Since starting in his Father's dance orchestra when only fourteen Andy has been a leading freelance player on all the fretted instruments for many years. His career to date includes countless tours, jingles, TV, record and club dates in a variety of styles. His love of jazz however took him to New York in 1996 where Jimmy Bruno introduced him to the seven-string guitar. Since then with help from Bucky Pizzarelli Andy has adopted it as his main instrument.

A devotee of Django Reinhardt and the acoustic 'gypsy' guitar Andy has recently recorded new versions of Django’s tunes for the new Penelope Cruz film ‘Head In The Clouds’ and also appeared in the film alongside John Jorgenson who played the role of Django. The film is due for release early 2004.

Andy together with jazz violinist Chris Hayward leads GadjoJazz, one of the UK's most popular Grappelli-Reinhardt based groups. This quartet since it's inception in a small bar in Samois-sur- Seine (the last home of Django) has grown to become a Festival favourite working all over Europe. Andy is a recognised authority on this unique guitar style and writes the Gypsy Jazz column in the American publication 'Just Jazz Guitar' and has contributed articles, reviews and music to other magazines including 'Guitar Player' and British periodicals 'Jazz Rag' and 'String Jazz'. The book ‘Masters of Jazz Guitar’ contains a chapter on Django’s Legacy written by Andy.

As a performer Andy has appeared recently with The John Jorgenson Band, The Four Tops, Jerome Macmurray and jazz guitarists Jimmy Bruno, Frank Vignola and Jack Wilkins as a member of the Benedetto Players group. In his role as a freelance guitarist Andy has also played more weddings and barmitzvahs than he will care to admit.

Major UK festival appearances

L’Esprit Manouche Festival
Birmingham Jazz Festival
Liangollen Jazz Festival
Upton on Seven Festival
Beaumaris Festival
Malvern Jazz Festival
Abersoch Jazz Festival

International festivals and Guitar show appearances

Soave Guitar Festival, Italy 2003
Issoudon ‘Chet-fest’, France 2003
NAMM Show, Los Angeles 1996, 1997 (with John Jorgenson)
Classic American Guitar Show, New York 1996 1997 1998 1999
Benedetto Players concert, New York 1997, 1998, 1999
Arlington Guitar Show, Texas (with Adrian Ingram)

Equipment endorsements

Benedetto guitars
La Bella strings

CD releases

“Strings Attached” with Chris Hayward (2003)
“Tales from the Hot Club”. Crimson Records IPC-022.
“Duets” with Adrian Ingram. Crimson Records IPC-11

DVD/Video release

“Benedetto Players in Concert” Mel Bay Publishing