Andy Sheppard
Encyclopedia
Andy Sheppard is a British jazz
saxophonist and composer
. He has been awarded several prizes at the British Jazz Awards, and has worked with some notable figures in contemporary jazz, including Gil Evans
, Carla Bley
, George Russell and Steve Swallow
.
, Wiltshire
, England
, in 1957. At the age of 19 he emerged as a musician in the Salisbury
-based contemporary quartet Sphere in the late 1970s, gigging only three weeks after picking up the saxophone. He honed his skills in the wine bars and jazz clubs of the UK and Europe in the early 1980s. He also played with world music groups and with more established improvisers such as Keith Tippett
. While still with Sphere, Sheppard moved to Paris
, working with French bands Lumière and Urban Sax
.
In the mid-1980s Sheppard returned to the UK, playing often on Ki Longfellow-Stanshall's and Vivian Stanshall
's Bristol, England-based Old Profanity Showboat
, and released his self-titled debut solo album, featuring Randy Brecker
and Steve Swallow
, who also produced the album. The record was well received and led to Sheppard being awarded the Best Newcomer prize at the 1987 British Jazz Awards, followed by the Best Instrumentalist Award in 1988. '87 also saw Sheppard join George Russell's Living Time Orchestra and tour with Gil Evans
.
Second solo album, Introductions In The Dark, was released in 1989. Unusually for a jazz record the album entered the UK pop charts. Off the back of this Sheppard was awarded Best Album and Best Instrumentalist in 1989's British Jazz Awards, became the subject of television
documentaries
for both the BBC
and HTV
, and toured the world, taking the first Western
jazz group to play in Outer Mongolia
.
Sheppard formed his first big band
, the Soft On The Inside Band, in 1990 for an album of the same name. The band featured many notable players, including drummer
Han Bennick, trumpet
player Claude Deppa
and trombonist
Gary Valente
. This band morphed into In Co-Motion, which included keyboardist Steve Lodder
and bass
ist Sylvan Richardson, who released an eponymous album in 1991. After this Sheppard signed a deal with Blue Note Records
, who issued Rhythm Method in 1993. The In Co-Motion band was expanded for this release and dubbed Big Co-Motion. Big Co-Motion recorded a live album at London
jazz club Ronnie Scott's
, Delivery Suite, which was released by Blue Note in 1994.
With Joanna MacGregor
With George Russell
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
saxophonist and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He has been awarded several prizes at the British Jazz Awards, and has worked with some notable figures in contemporary jazz, including Gil Evans
Gil Evans
Gil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, active in the United States...
, Carla Bley
Carla Bley
Carla Bley, née Borg, is an American jazz composer, pianist, organist and band leader. An important figure in the Free Jazz movement of the 1960s, she is perhaps best known for her jazz opera Escalator Over The Hill , as well as a book of compositions that have been performed by many other...
, George Russell and Steve Swallow
Steve Swallow
Steve Swallow is a jazz double bass and bass guitarist and composer born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.One of the leading bassists in jazz, Swallow is noted for collaborations with Jimmy Giuffre, Gary Burton and Carla Bley...
.
Biography
Sheppard was born in WarminsterWarminster
Warminster is a town in western Wiltshire, England, by-passed by the A36, and near Frome and Westbury. It has a population of about 17,000. The River Were runs through the town and can be seen running through the middle of the town park. The Minster Church of St Denys sits on the River Were...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, in 1957. At the age of 19 he emerged as a musician in the Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
-based contemporary quartet Sphere in the late 1970s, gigging only three weeks after picking up the saxophone. He honed his skills in the wine bars and jazz clubs of the UK and Europe in the early 1980s. He also played with world music groups and with more established improvisers such as Keith Tippett
Keith Tippett
Keith Tippett is a British jazz pianist and composer.Tippett, the son of a local police officer, went to Greenway Boys Secondary Modern school in Southmead, Bristol. He formed his first jazz band called The KT7 whilst still at school and they performed numbers popular at the time by The Temperance...
. While still with Sphere, Sheppard moved to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, working with French bands Lumière and Urban Sax
Urban Sax
Urban Sax is an ensemble founded by the French composer Gilbert Artman made up of massive numbers of saxophones, accompanied by percussion and sometimes voices...
.
In the mid-1980s Sheppard returned to the UK, playing often on Ki Longfellow-Stanshall's and Vivian Stanshall
Vivian Stanshall
Vivian Stanshall was an English singer-songwriter, painter, musician, author, poet and wit, best known for his work with the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, for his surreal exploration of the British upper classes in Sir Henry at Rawlinson End, and for narrating Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells.-The great...
's Bristol, England-based Old Profanity Showboat
Old Profanity Showboat (Thekla)
Thekla is a music venue on board the ship of the same name, moored in the Mud Dock area of Bristol's Floating Harbour. Originally brought to Bristol as the Old Profanity Showboat, it was a late 1982 middle-of-the-night brainchild of novelist Ki Longfellow-Stanshall, the wife of Vivian Stanshall...
, and released his self-titled debut solo album, featuring Randy Brecker
Randy Brecker
Randal "Randy" Brecker is an American trumpeter and flugelhornist. He is a highly sought after performer in the genres of jazz, rock, and R&B, and has performed or recorded with Stanley Turrentine, Billy Cobham, Bruce Springsteen, Lou Reed, Sandip Burman, Charles Mingus, Blood, Sweat & Tears,...
and Steve Swallow
Steve Swallow
Steve Swallow is a jazz double bass and bass guitarist and composer born in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.One of the leading bassists in jazz, Swallow is noted for collaborations with Jimmy Giuffre, Gary Burton and Carla Bley...
, who also produced the album. The record was well received and led to Sheppard being awarded the Best Newcomer prize at the 1987 British Jazz Awards, followed by the Best Instrumentalist Award in 1988. '87 also saw Sheppard join George Russell's Living Time Orchestra and tour with Gil Evans
Gil Evans
Gil Evans was a jazz pianist, arranger, composer and bandleader, active in the United States...
.
Second solo album, Introductions In The Dark, was released in 1989. Unusually for a jazz record the album entered the UK pop charts. Off the back of this Sheppard was awarded Best Album and Best Instrumentalist in 1989's British Jazz Awards, became the subject of television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
documentaries
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
for both the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
and HTV
HTV
HTV, now legally known as ITV Wales & West, is the ITV contractor for Wales and the West of England, which operated from studios in Cardiff and Bristol. The company provided commercial television for the dual-region 'Wales and West' franchise, which it won from TWW in 1968...
, and toured the world, taking the first Western
Western world
The Western world, also known as the West and the Occident , is a term referring to the countries of Western Europe , the countries of the Americas, as well all countries of Northern and Central Europe, Australia and New Zealand...
jazz group to play in Outer Mongolia
Outer Mongolia
Outer Mongolia was a territory of the Qing Dynasty = the Manchu Empire. Its area was roughly equivalent to that of the modern state of Mongolia, which is sometimes informally called "Outer Mongolia" today...
.
Sheppard formed his first big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
, the Soft On The Inside Band, in 1990 for an album of the same name. The band featured many notable players, including drummer
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Han Bennick, trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
player Claude Deppa
Claude Deppa
Claude Deppa is a jazz trumpeter born in Cape Town, South Africa, probably best known for his work with the Brotherhood of Breath and Carla Bley.-Discography:#Toi Toi...
and trombonist
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
Gary Valente
Gary Valente
Gary Valente is a notable jazz trombone player.Valente was born in Worcester, Massachusetts and studied at New England Conservatory of Music with John Coffey and Jaki Byard....
. This band morphed into In Co-Motion, which included keyboardist Steve Lodder
Steve Lodder
Steve Lodder, born Stephen John Lodder, , is a British keyboardist, composer, and organist. He played piano as a child and took up organ at age 14...
and bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
ist Sylvan Richardson, who released an eponymous album in 1991. After this Sheppard signed a deal with Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records
Blue Note Records is a jazz record label, established in 1939 by Alfred Lion and Max Margulis. Francis Wolff became involved shortly afterwards. It derives its name from the characteristic "blue notes" of jazz and the blues. At the end of the 1950s, and in the early 1960s, Blue Note headquarters...
, who issued Rhythm Method in 1993. The In Co-Motion band was expanded for this release and dubbed Big Co-Motion. Big Co-Motion recorded a live album at London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
jazz club Ronnie Scott's
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is a jazz club which has operated in London since 1959.The club opened on 30 October 1959 in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London's Soho district. It was managed by musicians Ronnie Scott and Pete King. In 1965 it moved to a larger venue nearby at 47 Frith Street...
, Delivery Suite, which was released by Blue Note in 1994.
Discography
Albums as leader- Andy Sheppard (1987), with Randy Brecker, Dave BuxtonDave BuxtonDave Buxton is an English jazz pianist and composer. He currently plays in his band the Dave Buxton Trio. Between 1986 and 1990, he performed with and wrote for Andy Sheppard.-Biography:...
, Dave Defries, Paul Dunmall, Nick Evans, Simon Gore, Mamadi Kamara, Pete Maxfield, Orphy Robinson, Rick Smith, Jerry Underwood - Introductions in the Dark (1989), with David Adams, Dave Buxton, Simon Gore, Mamadi Kamara, Steve Lodder, Pete Maxfield, Orphy Robinson, Chris Watson
- Soft on the Inside (1990), with Han Bennink, Chris Biscoe, Dave Buxton, Claude Deppa, Simon Gore, Pete Hurt, Mamadi Kamara, Steve Lodder, Pete Maxfield, Ernst Reijseger, Kevin Robinson, Orphy Robinson, Gary Valente, Mano Ventura
- 66 Shades of Lipstick (1990), with Keith TippettKeith TippettKeith Tippett is a British jazz pianist and composer.Tippett, the son of a local police officer, went to Greenway Boys Secondary Modern school in Southmead, Bristol. He formed his first jazz band called The KT7 whilst still at school and they performed numbers popular at the time by The Temperance...
, produced by Robert FrippRobert FrippRobert Fripp is an English guitarist, composer and record producer. He was ranked 42nd on Rolling Stone magazine's 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" and #47 on Gibson.com’s "Top 50 Guitarists of All Time". Among rock guitarists, Fripp is a master of crosspicking, a technique... - In Co-Motion (1991), with Claude Deppa, Steve Lodder, Sylvan Richardson, Jr., David Adams
- Rhythm Method (1993), with David Adams, Julian Argüelles, Claude Deppa, Steve Lodder, Sylvan Richardson Jr., Kevin Robinson, Ashley Slater, Jerry Underwood, Gary Valente
- Delivery Suite (1994), with David Adams, Julian Argüelles, Claude Deppa, Steve Lodder, Sylvan Richardson Jr., Kevin Robinson, Ashley Slater, Jerry Underwood, Gary Valente
- Inclassifiable (1995) - Andy Sheppard, Steve Lodder and Nana VasconcelosNaná VasconcelosNaná Vasconcelos is a Brazilian Latin jazz percussionist, vocalist and berimbau player, most notable for his works with Pat Metheny, Don Cherry, Egberto Gismonti, and Gato Barbieri....
- Moving Image (1996) - Andy Sheppard and Steve Lodder, with Dudley Philips, Mark Mondesir, Johnny Taylor, Richard Ajileye, Bosco d'Olivera
- Learning to Wave (1998), with Paul Clarvis, Chris Laurence, Steve Lodder, John Parricelli, Sharda Sahai
- Dancing Man & Woman (2000), with Kuljit BhamraKuljit BhamraKuljit Bhamra MBE Hon DMus is a British composer, record producer and musician whose main instrument is the tabla. He is best known as one of the record producers who pioneered the British Bhangra sound and for his many collaborations with musicians from different genres and continents...
, Paul Clarvis, Steve Lodder, Chris Laurence, John Parricelli, Steve Swallow - Nocturnal Tourist (2001), with John Parricelli
- Music for a New Crossing (2001) - Andy Sheppard & Kathryn Tickell
- PS (2003) - Andy Sheppard & John ParricelliJohn ParricelliJohn Parricelli is a jazz guitarist, appearing and recording mainly in the United Kingdom.Parricelli began his career as a guitarist in 1982 and was one of the founding members of the British big band Loose Tubes, with whom he recorded three albums...
- Movements in ColourMovements in ColourMovements in Colour is an album by British jazz saxophonist and composer Andy Sheppard recorded in 2008 and released on the ECM label.-Reception:...
(ECM, 2009) with John Parricelli, Eivind Aarset , Arild Andersen & Kuljit BhamraKuljit BhamraKuljit Bhamra MBE Hon DMus is a British composer, record producer and musician whose main instrument is the tabla. He is best known as one of the record producers who pioneered the British Bhangra sound and for his many collaborations with musicians from different genres and continents...
As sideman
With Carla BleyCarla Bley
Carla Bley, née Borg, is an American jazz composer, pianist, organist and band leader. An important figure in the Free Jazz movement of the 1960s, she is perhaps best known for her jazz opera Escalator Over The Hill , as well as a book of compositions that have been performed by many other...
- Fleur CarnivoreFleur CarnivoreFleur Carnivore is a live album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley recorded at the Jazzhus Montmartre in 1988 and released on the Watt/ECM label in 1989.-Reception:The album is recognised as one of Bley's finest...
(Watt, 1988) - The Very Big Carla Bley BandThe Very Big Carla Bley BandThe Very Big Carla Bley Band is an album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley released on the Watt/ECM label in 1991.-Reception:...
(Watt, 1990) - Big Band TheoryBig Band TheoryBig Band Theory is an album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley recorded and released on the Watt/ECM label in 1993.-Reception:...
(Watt, 1993) - Songs with LegsSongs with LegsSongs with Legs is a live album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley with saxophonist Andy Sheppard and bassist Steve Swallow recorded in Europe and released on the Watt/ECM label in 1994.-Reception:...
(Watt, 1994) - The Carla Bley Big Band Goes to ChurchThe Carla Bley Big Band Goes to ChurchThe Carla Bley Big Band Goes to Church is a live album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley recorded in Perugia, Italy as part of the Umbria Jazz Festival and released on the Watt/ECM label in 1996.-Reception:...
(Watt, 1996) - 4 x 44 x 4 (album)4 x 4 is an album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley with a chamber ensemble recorded in Oslo in 1999 and released on the Watt/ECM label in 2000.-Reception:...
(Watt, 1999) - Looking for AmericaLooking for AmericaLooking for America is an album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley recorded in 2002 and released on the Watt/ECM label in 2003.-Reception:...
(Watt, 2002) - The Lost ChordsThe Lost ChordsThe Lost Chords is a live album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley with Andy Sheppard, Steve Swallow, and Billy Drummond recorded in Europe in 2003 and released on the Watt/ECM label in 2004.-Reception:...
(Watt, 2003) - Appearing NightlyAppearing NightlyAppearing Nightly is a live album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley recorded in Paris in 2006 and released on the Watt/ECM label in 2008. Bley's compositions and arrangements incorporate many references to big bands and jazz standards from the swing era...
(Watt, 2006) - The Lost Chords find Paolo FresuThe Lost Chords find Paolo FresuThe Lost Chords find Paolo Fresu is an album by American composer, bandleader and keyboardist Carla Bley with Andy Sheppard, Steve Swallow, and Billy Drummond and Paolo Fresu recorded in Europe in 2007 and released on the Watt/ECM label.-Reception:...
(Watt, 2007)
With Joanna MacGregor
Joanna MacGregor
Joanna MacGregor is a classical, jazz and contemporary pianist.-Biography:MacGregor grew up in North London, and was educated at home by her Seventh-day Adventist parents until she attended South Hampstead High School at the age of 11. Her mother is a piano teacher who studied at the Royal...
- Deep River (2006)
With George Russell
- The London ConcertThe London Concert (George Russell album)The London Concert is a live album by George Russell released on the French Label Bleu label in 1990, featuring performances by Russell with his Living Time Orchestra recorded at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in 1989...
(Label Bleu, 1989) - The 80th Birthday ConcertThe 80th Birthday ConcertThe 80th Birthday Concert is a live album by George Russell released on the Concept label in 2005, featuring a performance by Russell with his Living Time Orchestra recorded in 2003. The Allmusic review by Scott Yanow awarded the album 3½ stars and states "The 80th Birthday Concert, a two-CD set,...
(Concept, 2003)