ANDREW BEMKEY (piano, clarinets) is a musician who honors the tradition, knows and loves the music of the masters, and doesn't sound like anyone ever heard before. He has an extraordinary ability to share his impassioned artistic journey with bandmates and audiences alike. It's very moving to hear him, to witness his courage and sensitivity, and to be washed in the beauty of his musical expression.
Andrew has been playing in trumpeter Roy Campbell, Jr.’s TAZZ band since 2002 and in several groups led by violinist Billy Bang, including Aftermath and the Billy Bang Quartet, since 2003. His work with Roy began in Harlem, New York at the legendary Lenox Lounge where he played with TAZZ during its three-year stint as the Monday-night house band. TAZZ went on to play festivals coast-to-coast and will be recording this fall. Renowned tenor saxophonist Frank Lowe recommended Andrew to Billy Bang, and Above & Beyond, Billy Bang’s 2007 release, is a stunning snapshot of the newborn group on tour in ‘03 with Billy, Frank, and Andrew. Andrew has toured extensively with Billy in the U.S. and Europe, most recently in New England and Italy. A new release is scheduled for August.
In September, 2005, Andrew was reunited with Reggie Workman and Rashied Ali in a John Coltrane tribute band led by Roy Campbell, Jr. and Louis Belogenis that played four sold-out concerts in New York to the joy of audience and musicians alike. January, 2007 saw the band at the Son d’hiver festival in Paris.
As of late, New York has heard Andrew in word & music collaborations with the Rev. Jacqui Lewis at Middle Church; in duets with master drummer Newman Taylor Baker at the Stone; with alto saxophonist Saco Yasuma at the Hell’s Kitchen Jazz Festival; with TAZZ at Brooklyn’s Zebulon; and with Billy Bang at the Vision Festival Music Series.