Andy Snitzer has recorded and performed with many of today’s top music artists. Andy has performed with a wide range of artists, including Jay-Z, Aretha Franklin, Jay-Z, Jay-Z, Dr. John, Christina Aguilera and Eric Clapton. His performances have demonstrated Andy’s passion and melodic style, which earned him a spot in the elite group of contemporary saxophonists. Andy was a member the Rolling Stones’ world tour band (Voodoo Lounge, Bridges to Babylon), and performed in front of millions in more than 40 countries. Andy is a member Paul Simon’s touring group (1999-present), which includes a diverse lineup of musicians from Africa and Europe. This band has received widespread critical acclaim. Andy’s solo albums, “Ties That Bind”, and “In the Eye of the Storm”, set the standard for Contemporary Jazz creativity and innovation. They also showcase Andy’s exceptional abilities as a writer, producer, and arranger. Andy Snitzer has recorded and performed with an incredible list of contemporary musicians. Andy has performed with a wide range of artists, including Beck, Eric Clapton, Aretha Franklin, Naughty By Nature, Dr. John, Christina Aguilera and Dr. John. These performances have highlighted Andy’s passion and melodic style and earned him a spot in the elite group of contemporary saxophonists. Andy is a member the Rolling Stones’ Voodoo lounge and Bridges to Babylon international tours. He has performed in more than 40 countries. Andy is currently a member Paul Simon’s touring group, which includes a diverse lineup of musicians from Africa and Europe. This band has received widespread critical acclaim. Andy’s solo albums, “Ties That Bind”, and “In the Eye of the Storm”, set the standard for Contemporary Jazz creativity and innovation. They also showcase Andy’s exceptional abilities as a drummer, writer, programmer, record producer, and player. Andy was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1962. He excelled in math and music as a child. Andy began his studies in clarinet and then tried guitar and piano before he finally took up the saxophone when he was 15. Andy spent his high school years immersed in John Coltrane and Mike Brecker as well as studying Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. Andy entered Northwestern University in Chicago in 1980 to study classical saxophone legend Frederick Hemke. Andy discovered that jazz and classical music were very different after a year at Northwestern. Andy moved south to enjoy the warmer weather and enrolled in the University of Miami jazz program in 1981. Andy met Rick Margitza and Mike Scaglione, who were all students at Miami. Andy’s playing grew exponentially due to the school’s atmosphere and curriculum. Andy was promoted to Alto in Miami’s Concert Jazz Band and spent two years recording and concertizing with an amazing saxophone section. Andy was in his senior year when jazz legend Bob James visited the school to give a concert and teach a master class. Andy, Ed Calle, and some other students were then taken on a three-week US tour. This was Andy’s first professional gig and it also marked the beginning of a long-lasting professional relationship with James. Andy, with his college degree in hand, moved to New York in 1984. Andy began his NYU graduate program. He started playing on the streets late at night. Slowly, Andy started to build a reputation and eventually he was accepted into the NY session scene. However, there were many less well-known gigs along that path. Andy was soon known by many producers, including Phil Ramone and Ron Fair in NY. Fair was so impressed by Andy’s performance in a Roxette late-night session that EMI signed him to his first record contract. Andy was soon a recording artist when EMI collapsed. Matt Pierson signed Andy to Warner Brothers. “Ties that Bind” was released to critical acclaim in 1994. It spawned the #1 hit and NAC classic, “You’ve Changed”. Andy’s 1996 album “In the Eye of the Storm” was released. It generated the hits “My Dream come True” and “A River’s Road”. Although not being embraced by Smooth Jazz radio in 1999, Andy’s 1999 album “Some Quiet Place” is his personal favorite and his most mature, expressive work. Andy has many guest solo performances, including on Chuck Loeb’s “Big Time”, which Andy co-wrote with Andy, and Bob James’ “Restless”, which was a smooth jazz hit from 1994. Andy, along with his friends Mike Davis and Kent Smith, were invited to join the Rolling Stones’ 1994 world tour. Andy toured the globe for 13 months in conjunction with Mick and the boys. He did 13 more months in 1997. Andy was not the sole performer on the Stones tours. That was Bobby Keys. However, Andy’s experience touring the world in style and performing before 70,000 people a night was unforgettable. Andy joined Paul Simon’s band to replace Michael Brecker, the legendary saxophone player. To this day, he continues to tour with Paul (and Simon) and Garfunkel. Andy discovered a new side to his career in the midst all of his work as a jazz saxophonist. Andy is a Pro Tools expert and long-time fan. He combines his technical knowledge with his exceptional musicianship to create one of the most skilled music editors in the industry. Andy was responsible for all performance editing on Bon Jovi’s “Crush” album, which sold more than 6 million copies around the world. Andy has worked with a variety of artists, including Miles Davis and Destiny’s Child. Andy’s years of experience in MIDI sequencing has given him a unique insight into how parts fit together in a music production. Andy’s finely tuned ability allows him to fix and refine individual performance anomalies in order to create a more satisfying whole. Pro Tools technology can be extremely powerful but it is ultimately the insight and taste of the person who uses it that is most important. Andy says he is grateful for a career that covers all of his musical interests. Andy will continue to write, edit, and play music. Andy will strive for beauty, excellence, integrity, and beauty no matter what the future brings. He will also continue to be grateful for the privilege of working with something that he loves. From www.andysnitzer.com
