(St. John's, NL, Canada) - Jazz/folk guitarist Duane Andrews has won first prize in the jazz category of the 2007 USA Songwriting Competition. The award-winning song, Isaac's Blues is an original instrumental composition from Duane Andrews' highly lauded sophomore CD “Crocus". The annual USA Songwriting Competition is positioned as one of the world's leading international songwriting events. Winners are selected by a “blue ribbon" committee of music industry judges including record label publishers, producers, A&R representatives from Universal Music, Warner, EMI, Sony/BMG Music and other distinguished professionals.
His “Crocus" CD, released in 2006, has generated a bevy of awards and accolades for Duane Andrews including top Jazz Album designation from the international Independent Music Awards, the 2007 East Coast Music Award for Jazz Recording of the Year, the MusicNL Award for Jazz Artist of the Year ('06), nomination for Best World Solo Recording from the 2007 Canadian Folk Music Awards and earlier this year, an Honorable Mention from the International Songwriting Competition for his song “A Birch Broom In The Fits".
A virtuosic guitarist, Duane Andrews plays a melange of jazz, folk and original music. Heavily influenced by the brilliance of early twentieth century French Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, Andrews melds traditional Newfoundland music, with its mix of French, Irish, Portuguese and English influences, with Manouche (Gypsy Jazz) in the same way that Django Reinhardt infused Jazz with Gypsy melody. In the words of Germany's Folkworld Magazine, “the music might be best described as Folk music played by a top Jazz guitarist and the result is refreshing and stunning. Highly recommended."
A multi-instrumentalist, composer and record producer, Duane Andrews has worked with Canadian jazz legends such as Mike Murley and Doug Riley, folk icon Ken Whiteley, Icelandic guitarist Bjorn Thoreddson, Afro-Newfoundland group Mopaya, Irish fiddle master Seamus Creagh and The Chieftains among others. From his home in Newfoundland, Andrews has literally toured around the globe with stops at Ten Days On The Island Festival in Tasmania, world renowned Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island, Montreal International Jazz Festival, Centre Culturel in St. Pierre FR and most recently, Domo in Reykjavik Iceland.
On “Crocus", he delivers a brilliant collection of tunes in his signature “Gypsy jazz meets Newfoundland trad" style, enhanced by performances from Patrick Boyle (trumpet/guitar), Steve Hussey (guitar), Dave Rowe (upright bass), Daniel Banoub (guitar) and special guest, Canadian jazz legend Skip Beckwith (upright bass). “Crocus" was produced by Duane Andrews, recorded by John Rowe at Great Big Studios in St. John's, mixed by Dave Hillier at The Sonic Temple in Halifax and mastered by Bret Zilahi at Joao Carvalho Studios in Toronto. “Crocus" is distributed in Canada through Festival Distribution www.festival.bc.ca
Duane Andrews' self-titled, debut disc garnered East Coast Music Awards for Instrumental Recording Of The Year ('06) and Jazz Recording Of The Year ('05), three nominations for Canadian Folk Music Awards ('05), and the award for Instrumental Artist Of The Year ('04) from MusicNL. He also received the Emerging Artist Award honouring “new and undisputed talent", from the Newfoundland & Labrador Arts Council.
Recently signed by manager/agent Marilyn Gilbert of Marilyn Gilbert Artist Management, Duane Andrews is currently at work on a new recording scheduled for release in June. Upcoming appearances include showcases at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference (Jan.10, Toronto), the ECMA Concert Series (Feb. 7, Fredericton) and performances at International Jazz Festivals in Ottawa (June 21), Edmonton (June 24), Calgary (June 26) and Vancouver (June 28).
For a complete tour schedule, photos, music and more info please visit Duane Andrews on line.
His “Crocus" CD, released in 2006, has generated a bevy of awards and accolades for Duane Andrews including top Jazz Album designation from the international Independent Music Awards, the 2007 East Coast Music Award for Jazz Recording of the Year, the MusicNL Award for Jazz Artist of the Year ('06), nomination for Best World Solo Recording from the 2007 Canadian Folk Music Awards and earlier this year, an Honorable Mention from the International Songwriting Competition for his song “A Birch Broom In The Fits".
A virtuosic guitarist, Duane Andrews plays a melange of jazz, folk and original music. Heavily influenced by the brilliance of early twentieth century French Gypsy guitarist Django Reinhardt, Andrews melds traditional Newfoundland music, with its mix of French, Irish, Portuguese and English influences, with Manouche (Gypsy Jazz) in the same way that Django Reinhardt infused Jazz with Gypsy melody. In the words of Germany's Folkworld Magazine, “the music might be best described as Folk music played by a top Jazz guitarist and the result is refreshing and stunning. Highly recommended."
A multi-instrumentalist, composer and record producer, Duane Andrews has worked with Canadian jazz legends such as Mike Murley and Doug Riley, folk icon Ken Whiteley, Icelandic guitarist Bjorn Thoreddson, Afro-Newfoundland group Mopaya, Irish fiddle master Seamus Creagh and The Chieftains among others. From his home in Newfoundland, Andrews has literally toured around the globe with stops at Ten Days On The Island Festival in Tasmania, world renowned Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island, Montreal International Jazz Festival, Centre Culturel in St. Pierre FR and most recently, Domo in Reykjavik Iceland.
On “Crocus", he delivers a brilliant collection of tunes in his signature “Gypsy jazz meets Newfoundland trad" style, enhanced by performances from Patrick Boyle (trumpet/guitar), Steve Hussey (guitar), Dave Rowe (upright bass), Daniel Banoub (guitar) and special guest, Canadian jazz legend Skip Beckwith (upright bass). “Crocus" was produced by Duane Andrews, recorded by John Rowe at Great Big Studios in St. John's, mixed by Dave Hillier at The Sonic Temple in Halifax and mastered by Bret Zilahi at Joao Carvalho Studios in Toronto. “Crocus" is distributed in Canada through Festival Distribution www.festival.bc.ca
Duane Andrews' self-titled, debut disc garnered East Coast Music Awards for Instrumental Recording Of The Year ('06) and Jazz Recording Of The Year ('05), three nominations for Canadian Folk Music Awards ('05), and the award for Instrumental Artist Of The Year ('04) from MusicNL. He also received the Emerging Artist Award honouring “new and undisputed talent", from the Newfoundland & Labrador Arts Council.
Recently signed by manager/agent Marilyn Gilbert of Marilyn Gilbert Artist Management, Duane Andrews is currently at work on a new recording scheduled for release in June. Upcoming appearances include showcases at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference (Jan.10, Toronto), the ECMA Concert Series (Feb. 7, Fredericton) and performances at International Jazz Festivals in Ottawa (June 21), Edmonton (June 24), Calgary (June 26) and Vancouver (June 28).
For a complete tour schedule, photos, music and more info please visit Duane Andrews on line.
“Crocus" was made possible with support from MusicNL, Newfoundland & Labrador Arts Council and Canada Council For The Arts.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
