Andy Weinzler
Tenor Saxophone
Andy Weinzler has performed with many world renowned jazz and popular artists, having toured with the big band of trumpeter Maynard Ferguson and performed with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, John LaBarbera, Lionel Hampton with Kevin Mahogany. He has also been invited to tour with Chuck Mangione and the big bands of Woody Herman and Buddy Rich.
In 1990 Andy joined Gap Mangione's New Big Band as a tenor and soprano saxophone soloist. He has performed on three of Gap's CDs featuring world-class musicians Steve Gadd, Tony Levin, John Patitucci and fellow saxophonists Pat LaBarbera and Gerry Niewood. Gap's New Big Band and Quintet have performed regularly at the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival and in 2015 Gap released the quintet recording 'Live in Toronto' featuring Andy and Pat LaBarbera.
Other artists Andy has performed with include Dizzy Gillespie, Doc Severinsen, Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis, Natalie Cole, Maureen McGovern, Michael Feinstein, Frankie Valli, the Temptations, Spinners and many more. Performances with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) began when he was just 17 years old and he can be heard on two BPO recordings (Naxos): 'Gershwin: Rhapsody in Blue' and 'Duke Ellington: Black, Brown & Beige'. Recently he has also been featured as jazz tenor saxophone soloist with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO). Andy has performed for many Broadway shows including ‘West Side Story’, ‘Chorus Line’ and ‘42nd Street’ and he was featured in a 2013 Issue of ‘Saxophone Journal’ (Dorn Publications).
Andy received his Bachelor of Music degree in Saxophone Performance from the prestigious Eastman School of Music, and a Master of Music degree in Jazz Studies from the University of Miami. He was Assistant Professor of Jazz Studies at St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, from 1986 to 1989 where he was a member of the faculty jazz sextet, JazFX, which performed at major western-Canada jazz festivals and recorded for the CBC and Mark Records.
Andy is deeply grateful for all of the wonderful opportunities and experiences he has had through music and acknowledges them all as blessings from God.