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Andrew Nixon

As a child, Andrew began classical piano lessons with the late Suzanne Chapin, which he eventually quit, explaining to his parents that he did not like being told what to play. He spent the remainder of his childhood teaching himself, improvising, copying the classical music that he heard his sisters learning, and playing the trombone in various grade school ensembles.  

After several years playing keyboards in rock and blues bands around Buffalo and Rochester NY, he discovered jazz in 2006 and began studying with pianist/composer Paul Hofmann (Eastman School of Music). Now fully devoted to music, he went on to earn a master’s degree in music theory in 2012 from the University of Buffalo, where he also studied classical piano and composition.  After performing countless times in festivals and clubs in and around western New York, he began shifting his focus to composition in 2020.  

Andrew has recorded two trio albums of original compositions with the group "Nixon, Croft and Goretti."  The first, titled “In Congruence,” was released in February 2021.  The second, titled "Outside Agitators," is scheduled for release in 2024.  Paul Hofmann on "Outside Agitators":  "Nixon’s eight new tunes are in turn thoughtful and introspective; at times harmonically and melodically surprising; always singing; above all SWINGING".  Also coming in 2024 is a solo piano album titled "Other Ways."  Recorded in 2023, this album features solo piano versions of previously recorded originals, as well as 6 new compositions.     

​In addition to performing, composing and recording, Andrew is also a private piano teacher with a current roster of 40+ students.  ​

 

 


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6
Album Review

Andrew Nixon, Ed Croft, Joe Goretti: Outside Agitators

Read "Outside Agitators" reviewed by Chris May


In winter 2021, seemingly out of nowhere, pianist and composer Andrew Nixon brought a ray of sunlight to those fortunate enough to happen upon his debut album, the self-produced In Congruence. A review can be read here. A little research revealed that Nixon was a resident of Buffalo, NY, from whose university he had graduated with a master's degree in music theory in 2012. His trio, completed by bassist Ed Croft and drummer Joe Goretti, centred their activities on Buffalo, ...

19
Album Review

Andrew Nixon, Ed Croft, Joe Goretti: In Congruence

Read "In Congruence" reviewed by Chris May


Every now and again an album comes along by a musician you have never heard of which knocks you sideways and, having done so, picks you up and makes you feel better about the world. Such an album is pianist Andrew Nixon's self-released debut, In Congruence. Nixon, we learn from his website, is a resident of Buffalo, NY, where, since graduating from the university with a master's in music theory in 2012, he has become something of ...

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3

Recording

Jazz Trio Nixon, Croft And Goretti Release Impressive Debut Album Of All Original Compositions. Available Now.

Jazz Trio Nixon, Croft And Goretti Release Impressive Debut Album Of All Original Compositions.  Available Now.

Source: Andrew Nixon

In Congruence is the debut release from trio “Nixon, Croft and Goretti.” It features nine of Nixon’s original compositions. “Apart from composing, Nixon is a stand out pianist who swings like the long gone greats but still lives in the present. He's found that niche between the past and the future where musicality reigns supreme—Bill Evans had similar qualities.” —Lance Liddle, Bebop Spoken Here On drums is Joe Goretti, a Berklee College of Music graduate whose credits include work with ...

3

Recording

Jazz Trio Nixon, Croft And Goretti Releases Single 'Line For Sonny' Ahead Of Their Debut Album

Jazz Trio Nixon, Croft And Goretti Releases Single 'Line For Sonny' Ahead Of Their Debut Album

Source: Andrew Nixon

Named after the hard-bop pianist Sonny Clark, “Line For Sonny” is an original composition by pianist/composer Andrew Nixon. Joining him are bassist Ed Croft (a three-time recipient of the JazzBuffalo poll for Best Acoustic Upright Bassist and a graduate of SUNY Fredonia and Bowling Green State University) and Joe Goretti (a Berklee College of Music graduate whose credits include work with Moby, Ne-Yo, Robyn, AJR, Ingrid Michelson, Sam Moore (Sam & Dave), The Temptations and more). “The style is very ...

"Nixon's composing is as seemingly effortless as his playing, which makes light of what are often quite complex tunes." Chris May (All About Jazz)

"Apart from composing, Nixon is a stand out pianist who swings like the long gone greats but still lives in the present"(BebopSpokenHere). 

 

Photos

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Outside Agitators

Self Produced
2023

buy

In Congruence

Self Produced
2021

buy

Line For Sonny

Self Produced
2021

buy

Azul Palida

From: Outside Agitators
By Andrew Nixon

Ruby's Waltz

From: In Congruence
By Andrew Nixon

Line For Sonny

From: In Congruence
By Andrew Nixon

Videos

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