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Andy Firth - Press Kit
Updated April 2008
Download
the Andy Firth Press Kit here as a .pdf
Download the Andy
Firth Press Release for his "Goodman & Beyond" concert
at Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall here as a .pdf
Download
the “Goodman & Beyond” program from Andy Firth’s
Carnegie Hall debut. March 21st 2008.
“Andy Firth is the first clarinettist
in 30 years or so, since Eddie Daniels, that I have really paid
attention to…what he can do on the clarinet, I consider
to be impossible. The thing is, Andy doesn’t know this…and
I’m not gonna tell him…”
Buddy DeFranco (US Living jazz clarinet legend). 21st
March, Weill Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall as Andy’s guest
artist for Andy’s “Goodman & Beyond” debut
concert at Carnegie Hall. New York.
“Once in a blue moon come along an artist whose talent,
musicianship and expertise is awesome. Such a man is Andy Firth,
whose reputation as a brilliant performer and educator is Australia
wide and acknowledged internationally as well.”
Maestro Tommy Tycho. (AM.MBE. Pianist, Arranger,
Conductor)
Andy is thrilled to announce that he has
been chosen as "Best Jazz Instrumentalist Performer"
for 2005 by the prestigious Australian "MO AWARDS".
A big thanks to everybody involved in the voting and selection process
(14/03/06) www.moawards.org.au
August 2006-Andy Firth returned from the USA after
having performed at this year's International Clarinet Conference
to rave reviews and high praises from some of the world's finest
clarinet players including jazz masters Buddy De Franco, Eddie Daniels
and Ron Odrich for his performance with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
and the Gary Motley Trio.
April 2006. Andy Firth toured and performed as
a guest artist with Maestro Tommy Tycho and stage legends Anthony
Warlow and Marina Prior.
Personal Information:
- Born in Pt. Augusta, South Australia, March 9th, 1966.
- Current Residence: Newcastle, New South Wales. Australia.
- Married, no children but has two lovely cocker spaniels - 'Jazz'
& 'Be Bop'
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Musical Background:
- Andy Firth took up the clarinet at age 5 after hearing Benny
Goodman & Buddy DeFranco and decided that this was what he
wanted to do and be one of the best in the World at.
- Andy Firth picked up the saxophone at 10 years and started working
professionally by the age of 14.
- Andy Firth attended University in Adelaide and received a Degree
in Music (Classical Performance) and later a Diploma of Education
(Secondary).
- Andy Firth appeared on National Television with Don Burrows
at the age of 17 and instantly became recognised as a leading
Australian jazz talent.
- Andy Firth moved to Sydney in 1987 and worked with Bob Barnard,
Galapagos Duck and the late, great Ricky May and was soon after
given a regular spot at the Don Burrows Supper club with the Julian
Lee and Later Roger Frampton bands.
- Andy Firth is now recognised as being one of the finest jazz
clarinettists on the scene today and appears at International
Clarinet conferences as a guest performer.
- Andy Firth has been honoured with his own clarinet & saxophone
book series with music publishing giant Boosey
& Hawkes and his books can be found in shops all over
the World. Andy has also had a clarinet mouthpiece series named
after him by American company Lomax classic. He also enjoys sponsorship
and endorsements with Buffet-France, Keilwerth-Germany, Rico-USA,
SmartMusic-USA, Lomax Classic-USA, Trevor J James flutes-UK and
BG France. Andy continues to tour as a master class & jazz
improvisation specialist for The Music Group (formerly Boosey
& Hawkes).
- Andy Firth moved to Newcastle NSW at the beginning of this year
and teaches a select group of talented students from his home
“Vivace Cottage”.
- Andy Firth continues to appear with orchestras and jazz ensembles
both in Australia as overseas. Andy Firth is also highly regarded
as a woodwind educator and presents master classes and concerts
in some of the world’s finest universities and educational
institutions.
International acts
that Andy Firth has appeared with:
- B.B. King and the Phillip Morris Super band, Wynton Marsarlis,
Buddy DeFranco, Ingrid Jenesen,Diana Krall, Don Lusher, Bud Shank,
Kenny Ball, Andy Cooper, Acker Bilk, Dutch Swing College, Steve
Harlos, Steve Haughton, Ed Soph, Randy Breker, James Moody, Tommy
Banks and his all-star big band, Jeff Jarvis, Jerry Novak, Bob
Phillips, North Texas One O’clock Lab Band and Lee Konitz.
- Andy Firth is as equally at home performing and writing classical
music as he is jazz. In 2000 Andy released his World first 16
clarinet big band cd which enjoys regular airplay on ABC FM classical
and jazz programming. Andy also composed 'Treacherous Tango' and
'Tycho, Tycho, Tycho' (pron:teeko) for Janet Webb, (principal
flautist of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra) on her recent CD release
“Tango & all that jazz”.
- In 2003 Andy Firth wrote the 'Cuban Fantasy' for Janet Webb
(principal flautist of The Sydney Symphony Orchestra), a series
of saxophone books and book of jazz duets for clarinet, (for Boosey
& Hawkes) and his 'Duo Fantasia Concertante' - for two clarinets
& piano. (dedicated to his wife Liz).
Andy Firth is committed to the ideals and standards of musical
excellence set by his mentor, Maestro Tommy Tycho and wants people
to feel the joy and energy that he feels when performing for them.
'I like people to know that whether it’s
a big band or small group that I’ll do whatever I can to
give them a World class show! I want my name to be associated
with musical excellence and mind-blowing performances'.
Andy Firth 2006.
Quotes about Andy Firth:
Maestro Tommy Tycho has described Andy Firth as,
'A genius of the clarinet'.
Kenny Ball said of him,
'Andy Firth is perhaps the finest clarinettist that I
have ever heard'.
American Composer and woodwind master, Victor Morosco describes
Andy as:
'Andy Firth is a virtuoso that goes beyond virtuosity.
The joy and enthusiasm in his playing & teaching reminds us
all of why as musicians we wanted to play music in the first place...'
Jazz clarinettist & Living jazz legend Buddy De Franco said
of Andy Firth:
“Andy Firth is the first clarinettist in 30 years
or so, since Eddie Daniels, that I have really paid attention to…what
he can do on the clarinet, I consider to be impossible. The thing
is, Andy doesn’t know this…and I’m not gonna tell
him…”
Buddy DeFranco (US Living jazz clarinet legend). 21st March, Weill
Recital Hall, Carnegie Hall as Andy’s guest artist for Andy’s
“Goodman & Beyond” debut concert at Carnegie Hall.
New York.
At the World clarinet summit in Japan, (1991) Andy was introduced
by the late clarinet legend John Denman as,
'One of the most amazing clarinettists since Benny Goodman-and
one of the most gifted of all clarinettists.'
The great Australian jazz icon Don Burrows said of Andy (2003):
'Andy sent me a cassette of his playing as a lad in Port
Augusta and even at age 17 I knew that this boy was going to be
something special. He amazed me then and what he is achieving now
I can’t find words for!'
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