Andrew White (saxophonist)
Encyclopedia
Andrew White is an American jazz/R'n'B multi-instrumentalist (saxophone, oboe and bass guitar), musicologist and publisher.
, completing his public school education there. He returned to Washington, D.C. in September 1960 to attend Howard University
. He graduated in June 1964, Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Music Degree, majoring in music theory, and with a minor in oboe
. After his four years at Howard University he attended the Paris Conservatory of Music, in Paris, France on a John Hay Whitney
Foundation Fellowship for continued study of the oboe.
As a saxophonist, White appeared on the jazz scene in September, 1960, concurrent with his graduation from his studies at Howard University, when he appeared with Washington D.C.’s J.F.K. Quintet, (1961-63), Kenny Clarke
(1965), Otis Redding
(1967), McCoy Tyner
(1970), Elvin Jones
(1980-81), Beaver Harris
(1983), The Julius Hemphill Saxophone Sextet (1987), “The Six Winds” Dutch Saxophone Sextet (1999), and on his own “Andrew White’s ZORROSAX ALLSTARS,” saxophone sextet (2002), and hundreds of personal solo appearances worldwide. These include solo performances at New York City’s Carnegie Hall (1974 and 1975), Lincoln Center (1990 and 1995), Town Hall (1975), The Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C. (1970 through 2005), Paris, France’s Theatre du Chatelet (1980), La Vila (1995), and a 1994 solo Summer tour of seven French cities.
As composer, publisher, conductor and saxophone soloist, White was presented at the Mass Double Reed Orchestra of 300 Double Reed Instruments at the 32nd Annual Convention of The International Double Reed Society, in June 2003, at the University of North Carolina
, at Greensboro, North Carolina.
The ten-year career of White as oboeist also includes study at Tanglewood
, Massachusetts
, in the summers of 1963 and 1966, The Dartmouth Community Orchestra, at Dartmouth College
, study and performance of contemporary music at The Center Of Creative And Performing Arts, At the State University of New York, at Buffalo, on two Rockefeller Foundation Fellowships, 1965–1967, and his final position as principal oboist with the American Ballet Theatre
, from January 1968 through August 1970.
As an electric bassist, White’s most viable career spanned the decade 1966-1976. He was primarily the electric bassist with the singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder
, from 1968 through August 1970, concurrent with his position as oboist with the American Ballet Theatre Orchestra. He was the principal electric bassist with the popular singing group The 5th Dimension, from 1970 through 1976. Among his most memorable recordings as an electric bassist is with the jazz-fusion super-group Weather Report
’s album, Sweetnighter
, recorded in January, 1973, on Columbia Records
.
On May 14, 2006, White was the 2006 Gold Medal Honoree of the French Society of Arts, Sciences, and Letters, in Paris
. He shares the award with past honorees including Violinist-Conductor Lord Yehudi Menuhin
, Virtuoso Trumpeter, Maurice André
, Composer Olivier Messiaen
, and Scientist-Nobel Prize Laureate, Albert Schweitzer
. White was the only American to receive this award for the year 2006.
On November 15, 2007, White was honored as a saxophonist by Howard University with the Benny Golson Master Award. He was presented in ceremony and concert, featuring the Howard University Jazz ensemble (Fred Irby, Director), at Howard University’s Andrew Rankin Chapel.
Biography
White was born in Washington, D.C., and grew up in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, completing his public school education there. He returned to Washington, D.C. in September 1960 to attend Howard University
Howard University
Howard University is a federally chartered, non-profit, private, coeducational, nonsectarian, historically black university located in Washington, D.C., United States...
. He graduated in June 1964, Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Music Degree, majoring in music theory, and with a minor in oboe
Oboe
The oboe is a double reed musical instrument of the woodwind family. In English, prior to 1770, the instrument was called "hautbois" , "hoboy", or "French hoboy". The spelling "oboe" was adopted into English ca...
. After his four years at Howard University he attended the Paris Conservatory of Music, in Paris, France on a John Hay Whitney
John Hay Whitney
John Hay Whitney , colloquially known as "Jock" Whitney, was U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom, publisher of the New York Herald Tribune, and a member of the Whitney family.-Family:...
Foundation Fellowship for continued study of the oboe.
As a saxophonist, White appeared on the jazz scene in September, 1960, concurrent with his graduation from his studies at Howard University, when he appeared with Washington D.C.’s J.F.K. Quintet, (1961-63), Kenny Clarke
Kenny Clarke
Kenny Clarke , born Kenneth Spearman Clarke, nicknamed "Klook" and later known as Liaqat Ali Salaam, was a jazz drummer and an early innovator of the bebop style of drumming...
(1965), Otis Redding
Otis Redding
Otis Ray Redding, Jr. was an American soul singer-songwriter, record producer, arranger and talent scout. He is considered one of the major figures in soul and R&B...
(1967), McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner
McCoy Tyner is a jazz pianist from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for his work with the John Coltrane Quartet and a long solo career.-Early life:...
(1970), Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
(1980-81), Beaver Harris
Beaver Harris
William Godvin "Beaver" Harris was an American jazz drummer, who worked extensively with Archie Shepp.-Biography:...
(1983), The Julius Hemphill Saxophone Sextet (1987), “The Six Winds” Dutch Saxophone Sextet (1999), and on his own “Andrew White’s ZORROSAX ALLSTARS,” saxophone sextet (2002), and hundreds of personal solo appearances worldwide. These include solo performances at New York City’s Carnegie Hall (1974 and 1975), Lincoln Center (1990 and 1995), Town Hall (1975), The Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C. (1970 through 2005), Paris, France’s Theatre du Chatelet (1980), La Vila (1995), and a 1994 solo Summer tour of seven French cities.
As composer, publisher, conductor and saxophone soloist, White was presented at the Mass Double Reed Orchestra of 300 Double Reed Instruments at the 32nd Annual Convention of The International Double Reed Society, in June 2003, at the University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina
Chartered in 1789, the University of North Carolina was one of the first public universities in the United States and the only one to graduate students in the eighteenth century...
, at Greensboro, North Carolina.
The ten-year career of White as oboeist also includes study at Tanglewood
Tanglewood
Tanglewood is an estate and music venue in Lenox and Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It is the home of the annual summer Tanglewood Music Festival and the Tanglewood Jazz Festival, and has been the Boston Symphony Orchestra's summer home since 1937. It was the venue of the Berkshire Festival.- History...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, in the summers of 1963 and 1966, The Dartmouth Community Orchestra, at Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university in Hanover, New Hampshire, United States. The institution comprises a liberal arts college, Dartmouth Medical School, Thayer School of Engineering, and the Tuck School of Business, as well as 19 graduate programs in the arts and sciences...
, study and performance of contemporary music at The Center Of Creative And Performing Arts, At the State University of New York, at Buffalo, on two Rockefeller Foundation Fellowships, 1965–1967, and his final position as principal oboist with the American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre
American Ballet Theatre , based in New York City, was one of the foremost ballet companies of the 20th century. It continues as a leading dance company in the world today...
, from January 1968 through August 1970.
As an electric bassist, White’s most viable career spanned the decade 1966-1976. He was primarily the electric bassist with the singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, from 1968 through August 1970, concurrent with his position as oboist with the American Ballet Theatre Orchestra. He was the principal electric bassist with the popular singing group The 5th Dimension, from 1970 through 1976. Among his most memorable recordings as an electric bassist is with the jazz-fusion super-group Weather Report
Weather Report
Weather Report was an American jazz-rock band of the 1970s and early 1980s. The band was co-led by the Austrian-born keyboard player Joe Zawinul and the American saxophonist Wayne Shorter...
’s album, Sweetnighter
Sweetnighter
Sweetnighter is Weather Report's third studio album, released on Columbia Records in 1973. The group had recorded the songs in a five day stretch during February of the same year. It was to be the last album to feature founding member Miroslav Vitous as the primary bassist.-Track listing:#"Boogie...
, recorded in January, 1973, on Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
On May 14, 2006, White was the 2006 Gold Medal Honoree of the French Society of Arts, Sciences, and Letters, in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He shares the award with past honorees including Violinist-Conductor Lord Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin
Yehudi Menuhin, Baron Menuhin, OM, KBE was a Russian Jewish American violinist and conductor who spent most of his performing career in the United Kingdom. He was born to Russian Jewish parents in the United States, but became a citizen of Switzerland in 1970, and of the United Kingdom in 1985...
, Virtuoso Trumpeter, Maurice André
Maurice André
Maurice André is a French trumpeter, active in the classical music field.-Biography:He is a classical virtuoso trumpeter, born in Alès, France in the Cévennes into a mining family. His father was an amateur musician....
, Composer Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen
Olivier Messiaen was a French composer, organist and ornithologist, one of the major composers of the 20th century. His music is rhythmically complex ; harmonically and melodically it is based on modes of limited transposition, which he abstracted from his early compositions and improvisations...
, and Scientist-Nobel Prize Laureate, Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer OM was a German theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary. He was born in Kaysersberg in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, at that time part of the German Empire...
. White was the only American to receive this award for the year 2006.
Academic
As a musicologist, White has publsihed many musicological offerings through his music publishing firm, “Andrew’s Music,” including “The Works of John Coltrane, Vols. 1 though 14: 701 transcriptions of John Coltrane’s Improvisations.” Andrew White has “thoroughly and meticulously transcribed, encyclopeiasized, catalogued, documented, and self-published “the most significant linguistic contributor to the jazz language in the history of jazz, John Coltrane,” writes Peter Occiogrosso, in The Soho News, New York (May 15, 1975). Andrew White’s book on the music of John Coltrane, Trane and Me (1981), was also published in this manner.On November 15, 2007, White was honored as a saxophonist by Howard University with the Benny Golson Master Award. He was presented in ceremony and concert, featuring the Howard University Jazz ensemble (Fred Irby, Director), at Howard University’s Andrew Rankin Chapel.