Wayne Andre
Encyclopedia
Wayne Andre was an American jazz
trombonist
, best known for his work as a session musician
.
Andre's father was a saxophonist, and he took private music lessons from age 15. He played with Charlie Spivak
in the early 1950s before spending some time in the U.S. Air Force. In 1955 he joined the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra
, and in 1956 played with Woody Herman
. From 1956 to 1958 he played with Kai Winding
and attended the Manhattan School of Music
. He composed his “Nutcracker” and arranged “The Preacher” for the Kai Winding septet while performing with the septet. In the 1960’s, he performed with Gerry Mulligan's first Concert Jazz Band, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra, and Clark Terry
’s big band. He joined the "Mission to Russia" with Benny Goodman
in 1962. He also played with Urbie Green
, Art Farmer
, Roy Ayres
, and Carl Fontana
.
After settling in New York City, Andre became a sought-after studio sideman and soloist. His solos may be heard on such albums as Liza Minnelli
’s "More Than You Know" on Liza with a Z, Bruce Springsteen
's Born to Run
and “Blue Turk” on Alice Cooper
’s School’s Out album. The New York Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
presented Andre with the Most Valuable Player Award in 1982 and 1986. During this time he also played with Lynn Welshman's Tentet, The Mingus Big Band
and The Epitaph Band, Jaco Pastorius
' "Word of Mouth" band and many others. He also performed with his own quintet, which included musicians Marvin Stamm
, Pat Rebillot, Ron Zito, Jay Leonhart; and his septet, which included Matt Finders, Keith O'Quinn, and Jim Pugh. Later, Andre enjoyed performing with his own big band, the Illinois Jacquet
Band and Mike Longo
’s New York State of the Art Jazz Ensemble.
Wayne Andre also continued to write music throughout his life. His composition "Ayo" was recorded by Bill Watrous
with The Manhattan Wildlife Refuge Band. He premiered his composition for trombone and symphony orchestra, "The Rise and Fall of Love," with the Oslo Big Band Orchestra in Norway.
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...
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...
, best known for his work as a session musician
Session musician
Session musicians are instrumental and vocal performers, musicians, who are available to work with others at live performances or recording sessions. Usually such musicians are not permanent members of a musical ensemble and often do not achieve fame in their own right as soloists or bandleaders...
.
Andre's father was a saxophonist, and he took private music lessons from age 15. He played with Charlie Spivak
Charlie Spivak
Charlie Spivak was an American trumpeter and bandleader, best known for his big band in the 1940s.-Biography:...
in the early 1950s before spending some time in the U.S. Air Force. In 1955 he joined the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra
Sauter-Finegan Orchestra
The Sauter-Finegan Orchestra was an American swing jazz band popular in the 1950s.The orchestra was led by Eddie Sauter and Bill Finegan, who were both experienced big band arrangers. Sauter played mellophone, trumpet, and drums, and had attended Columbia University and Juilliard; Finegan had...
, and in 1956 played with Woody Herman
Woody Herman
Woodrow Charles Herman , known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders...
. From 1956 to 1958 he played with Kai Winding
Kai Winding
Kai Chresten Winding was a popular Danish-born American trombonist and jazz composer. He is well known for a successful collaboration with fellow trombonist J. J. Johnson.-Biography:...
and attended the Manhattan School of Music
Manhattan School of Music
The Manhattan School of Music is a major music conservatory located on the Upper West Side of New York City. The school offers degrees on the bachelors, masters, and doctoral levels in the areas of classical and jazz performance and composition...
. He composed his “Nutcracker” and arranged “The Preacher” for the Kai Winding septet while performing with the septet. In the 1960’s, he performed with Gerry Mulligan's first Concert Jazz Band, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis orchestra, and Clark Terry
Clark Terry
Clark Terry is an American swing and bop trumpeter, a pioneer of the fluegelhorn in jazz, educator, NEA Jazz Masters inductee, and recipient of the 2010 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award...
’s big band. He joined the "Mission to Russia" with Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
in 1962. He also played with Urbie Green
Urbie Green
Urban Clifford "Urbie" Green is an American jazz trombonist who toured with Woody Herman, Gene Krupa, Jan Savitt, and Frankie Carle....
, Art Farmer
Art Farmer
Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer was an American jazz trumpeter and flugelhorn player. He also played flumpet, a trumpet/flugelhorn combination designed for him by David Monette. His identical twin brother, Addison Farmer Arthur Stewart "Art" Farmer (August 21, 1928, Council Bluffs, Iowa –...
, Roy Ayres
Roy Ayres
Roy Ayres is an American pedal steel guitar player.A Grand Ole Opry musician known for full chords and smooth tone, Ayres played steel guitar on all of Pee Wee King’s major hits, including “The Tennessee Waltz”...
, and Carl Fontana
Carl Fontana
Carl Charles Fontana was an American jazz trombonist. Because Fontana rarely recorded under his own name and toured only occasionally after 1958, he is significantly less famous among mainstream jazz fans, although well-known amongst trombonists.-Birth to 1958:Born in Monroe, Louisiana, Fontana...
.
After settling in New York City, Andre became a sought-after studio sideman and soloist. His solos may be heard on such albums as Liza Minnelli
Liza Minnelli
Liza May Minnelli is an American actress and singer. She is the daughter of singer and actress Judy Garland and film director Vincente Minnelli....
’s "More Than You Know" on Liza with a Z, Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
's Born to Run
Born to Run
The album's release was accompanied by a $250,000 promotional campaign by Columbia directed at both consumers and the music industry, making good use of Landau's "I saw rock 'n' roll's future—and its name is Bruce Springsteen" quote. With much publicity, Born to Run vaulted into the top 10 in its...
and “Blue Turk” on Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper is an American rock singer, songwriter and musician whose career spans more than four decades...
’s School’s Out album. The New York Chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
The National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences, Inc., known variously as The Recording Academy or NARAS, is a U.S. organization of musicians, producers, recording engineers and other recording professionals dedicated to improving the quality of life and cultural condition for music and its...
presented Andre with the Most Valuable Player Award in 1982 and 1986. During this time he also played with Lynn Welshman's Tentet, The Mingus Big Band
Mingus Big Band
The Mingus Big Band is an ensemble, based in New York City, that specializes in the compositions of the late Charles Mingus. It is managed by his widow, Sue Mingus and represented by Tree Lawn Artists, Inc.. In addition to its weekly Monday night appearance at the Jazz Standard in New York City,...
and The Epitaph Band, Jaco Pastorius
Jaco Pastorius
John Francis Anthony Pastorius III , known as Jaco Pastorius, was an American jazz musician and composer widely acknowledged as a virtuoso electric bass player....
' "Word of Mouth" band and many others. He also performed with his own quintet, which included musicians Marvin Stamm
Marvin Stamm
Marvin Stamm is an American bebop trumpeter.Stamm began on trumpet at age 12. He first attended college at, then known as, Memphis State University and then attended college at North Texas State University where he was a member of the world renowned One O'Clock Lab Band...
, Pat Rebillot, Ron Zito, Jay Leonhart; and his septet, which included Matt Finders, Keith O'Quinn, and Jim Pugh. Later, Andre enjoyed performing with his own big band, the Illinois Jacquet
Illinois Jacquet
Jean-Baptiste Illinois Jacquet was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, best remembered for his solo on "Flying Home", critically recognized as the first R&B saxophone solo....
Band and Mike Longo
Mike Longo
Michael Josef "Mike" Longo is a jazz pianist, composer, and author. He is most known for his work with Dizzy Gillespie.-Early life:...
’s New York State of the Art Jazz Ensemble.
Wayne Andre also continued to write music throughout his life. His composition "Ayo" was recorded by Bill Watrous
Bill Watrous
William Russell Watrous III is a jazz trombonist. He is perhaps best known by casual fans of jazz music for his rendition of Sammy Nestico's arrangement of the Johnny Mandel ballad "A Time for Love," which he recorded on a 1993 album of the same name...
with The Manhattan Wildlife Refuge Band. He premiered his composition for trombone and symphony orchestra, "The Rise and Fall of Love," with the Oslo Big Band Orchestra in Norway.