EPISODE 44 - Andy Bianco

Andy Bianco, a jazz artist, composer, educator, and advocate hailing from New York City, boasts an impressive career that spans performances with renowned artists such as Angie Stone, Deborah Cox, Kandace Springs, Ray Chew, Elle Varner, and Bob Moses. His musical journey has graced esteemed venues worldwide, including ABC Television's Good Morning America, Billboard Live Osaka/Tokyo, The Howard Theater, Blues Alley, and The Blue Note, among others.

As the guitarist for Grammy-winning R&B artist Elle Varner, Andy has toured extensively across the USA and Japan, leaving an indelible mark on stages like the Essence Festivals in New Orleans, the BET Awards, and the Richmond Jazz Festival. His prowess as a performer extends to prestigious jazz hotspots, including Chris' Jazz Cafe, Smoke Jazz Club, and The Zinc Bar.

A three-time finalist in the USA Songwriting Competitions, Andy has garnered domestic and international critical acclaim for his three official jazz album releases. Downbeat Magazine, Elsewhere New Zealand, Bop-N-Jazz, and The New York City Jazz Record are among the publications praising his work. His latest album, "NYC Stories," received accolades for its dynamic jazz compositions and triumphant narrative.

In addition to captivating audiences with his music, Andy's advocacy for music and education is evident in his creation of the Phillip Bianco Memorial Music Scholarship. In honor of his late father, this scholarship, awarded annually through the Keynotes Foundation Scholarship Competition in Pittsburgh, supports young adult music students.

Andy's impact extends beyond the stage; his music has been licensed for use in Hollywood films and prime-time network television. He has completed a 6-month tour of New Zealand and Japan as the guitarist for the critically acclaimed stage production "Empire." As a private instructor with New York Jazz Workshop and a teaching artist with Wingspan Arts and Midori & Friends in NYC, Andy shares his passion for music with aspiring talents.

Highlighted by press reviews praising his "deliciously dynamic jazz" and the triumph-over-adversity theme in "NYC Stories," Andy continues to craft stories through his music. His guitar work has been described as having a "fantastic sound & boundless imagination & fire" by jazz guitar masters Peter Bernstein and Ben Monder.

Endorsed by ESP Guitars, Godin Guitars, Reunion Blues Cases, and Dean Markley Strings, Andy Bianco stands as a compelling force in the world of jazz, leaving an indelible mark on stages, classrooms, and scholarship programs alike.