ABOUT

Andrew Woolf is a saxophone and clarinet player known for his versatility across a diverse range of styles, his sensitive musicianship, and his distinctive and expressive instrumental voice.

Admired for his melodic and restrained approach as a jazz player, he is also now recognised as a leading exponent of choro in the UK, alongside his performances in a variety of settings, crossing between modern jazz, Brazilian music, experimental improvisation, burning Afrobeat and more.

This breadth of experience and interest finds a unified voice in his output as a band leader and composer. Simultaneously accessible and surprising, moving and uplifting, his jazz quintet places an emphasis on lyricism, atmosphere, sonority and playfulness, reaching a depth, clarity and honesty of emotional expression through his soulful, melancholy-tinged tone. His debut solo album, ‘Song Unsung’, releases in June 2021.

He grew up playing classical music, before exploring jazz in his teens. He studied at Oxford University, and then Guildhall School of Music and Drama, developing a thoughtful and nuanced voice as an improviser and playing in a variety of ensembles which emerged from the student scene. During this period he also began his love affair with choro, a style of Brazilian traditional instrumental music.

Andrew is also a passionate teacher of music. For almost 20 years, he has worked with students of all ages and levels, in individual, group, school and workshop settings, teaching instrumental lessons, ensembles, choirs and musical awareness and understanding. In recent years his teaching has also become influenced by his training as a integrative arts psychotherapist.

“… warm-toned, mellifluous tenor saxophone… with elegant phrasing”  (London Jazz News)