| Middleton, Andy |
 |
| Long before Andy Middleton won First Prize and Best Soloist Awards at the 13th Europe Jazz Contest in 1991, he was garnering attention from his elders for his phenomenal talent.
And it’s not just talk. He has worked as a sideman with Lionel Hampton, Bob Mintzer, Randy Brecker and Maria Schneider, among many others, as well as recorded as a leader with jazz greats Joey Calderazzo (Acid Rain, Owl/EMI France), Renee Rosnes (Terra Infirma, Owl/EMI France), Dave Holland and Ralph Towner (Nomad’s Notebook, Intuition). And now, with Kenny Wheeler, he has turned in his most mature work to date -- Reinventing the World (Intuition), an intelligently realized and beautiful lament to the world’s threatened ecology.
Dedicated to his young daughter, Calli, the CD is a continuation of an environmental theme that has been omnipresent from his very first CD, Acid Rain. “But since my daughter was born I find myself even more concerned with the future of humanity,” says Middleton, whose imaginative, sincere, and adventurous yet lyrical solos never resort to cliché or empty virtuosic display merely for the sake of it. The result is a profoundly moving and heartfelt collection of originals which mixes world influences (Middle Eastern and Spanish) with American jazz, appropriately reflecting the vibrations of the planet. Reinventing the World firmly establishes Middleton as a player of extraordinary sensitivity, ability and talent, both as a composer and a performer.
As a member of the band The Fensters Andy recorded 2 acclaimed CDs - Jazz Music Vol. I for Arta Records in 1991, and Jazz Music, Vol. X for A-Records in 1996. He has toured Europe extensively, performing at many of the major jazz festivals and in clubs in almost every European country. Andy’s improvisation book and play-along CD, “Melody for Improvisors and Composers” (Advance Music, 2004) offers numerous approaches to developing a strong sense of melodic invention. Andy has written a regular column for Jazz Player magazine and recorded an improvisation Masterclass CD for Saxophone Journal, published in the January/February 2002 issue.
In November, 2004, Andy was awarded a highly prestigious composition grant from Chamber Music America, and the pieces he will write are “created with the support from Chamber Music America’s New Works: Creation and Presentation Program, funded through the generosity of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.”
In the words of master saxophonist, composer and educator David Liebman: “Andy Middleton represents the best of a new generation of jazz musicians.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Print