Ernie Andrews

Ernie Andrews with Dexter Gordon (right) on KJAZ Radio 1980 (Photo: Brian McMillen)

Ernie Andrews (born September 25, 1927 in Philadelphia ) is an American blues and jazz singer .

Live and act

Andrews grew up in Los Angeles , sang in the church choir and had a few hits for the G&G label after graduating from high school . Stylistically influenced by Billy Eckstine and Al Hibbler , he was somewhat overshadowed in the course of his career by Joe Williams , who sang in a similar style.

Andrews recorded some records for Aladdin , Columbia and London in the late 1940s , including a. with the pianist Wilbert Baranco , and was a member of the Harry James Orchestra for six years . He had a hit with “Soothe Me”, which he was unable to build on successfully. 1957/58 first albums for the label GNP / Crescendo were recorded in big band line-up. In 1964 the album Live Session was created for Capitol ! Cannonball Adderley with the New Exciting Voice of Ernie Andrews , which for the author Will Friedwald is one of the highlights in the connection of hardbop with jazz singing .

Andrews was somewhat forgotten in the 1960s and 1970s, although he made a few albums for Dot and made a guest appearance on Kenny Burrell's Ellington album in 1975 . With an album for Discovery he made a comeback in 1980; In 1985 he recorded an album with the Bob Cooper / Snooky Young Sextet. A number of albums were made in the 1990s, such as Nor Regrets, produced in 1992 by Houston Person , for Muse Records, and in the 2000s for Highnote Records. Andrews then recorded with Frank Capp / Nat Pierce 's formation Juggernaut , with Gene Harris ' Superband, Jay McShann and the Harper Brothers .

Discographic notes

Albums under your own name

• This Is Ernie Andrews (Dot / Verve , 1964)
• From the Heart (Discovery, 1980)
• No Regrets (Muse Records, 1992) with Houston Person, Junior Mance , Ray Drummond
• The Great City (Muse, 1995)
• Jump for Joy (Highnote, 2003)
• How About Me (Highnote, 2006)

Albums as a guest soloist

• Kenny Burrell: Ellington Is Forever ( Fantasy , 1975)
• Frank Capp: Juggernat Strikes Again! ( Concord Jazz , 1981)
• Bob Cooper / Snooky Young Sextet: In a Mellotone ( Contemporary Records , 1985) with Monty Budwig

• Gene Harris: Live from Town Hall, NYC (Concord, 1989)
• Gene Harris: All Stars Live (Concord, 1995)

swell

• Richard Cook , Brian Morton : The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings . 8th edition. Penguin, London 2006, ISBN 0-14-102327-9 .
• Will Friedwald: Swinging Voices of America - A Compendium of Great Voices . Hannibal, St. Andrä-WIERT, 1992. ISBN 3-85445-075-3

Web links

• Ernie Andrews at Allmusic (English)