Andrew Boniwell

Biography
Press

Andrew has been a professional piano player on the Torontojazz scene since 1980. A frequent participant in theDowntown Toronto Jazz Festival he has also appeared atthe Distillery Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, Guelph JazzFestival and the Barrie Jazz Festival. Andrew has performedwith the Juno award-winning contemporary jazz orchestraNOJO, and plays with many of Toronto's finest jazzmusicians including Richard Underhill (JUNO winner 2003),Mike Murley (multiple JUNO winner), Kevin Turcotte, MichaelOcchipinti (NOJO), Barry Romberg and Quinsin Nachoff(now based in NYC).

Andrew newest project is his quintet, Andrew Boniwell andThe Uncertainty Principle. His first CD with this unit,Boomerang was released in 2011. It features finely craftedand groovy compositions with a varied rhythmic palette and afront line of Richard Underhill (alto sax) and Kevin Turcotte(trumpet).

Andrew’s previous CD, StopStart also on SoundcolourRecords (1999), features The Andrew Boniwell Quartetplaying his compositions. Reviewers found the quartet’sexploration of texture, dynamics and harmony "innovative"(Ottawa Citizen) and "adventurous" (Toronto Star) while thequartet's playing was described as "letting the music flow outof their veins" (Coda Magazine).

Awards

Oscar Peterson Burary Award, York University 1986

Tags

Andrew Boniwell piano Toronto

Jim Galloway (former Artistic Director of The Downtown Toronto Jazz Festival) reviews Andrew new release Boomerang for Whole Note magazine. (April/2012) "I enjoyed this CD — I have to admit that very often when I see a release with all original compositions I approach it with some trepidation, but there is no uncertainty with this recording. The compositions are inventive and the musicians all bring a cohesive and creative energy to the music. I hope that the leader/composer doesn’t mind if I say that some of the pieces bring to mind the work of Horace Silver; it is certainly meant as a compliment