The weekly Sunday jazz sessions at Sticky Fingers on
Lately, one of those has been saxophone master Dennis McAndrew, who last graced
McAndrew, to begin with, is rather high on playing in
“Because of its close link to
McAndrew grew up in Sault Ste. Marie, began taking piano lessons when he was eight years old and started tooting on the sax at 16.
He admits to having rather catholic tastes in what he plays.
“It is all over the map, from swing, funk, pop, Latin, to blues, hip hop, R&B and lounge.”
McAndrew attended the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, taught music in Winnipeg for nine years and has continued to so in Collingwood for the last 21 years, the thinking being that when one teaches something, one understands it better him or herself.
Beyond his kinship with Huron, McAndrew has been under the spell of saxman and composer Michael Brecker for sometime, whether it be from The Brecker Brothers (1975-1980), his albums with Claus Ogerman (Cityscape and Gate of Dreams), or his ballad album, The Nearness of You (2001) and his last album, Pilgrimage (2007).
McAndrew speaks highly of Huron’s ability to accommodate other players.
“Joe brings in a wide variety of musicians and they play all play different styles of jazz," he said. "They great thing about Joe’s trio is their capability to adapt to whoever is being featured any particular Sunday.”
It’s been a busy summer and early fall for McAndrew, and given his popularity with
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