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Andrew Boniwell

Canadian jazz pianist Andrew Boniwell combines impassioned melodicism with artful writing to bring listeners an enriched, accessible, contemporary sound.

About Me

Andrew has been a pianist on the Toronto jazz scene since 1980. A frequent participant in the Downtown Toronto Jazz Festival he has also appeared at the Distillery Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, Guelph Jazz Festival and the Barrie Jazz Festival. Andrew has performed with the Juno award-winning contemporary jazz orchestra NOJO, and plays with many of Toronto's finest jazz musicians including Richard Underhill (JUNO winner 2003), Mike Murley (multiple JUNO winner), Kevin Turcotte, Michael Occhipinti (NOJO), Barry Romberg and Quinsin Nachoff (now based in NYC).

Andrew's project of the last 8 years has the been The Uncertainty Principle, a quintet playing the leader's compositions. The Uncertainty Principle covers a lot of musical terrain, leaping from the platform of Boniwell's original compositions into the changing beauty of the uncertain.

The Uncertainty Principle Live at The Rex is the quintet's most recent recording, released in October, 2018. It features the compositions of pianist/leader Andrew Boniwell leading a stellar Toronto jazz quintet with Richard Underhill (alto saxophone), Kevin Turcotte (trumpet), Artie Roth (bass) and Mike McClelland (drums).

The Uncertainty Principle Live at The Rex is Andrew’s 3rd release as a leader, his 2nd with his group The Uncertainty Principle. His previous release ‘Boomerang’ was reviewed by Jim Galloway thusly; “The compositions are inventive and the musicians all bring a cohesive and creative energy to the music... (a) good example of the fine talents right here on our own doorstep”.

Live at The Rex includes some tunes from Boomerang, one from Boniwell's first CD ‘Stop Start’, six new compositions incorporating a free improvisational structure and one cover of Thelonious Monk.

Andrew’s first CD, StopStart also on Soundcolour Records (1999), features The Andrew Boniwell Quartet playing Boniwell's compositions. Reviewers found the quartet’s exploration of texture, dynamics and harmony “innovative” (Ottawa Citizen) and “adventurous” (Toronto Star) while the quartet's playing was described as “letting the music flow out of their veins” (Coda Magazine).