Jazz
BIOGRAPHY
The Andy Middleton Quartet performs original compositions that combine world music and European influences with the authentic feel of hard swinging contemporary New York City jazz. Each composition takes the listener on a melodic journey through a landscape of deep harmonic colors and vibrant rhythms.
Andy Middleton
Andy Middleton has long been considered by critics and his peers to be one of the world’s top-tier jazz saxophonists. While a technically masterful player, Middleton’s solos have been noted for their power of inspired imagination, rhythmic drive, lyricism and adventurous energy. Likewise, his compositions are both harmonically modern and lyrical with a clear sense of the tradition. Middleton’s unique voice as both a player and a composer/arranger has led jazz icons such as Dave Holland, Kenny Wheeler and Ralph Towner to record and perform with him. He has also performed/recorded with Maria Schneider, Renee Rosnes, Randy Brecker, Bill Evans, Lionel Hampton, Bob Mintzer, Joey Calderazzo, John Abercrombie and Adam Nussbaum.
Middleton is a composer of trio, quartet, quintet, octet and big band jazz, a winner of numerous grants for composition and performance who, after living in New York City for 19 years now lives in Vienna (Austria) performing, composing and teaching at the Konservatorium Wien as the professor of Jazz Composition, Jazz Theory and Saxophone. Born in Harrisburg, PA, Andy received his master’s degree in composition at the University of Miami.
Middleton had a numerous appearances with The Andy Middleton Group, The Fensters and as a sideman – in more than 50 international tours (Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, France, Italy, Luxemburg, Monaco, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland), countless U.S.A. (26 states) and Canada performances.
Besides playing with his own quartet Middleton has developed several new relationships and projects throughout Europe, including the wonderful Turkish pianist Burak Bedikyan’s “European Quartet”, a new all-star Danish/American band called “Battle Axe” and a collective of the top players from Hungary, Slovakia, Czech Republic and Austria.
Tino Derado
In the course of Tino Derado’s remarkable career he has performed with Gary Burton, Peter Erskine, Paul Winter, Dave Liebman, Jimmy Cliff, Craig Handy, Billy Drewes, Matthew Garrison, the NDR Big Band, Rebekka Bakken, Nils Langren, Papo Vasquez, Andy Gonzales, as well as Bob Moses, to name but a few. He has toured extensively with various bands in Europe, South America, Russia and the Middle East. Mr. Derado lives Berlin, Germany and is currently signed by Sunnyside.
Paul Imm
Paul Imm has performed throughout the world with jazz greats like Dizzy Gillespie, James Moody, Charlie Rouse, Eddie Harris, Steve Lacy, Lee Konitz, Harry “Sweets” Edison, Tom Harrell, Kenny Werner, Wolfgang Engstfeld and Jim Pepper, among others. Paul is very active as a sideman in Europe on many projects and performances and he has recorded with Lee Konitz, Kenny Werner, Tom Harrell, Stephane Belmondo Quartet, Yusef Lateef, Markus Becker, and Peter Bolte. He studied with David Baker at the University of Indiana and currently resides in Hamburg (Germany).
Alan Jones
Alan Jones has performed extensively throughout Europe and North America with Charlie Mariano, David Liebman, Jim Pepper, Bennie Wallace, Don Thompson, Glen Moore, Kenny Wheeler, Mose Allison, and David Friesen among others. He has recorded with Dave Holland, Ralph Towner, Jim Pepper, David Friesen, Renee Rosnes, Wayne Darling, Airto Moriera, and The Alan Jones Sextet (produced by Gino Vannelli). Mr. Jones studied jazz at the Berklee School of Music as well as the Banff Centre for Fine Arts, and currently resides in Portland, Oregon, USA.
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