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Andrea McNeely

About Me

My Jazz Story

I love jazz because it's the most interesting and diverse musical art form on the planet! I was first exposed to jazz as a two-year old when my uncle Elbert (who had a voice like Cole would serenade me with Nat King Cole songs while I sat on his lap. The best show I ever attended was -- it's difficult to pick just one, but probably Kurt Elling, Mark Murphy, Jon Hendricks, and Kevin Mahogany doing the "Four Brothers" show at the Park West. The first jazz record I bought was "Time Out" by the Dave Brubeck Quartet which was released in 1959. I then bought "Like In Love" by Nancy Wilson and the "Swingin's Mutual by Nancy Wilson and George Shearing. My advice to new listeners is that jazz has so many different genres that one needs to explore and keep an open mind -- You're bound to find something you like. Or whatever else you have in mind.