Andrew McCormack was born in Roehampton, United Kingdom in 1978. He began learning the piano at the age of thirteen and, at sixteen, commenced studies at Pimlico School, where he had jazz lessons with Andrea Vicari, in their specialist music department. In 1996 Andrew received a scholarship to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he had both classical piano lessons, with Andrew Ball and Paul Roberts, as well as studying jazz piano with Simon Purcell. He also began composition lessons with Matthew King whilst he was in his final year. Andrew graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree, in July 2000.
Andrew has performed with a number of distinguished jazz musicians, including Randy Brecker, Courtney Pine, Tony Remy, Orphy Robinson, Clifford Jarvis, Christine Tobin and Jean Toussaint. He has also had master classes with John Taylor, Jason Rebello and Kirk Lightsey. He was a member of "Tomorrows Warriors", a project originally set up by the bassist Gary Crosby, who held a popular jam session every Sunday at the Jazz Cafe in Camden for three years; they now perform regularly around Britain.
In 2002 Andrew was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Martial Solal International Piano Competition held in Paris. He reached the Semi-Finals in the Perrier Young Jazz Musician of the Year Awards 1997 and was also a prize winner in the "Young Jazz Musician of the Year 98" televised on ITV.
When only 18 years old he joined the Denys Baptiste Quartet, whose debut CD "Be Where You Are" was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize in 1999 and also won a MOBO award the same year. The quartet has toured extensively both around the UK and abroad, including in Jamaica, Russian Federation, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Sweden, Italy and at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Netherlands. Other trips abroad include a week at the Jamboree jazz club in Barcelona, Spain, playing with Jean Toussaint, and also opening the main stage at "Jazz a Vienne" Festival, in Lyon, France with the band "Nu Troop", televised and broadcast live on French radio.
Most recently Andrew has been on tour across Britain with Juliet Roberts promoting her new CD, "Beneath the Surface" which culminated in a successful concert at the Purcell Room, London.
He has also has just finished recording a new album with the Jean Toussaint quartet.
"I admire his intelligent approach to the music..." John Taylor
"...very profound playing..." Julian Joseph
"Pianist Andrew McCormack can only be described as brilliant both when accompanying and, to great audience appreciation, when soloing." Barry Chapman, New Jazz 5, Lincoln
User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.
Andrew McCormack was born in Roehampton, United Kingdom in 1978. He began learning the piano at the age of thirteen and, at sixteen, commenced studies at Pimlico School, where he had jazz lessons with Andrea Vicari, in their specialist music department. In 1996 Andrew received a scholarship to study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where he had both classical piano lessons, with Andrew Ball and Paul Roberts, as well as studying jazz piano with Simon Purcell. He also began composition lessons with Matthew King whilst he was in his final year. Andrew graduated with a Bachelor of Music Degree, in July 2000.
Andrew has performed with a number of distinguished jazz musicians, including Randy Brecker, Courtney Pine, Tony Remy, Orphy Robinson, Clifford Jarvis, Christine Tobin and Jean Toussaint. He has also had master classes with John Taylor, Jason Rebello and Kirk Lightsey. He was a member of "Tomorrows Warriors", a project originally set up by the bassist Gary Crosby, who held a popular jam session every Sunday at the Jazz Cafe in Camden for three years; they now perform regularly around Britain.
In 2002 Andrew was a semi-finalist in the prestigious Martial Solal International Piano Competition held in Paris. He reached the Semi-Finals in the Perrier Young Jazz Musician of the Year Awards 1997 and was also a prize winner in the "Young Jazz Musician of the Year 98" televised on ITV.
When only 18 years old he joined the Denys Baptiste Quartet, whose debut CD "Be Where You Are" was shortlisted for the Mercury Music Prize in 1999 and also won a MOBO award the same year. The quartet has toured extensively both around the UK and abroad, including in Jamaica, Russian Federation, Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Greece, Ireland, Sweden, Italy and at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Netherlands. Other trips abroad include a week at the Jamboree jazz club in Barcelona, Spain, playing with Jean Toussaint, and also opening the main stage at "Jazz a Vienne" Festival, in Lyon, France with the band "Nu Troop", televised and broadcast live on French radio.
Most recently Andrew has been on tour across Britain with Juliet Roberts promoting her new CD, "Beneath the Surface" which culminated in a successful concert at the Purcell Room, London.
He has also has just finished recording a new album with the Jean Toussaint quartet.
"I admire his intelligent approach to the music..." John Taylor
"...very profound playing..." Julian Joseph
"Pianist Andrew McCormack can only be described as brilliant both when accompanying and, to great audience appreciation, when soloing." Barry Chapman, New Jazz 5, Lincoln
User-contributed text is available under the Creative Commons By-SA License and may also be available under the GNU FDL.