Jazz Suite Artists

Andy Williamson
Saxophone

"I'm a musician with various pots on the boil. This site will give you a flavour of them but do give me A Buzz if you'd like to know more about anything you see here that tickles your fancy. I'm a saxophonist, a singer, a bandleader and a teacher. I help programme events and festivals, and have been doing all this for the last 20 years - and still love it as much now as I did when I started.

I play in a number of regular bands with some wonderful musicians from all over the country. There's my own small Buzztet, various collaborations from silly jazz and cabaret, to the large and funky Big Buzzard Boogie Band, plus the Brass Volcanoes, The Organ Grinders, Pavlov and The Denbone Walkers. I've also had the chance to play with some of my musical heroes, including Al Casey, Tom Robinson, Suggs and most recently Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

I have an eclectic musical taste and experience that takes in many genres. You may have heard me playing Duke Ellington's Sacred Concerts on Radio 4 or in one of the UK's Cathedrals. I've also set ecological poetry to Gregorian chant style melodies in Plainsong for the Planet, brought together jazz activists to play New Orleans marching tunes at the Climate Camp and protest marches; I sing bass in the choir at the annual St Endellion festival or can be found reprising hep cat funky rude tunes at weddings. I've brought in tabla players, tap and break dancers, I've abseiled during gigs and from enormous towers while playing sax; I've cooked food on stage while the band raged around me; accompanied soul food diva Momma Cherri and all round diva Corliss Randall.

I teach sax, singing and jazz improvisation. I do this privately, and have run improvisation classes for tap dancers in London and students at Kindston University. I run the Ashburton Community Choir in St Lawrence Chapel, Ashburton, every Tuesday evening at 8pm. Anyone is welcome to come along any week - no need to commit to being there every week."