Andy Hunter

“Hunter coaxes multiple instruments out of his trombone—the purity of a trumpet… the intrinsic longing of a French horn… and even the blatt of a tuba. But that’s all gravy next to Hunter’s overall solo construction, which should win prizes for architecture.” —All About Jazz, 2009

Andy Hunter has a strong and unique musical voice, whether expressed through his instrument or his writing and arranging. Born in Northern Michigan and musically raised on the music scenes of Cleveland, Shanghai and New York City, Hunter now resides primarily in Cologne, Germany where he performs regularly with the WDR Big Band featuring many of the top artists in jazz today.

Hunter has performed and toured around the world as a regular member of the Mingus Big Band (Mingus Dynasty and Mingus Orchestra), the Richard Bona Group, the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Jazz Orchestra, T.S. Monk’s 10-tet “Monk on Monk, and Cuban groups such as Ochún and La Tipica Novel. He has also recorded and performed with bands including Snarky Puppy, the Bob Mintzer Big Band, Orrin Evans’ Captain Black Big Band, The Birdland Big Band, The FatCat Big Band, La Cumbiamba and Hector Martignon’s Banda Grande, and toured with the Dave Holland Big Band, the Spanish Harlem Orchestra, Robben Ford, and Ocho y Mas, backing up salsa singers Rubén Blades, Gilberto Santa Rosa, Tito Nieves, La India, Eddie Santiago and Frankie Negrón.

As an educator, Hunter has served on the jazz faculty of Tri-C College in Cleveland and Rutgers University in New Jersey, where his students have been winning prizes and recognition at multiple major festivals. He continues to give clinics and master classes all over the world.

(music samples and performance schedule available at www.hunterandy.com)

Awards

Winner, 1996 Downbeat Student Music Awards Jazz Composition Competition
Winner, 2002 International Trombone Association "Frank Rosolino Jazz Trombone Competition"
Finalist, 2003 Thelonious Monk Competition
Winner, 2005 "Antti Rissanen International Trombone Competition," Finland
Winner, 2006 "ETW National Jazz Trombone Competition," Washington, DC

Gear

RATH custom trombone, England

"Trombonist Andy Hunter is equally comfortable in the stratosphere or beneath the surface, putting the trombone in places that few others are willing to go."
-All About Jazz, SPOKE's 3rd album, (R)anthems review by Dan Bilawsky

“This is one of those rare gems that is worth putting on “loop” to play repeatedly. It is difficult to say which aspect of this CD is more impressive, the remarkable compositions or the impeccable playing and empathetic interplay. Either way, this is music making at its absolute highest level.”
–International Trombone Association Journal, Think Like a Mountain review by Richard Birk, 2014.

“Hunter brings superior arranging skills to bear on this rollicking sextet performance. Hunter’s tribe executes his clever arrangements and rich voicings with a gleeful sense of full body immersion. Hunter, trumpeter Alex Sipiagin and baritone saxophonist Jason Marshall play like separate fingers from the same hand.”
–Downbeat, Think Like a Mountain review by Ken Micallef, 2013.

“Think Like A Mountain makes it easy to understand why Hunter is such a hot commodity in big bands—and so undervalued as a standalone artist.”
–All About Jazz, Think Like a Mountain review by Dan Bilawsky, 2013.

“Some recordings will tell you a story, if you just listen closely enough, and that’s what trombonist Andy Hunter’s new sextet CD does. This deep and eloquent musical experience blends originals and standards in a way that will stimulate imagination and encourage introspection in attentive listeners.”
–Just Jazz, Think Like a Mountain review by Bob Bernotas, 2013.

“Hunter coaxes multiple instruments out of his trombone—the purity of a trumpet… the intrinsic longing of a French horn… and even the blatt of a tuba, but that’s all gravy next to Hunter’s overall solo construction, which should win prizes for architecture.”
–All About Jazz, SPOKE CD review by J. Hunter, 2009.

“I just want to tell you to keep your ears out for Andrew Hunter, a very dynamic, soulful player who radiates a lot of personality on stage.”
–All About Jazz, Thelonious Monk Competition review by Bob Jacobson, 2003.

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