Duane Andrews


Duane Andrews is a Canadian guitarist. He combines traditional Newfoundland folk music with Manouche gypsy jazz similar to the way that gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt infused jazz with gypsy melody. He is also a composer for film and television.

Biography

Born in Carbonear, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada Andrews grew up exposed to the island’s mélange of cultural influences – a mix of English, French, Irish, Scottish, Spanish and Portuguese - and his development as a guitarist reflects that. After graduating from the Jazz Studies program at St. Francis Xavier University with honours, Andrews spent several years studying contemporary music composition at the Conservatoire de Paris and at the Conservatoire National de Region in Marseille, France.
It was during his time in France that Reinhardt's music had a profound impact on Andrews. Upon returning to his home province of Newfoundland and Labrador, he began combining traditional Newfoundland music with Reinhardt's style and his own original compositions. This work resulted in the 2004 release of his debut solo CD, titled Duane Andrews, the 2006 release of the multiple award-winning Crocus, the 2008 release Raindrops which features a collaboration with the Atlantic String Quartet and two albums in collaboration with Cape Breton master fiddler Dwayne Côté, Dwayne Côté and Duane Andrews and The Empress.
Other notable collaborations include Charlie’s Boogie with bluegrass guitarist/singer/songwriter extraordinaire Craig Young which evolved into Fretboard Journey with the addition of fellow Newfoundland guitarists Sandy Morris and Gordon Quinton. Playing regular Sunday sessions in Quidi Vidi, NL with accordionist Aaron Collis resulted in The Mallard Cottage Sessions. The Juno award winning More Sheep, Less Sleep from The Swinging Belles with children’s educators Erin Power and Laura Winter, can be found at www.theswingingbelles.ca along with their most recent release The Superstar Sibling Detective Agency.

Awards