“His horn playing, whether Armstrong or Eldridge inspired, is strong and secure”. Jazz Journal
“His Roy Eldridge-like trumpet is brilliant, and his Louis or Berigan-like vocals not far behind.” Jazz UK
“Andy can wail in the style of Roy Eldridge, sound contemporary; sings an effective torch song and even conjures up the ghost of Hot Lips Page.” Alan Barnes, Musician Magazine
“Andy’s tasteful but always smouldering horn owes a lot to Roy Eldridge.” Just Jazz
“Andy Dickens, in this era when everyone thinks they can sing jazz, is one of the few Brits of either sex who can.” Just Jazz
British Trumpet and Flugel horn player Andy Dickens has delighted audiences in the UK, Europe and The Middle East for over twenty five years with his ever fresh blend of fiery jazz, bluesy vocals, ballads and popular standards.
Whether playing cool relaxed jazz in a mainstream setting or providing sparkling trumpet fireworks with a New Orleans street band his approach to jazz in the 21st century is one that looks forward at contemporary developments whilst embracing the essential traditions and history of the music.
Artists he has toured and gigged with include Americans Ken Peplowski, Slim Gaillard, Franz Jackson, Joe Darensbourg (clarinet with Louis Armstrong All Stars), New Orleans Gospel singer Pearly Tyler and UK stars Peter King, Campbell Burnap, Roy Williams, Julian Marc Stringle, Clark Tracey, Steve Brown, Trevor Whiting, Bruce Turner, Dick Morrisey, Neville Dickie, Jools Holland and Humphrey Littleton. Recent festivals include the UK Swanage Jazz Festival in 2006 and a return in 2009; an appearance as a guest soloist at the International Jazz Festival at Gronau, Germany, in the company of top American and European artists and main stage at the Ealing Jazz Festival (2007) as well as the Giel-Courteilles Jazz Festival in September 2007, 2008 and 2009. A cross-section of engagements in 2008 included concerts at The Spice of Life, London and the 100 Club, Oxford Street; The Romsey Arts Festival, and appearances with musicians as diverse as Dave Newton, Terry Lightfoot, Clark Tracey, The Ken Colyer Legacy Band and Keith Nicholls. In 2009 Andy is performing a tribute to Humphrey Littleton at the Swaledale Festival; appearing at The Concorde Club with The J J Vinten Band with whom he has recently recorded their debut CD, Quirky; in concert with pianist Terry Seabrook as well as dates at The Spice of Life with Julian Marc Stringle and Trevor Whiting. Tracks from his album Alone Together have recently been featured on BBC Radio2, notably by Russell Davies. Andy has also performed frequently on the Cunard flagship QE2, and has run courses in improvisation and jazz development.
Hi Andy Was great to see you last week. Thanks for all your help. Saw this recently and thought you might enjoy it: Modern Ukulele-playing Singer/Songwriter: www.myspace.com/tabithabenjamin See you soon. xx
Hey Andy, I hope you've enjoyed our Arundel Jazz Club gig as much as I did. I hope we get the chance to play together again sometime. Stay clear of these nasty jokes ;-)
All is good here thanks. There's an extra one of us... a little girl! Had her on the 25th of Feb by c-section (ouch) ... and she's lovely! Caitlin Georgia weighed in at 8lb15oz. A biiig baby. I'm only 5ft4, so you can imagine that I was as round as I am tall over the last month of pregnancy. Actually, I'm still like that now too....!
Enough about me...... tell me all about your news and gossip and updates, etc. Go on - you know you want to....
yeah Andy. Nice new tracks...I sat in on a gig with Digby Fairweather last night. I guess you must dig his playing? He plays that swing era thing so great. You nailed the ol' west end blues intro by the way- chops :)
Lots of love to you and Sue and a jolly merry Xmas and New year! Should you both choose not to make the effort to drink copius amounts with me over Xmas New Year... you will suffer unimaginable horrors.. like sticky valves on yer trumpet and MX5 big end and big gaskety things going awfully wonky... your choice babes!! XXXXXX
