009)

Andy Sheppard (r) in Monaco with Carla Bley and Paolo Fresu

Andy Sheppard is a talented British jazz musician. He plays the saxophone and also writes music. Born on January 20, 1957, Andy has won several awards for his jazz music. He has also worked with famous jazz artists like Gil Evans and Carla Bley. In 2019, the University of Bristol gave him a special Doctor of Music degree.

Andy Sheppard's Early Life and Music Journey

Sheppard performing in 2008 with Carla Bley

Andy Sheppard was born in Warminster, England. He started playing the saxophone when he was 19 years old. Just three weeks later, he was already performing with a group called Sphere. This group was based in Salisbury.

In the early 1980s, Andy practiced a lot. He played in many jazz clubs and wine bars across the UK and Europe. He also performed with world music groups. He even played with experienced musicians like Keith Tippett. While still with Sphere, Andy moved to Paris. There, he worked with French bands such as Lumière and Urban Sax.

Returning to the UK and First Albums

In the mid-1980s, Andy came back to the UK. He often played on the Old Profanity Showboat in Bristol, England. In 1987, he released his first solo album, also called Andy Sheppard. Famous musicians Randy Brecker and Steve Swallow played on it. Steve Swallow also helped produce the album.

This first album was very popular. It helped Andy win the Best Newcomer award 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, came out in 1989. It was unusual for a jazz album because it even appeared on the UK pop 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. Andy then toured the world. His group was the first Western jazz band to play in Outer Mongolia.

Forming Big Bands and More Success

In 1990, Andy Sheppard started his first big band. It was called the Soft on the Inside Band, named after his album. Many great musicians were part of this band. These included drummer Han Bennick and trumpeter Claude Deppa.

This band later became In Co-Motion. It included keyboard player Steve Lodder and bassist Sylvan Richardson. They released their own album in 1991. After this, Andy signed a deal with Blue Note Records. This record label 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 Ronnie Scott's, a famous jazz club in London. This album, Delivery Suite, was released by Blue Note in 1994. In 1997, a TV movie called The Music Practice, based on Andy Sheppard's music, was part of a contest in the Czech Republic.

Andy Sheppard's Music Albums

Andy Sheppard has released many albums as a band leader. He has also played on albums with other musicians.

Albums as a Leader

• Andy Sheppard (1987)
• Introductions in the Dark (1989)
• Soft on the Inside (1990)
• 66 Shades of Lipstick with Keith Tippett (1990)
• In Co-Motion (1991)
• Rhythm Method (1993)
• Inclassificable with Nana Vasconcelos & Steve Lodder (1994)
• Delivery Suite (1994)
• Moving Image with Steve Lodder (1996)
• Learning to Wave (1998)
• Dancing Man & Woman (2000)
• Nocturnal Tourist (2001)
• Music for a New Crossing with Kathryn Tickell (2001)
• P.S. with John Parricelli (2003)
• Movements in Colour (2009)
• Trio Libero (2012)
• Surrounded by Sea (2015)
• Romaria (2018)

Albums with Carla Bley & Steve Swallow

Andy Sheppard has often collaborated with jazz legends Carla Bley and Steve Swallow.

• Songs with Legs (1995)
• The Lost Chords (2004)
• Trios (2013)
• Andando el Tiempo (2016)
• Life Goes On (2020)