Born Jeff Michael Andrews at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore City, Jeff Andrews was raised in a modest suburb just north of the city in Towson, MD.. He was the youngest of three brothers,Both of Jeff's parents had been raised by a professional Musician on both sides. His mother's mother had played violin in Baltimore's "Peabody Symphony orchestra". His Fathers Father had played Piano for silent films before the introduction of sound, in movie theaters. Actually, there had been a musical tradition in the family dating back many generations. 

At the age of 12 his musical fascination was deeply aroused by eclectic music that was creating and reflecting the social and political upheaval of the time. This music was both exciting,new and a force for change that spoke loudly to this generation. It was a window period for music. All of his friends it seemed were starting to play instruments and form bands. They all needed Bass Players and it seemed who ever played Bass would be in great demand. So with the full support of his parents he bought his first Bass started to practice and was soon playing with three different bands as would be the norm for most of his career. He began learning songs by Stevie Wonder, Jeff Beck, Santana, and Led Zeppelin. Listening to Frank Zappa opened the door to a diversity of styles and orchestrations. 

Then one day while at a friends house he heard a recording by Chick Corea named "light as a Feather" Hearing that music for the first time, he couldn't grasp the Harmony and Rhythm that he was hearing, he just had to know what they were playing.... and How!!!" This was the beginning of his studies in Improvisational music that opened Pandora's box of bebop....the musical possibilities had a beginning, but no end. 
www.jeffandrews.com

As a precocious Fifteen year old he went on his first tour with the members of the group Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes on their own named "Bobby Ward and Action" He played the East Coast from Virginia to North Bay Canada. It was an all Black group and he got his first close up of racism that was never forgotten. In spite of this and other problems the band had such a great time playing every night. It was a life changing experience. After returning to school from summer break he had made a major decision to pursue music as his career and attend Music college. As he finished his last years of high school,he studied at the Peabody Conservatories Preparatory branch studying harmony and Bass as well as a Jazz studies class in high school. With great luck he was able to attend the only school in the county that had a Jazz studies program. Most school were lucky to have a music class. Playing music at night in the clubs and going to music class in the day and his private studies prepared him for college. One memorable morning he recalls waking up to the sounds of a new recording being played on a friends tape machine,.....it was something he had never heard. The music was fresh and popping the Bass almost sounded like a clavinet, very funky without slapping or plucking!! Wow who is that? The answer was Jaco Pastorius, the new Bassist for Weather Report. So much new music was being created and it was a good time for music. In 1979 he was off to Berklee college of Music with a fair amount of experience under his belt. He tested out of all harmony classes in the first semester had a 4.0 average and was on the Deans list. The school work came easily to him. The atmosphere at Berklee was inspiring and competitive with all of the great players coming from far and near . In 1981 having absorbed most of the core curriculum, he wanted to get into the advanced composition classes. This presented some problems. So, after getting several professional offers to play he decided to leave and study composition with a private teacher. 

Jeff returned to Baltimore and soon had an offer to fly to Los Angeles to record an album for Warner Bros.. During the interim he was paid a weekly retainer. This was a great opportunity to explore the West coast music scene. Since their producer was in such demand recording Van Hallen,Michael McDonald, The Doobie Brothers,Prince Etc. It took them a year to get us in the studio,meanwhile he was playing with everyone he could and checking out L.A.. He played with many great West coast players but felt there was something missing ....Like a music scene! There was little musical diversity stylistically and no one was playing any Jazz or rock. Everything was kind of in between and diluted. Something was missing. He was starting to hear from his school friends back East that New York was alive with opportunities. So after finishing the album, it was time to make a decision . He thanks two people for their encouragement in helping him to make the move, one came from Al Jarrau, after hearing Jeff at a jam session in the valley, he took time to converse , he spoke about the lack of playing opportunities in L.A., and with your playing ability you should be in be in NYC playing every night. Another urging came from a good friend from his Berklee days, Victor Bailey who had just joined Weather Report, he kept Jeff informed and hyped about NYC." 

Jeff returned to Baltimore and in short order had played with the best musicians at the finest venues the city had to offer. It was time to move on to greener pastures. After locating a fellow Baltimore musician already in living in New York he made plans to check out New York city for a weekend trip. He packed a bag and loaded the car, with some trepidation, and drove for Newyork with a whopping Two hundred dollars to look for apartments. He arrived at his friends Manhattan apartment in total awe at his surroundings. That evening his friend was called for a gig and ironically they were looking for a Bassist. He was working his first night in NY!! The next couple of days he looked unsuccessfully for an apt. As time passed some how that weekend at his friends turned into Two years. Like the SNL skit. "It came with out warning;! The Thing that wouldn't leave"!! 

In Newyork work came quick and easy. "The first several years in the city were dedicated to living Music twenty four/seven, sometimes practicing and playing all day long ". A small club in Soho, 55 Grand St., became his night home, from there he would start, leave on the breaks to check out other performances at, 7th Avenue South, Bradley's, Sweet Basil, Mikell's, and make it back for after hours Jam sessions at 55 Grand. These sessions usually erupted spontaneously through out the night and inevitably continued into morning and sometimes afternoon hours. This was the real school and the place to make the grade. During this time he took every gig that he was offered. Late night Latin clubs, Jazz clubs, Fusion bands, Rock, Reggae, Big Bands, Rehearsal bands that met once a week, etc. "A truly complete and rounded apprenticeship that would be difficult to recreate today" 

One Gig led to the next and he was soon performing with as many artist as possible. His first gigs were with The Roland Vazquez Band(one of the hardest Bass books in NY) David Clayton Thomas and Blood Sweat, and Tears, Special EFX at the same time he started to play every Monday night at a small bar also named The 55 Bar at 55 Christopher St. with different guitarist every week including, Bobby Broom, Randy Johnston, Bill Bicford, and drummer eves Gerrard After some success the club eventually panned out to music every night with no cover, a winning idea in NYC. When not on tour Jeff was playing every night at the 55 and booking the club. It was around this time when Jeff resumed contact with Mike Stern from his days in Boston. One night, walking the village trying to decide who to call for the nightly gig at the 55 Bar, he was thinking of Mike knowing he was currently between tours. No longer had he thought of Mike when he looked up just avoiding walking into the familiar face of none other than Mike standing in front of him devouring a slice of pizza from Strombolie's . A true case of serendipity, leading to an invite to play that night. So he asked him if he wanted to play at this new place, called once again, The 55 Bar tonight, he said sure! They played duo that Wednesday night for three comatose drunks and a German Shepard. It was the beginning of a 12 year association between the two players with the 55 as home base. The 55 was becoming one of the better places in Greenwich Village for Musicians to hang out. Everyone from Cecil Taylor to Jaco Pastorious passed thru nightly. It was a truly Bohemian village hang in every sense of the word. Open to all, 24/7. Once again a new music academy for experimentation emerged there providing a snapshot of the new musical scenery in NYC. All performers were allowed total freedom. 

After a long period of playing 5 night's a week at the 55, Jeff eventually turned the responsibility of booking over to the owner of the club and cut back on the 5 night schedule till settling into Monday and Wednesday with Mike Stern and Adam Nussbaum on drums. This trio eventually became the nucleus for the newly formed Michael Brecker Band, on his first solo outing. This group with the addition of Kenny Kirkland toured all the major Jazz festivals of Europe, Japan, Hong Kong, South America, the U.S. It was a very exciting and diverse group . Michael won his first grammy Award in '88 leading to more touring and concerts worldwide. " It was an honor and a pleasure to play every night on stage with talents of Michael Brecker and the rest of this amazing band. Mike made it enjoyable to make music and tour. The band was a great success and a highlight in a long growing list of achievements and musical experiences. Following the Michael Brecker Band was a Summer of touring with Wayne Shorter in 1990 and becoming Jeff's favorite musical ear opener, studying Shorter's compositions and a new approach to improvisation. Around the same time he was called to play with "Steps Ahead" with Mike Mainieri for a three year stint of almost exclusive touring in Europe, but also including some performances in Japan,Israel, Jerusalem, Eastern Europe etc. While touring with Steps Jeff and steve Smith developed a good rhythm section chemistry and friendship that led to a new version of the established band "Vital Information". This was also a recording /touring group that democratically contributed compositions and ideas and developed into an amazing four piece group including Tom Coster, and Frank Gamble. This group rehearsed,composed and recorded in San Francisco as a base. They toured the States Europe, Japan and made three recordings together from 1993 to "98. Also during the beginning of the "Vital" years. Jeff played and recorded with Bob Berg/Mike Stern band featuring Jeff And Dennis Chambers on drums. Jeff had played with Dennis in their home town growing up and also with "Special EFX". Mike and Bob had played together with Miles Davis for several years. Now they really had a chance to stretch out together. It was a real power house band. 

In closing, the circle of Learning/Practicing, Performing/Composing and Teaching leads to Musical maturity. Starting in 1990 Jeff served as an adjunct Professor at Manhattan School of Music, The New School of Social Research, New York University, and Mannes College. Also,performing as a clinician at many universities and educational facilities. Providing this service while also Practicing and Performing he feels he has developed in a whole manner in becoming the best Musician/Bassist/Improviser possible with the talent bestowed him. 

 

Courtesy from
Jeff Andrews

Official website: http://www.jeffandrews.com