Saxophonist Andy Middleton's impressive techinical virtuosity is always used at the service of his imaginative, heartfelt and lyrical solos. ANDY MIDDLETON BAND MUSIC DESCRIPTION The Andy Middleton Group performs original compositions that combine world music influences with hard-swinging New York jazz. Each composition takes the listener on a melodic journey through a landscape of deep harmonic colors and vibrant rhythms. The rhythm section of world-calibre players is grounded in the groove, yet provides the interplay and spontaneity that is the springboard for each member's impassioned solos. CD and Performance Review Quotes REVIEWS OF "TERRA INFIRMA" IN THE PRESS 1995 Owl Records/EMI France rereleased in 1999 on Panorama Records With this second CD for Jean-Jacques Pussiau's label, Andy Middleton affirms himself not only as a saxophone player but as a first class composer/arranger. Delving into his own inspiration as well as into a tradition that goes back to Ellington via Mingus he combines sounds in a rich and complex fashion while giving his arrangements an efficacity and listenability accessible to the uninitiated. This mix of harmonic sophistication and melodic fluidity is only one of the assets of this music in which the contributions of the leader and Renee Rosnes, as well as the refined and restrained energy of the rhythm section, reveal more than one wonder. It goes without saying that a musician of such caliber deserves that the public and the critics follow his future evolution and it is understandable that Dave Liebman, coproducer of the recording and author of the liner notes, keeps an attentive and protective eye on this protégé, whose potential he detected at the beginning of the 80's. THIERRY QUENUM JAZZ Magazine, July-August 1995 Another success, that of the saxophone player Andy Middleton. Except for his recording "Acid Rain" we knew little about him. With the release of "Terra Infirma", recorded with an excellent band (Renee Rosnes - piano, Paul Imm - bass, Alan Jones - drums, Chris Rogers - trumpet, Steve Kenyon - clarinets, and Pete McGuinness - trombone), and which is a remarkable success, we get a chance to discover Andy Middleton. "Terra Infirma", whose title resonates with Middleton's ecological preoccupation, is well worth discovering. It would of course be easier to purchase a recording by an established and famous musician than Andy Middleton's record, but I can tell you that you will not need to ask for a refund - you will be satisfied. You will spend quality time with this inventive saxophone player whose playing is very self-assured and mature, as well as with his 6 musicians, especially Renee Rosnes. MICHEL ARCENS Midi Libre, JUNE 18, 1995 This 33 year old saxophone player and composer, a young man whose sound is warm, coherent and spontaneous, is surrounded by the talented Renee Rosnes (p), Paul Imm (b), Alan Jones (d), Chris Rogers (tpt), Steve Kenyon (cl), and Pete McGuinness (tbn). Depending on the themes, he is able to use contrasting moods, giving a certain sophistication to his work. He has a strong will to translate and express sensations. He is therefore a young man to follow, and who seems to want to take his destiny in his own hands. MATHIEU Jazz Notes, July 1995 Andy Middleton, tenor and soprano saxophonist, records his second album. His sound and ideas are more self-assured; his ecological preoccupation has remained the same. This terra infirma is ours. Middleton's music is that of the whole earth which sings its blues. The themes that succeed each other can be interpreted as an homage to wise men whom we respect, as Andy does - John Coltrane, obviously, Dave Liebman, who was his teacher, and many others, among them the Texas tenors, whose playing make the foundations of houses shake. He does not limit himself to an homage; he also makes his own contribution to jazz. His future is assured; he's one to watch all the more that he is accompanied by the Canadian pianist Renee Rosnes who answers back on the same level, by Paul Imm on Bass, by Alan Jones on drums, a quartet which is added to for certain pieces by Chris Rogers on trumpet, Steve Kenyon on bass clarinet, and Pete McGuinness on trombone. The sax player is not known; he does not benefit from any advertising, but his energy and above all his way to play with sound to cut the time draws the listener into a very unique universe. He probably has not reached maturity yet, but this does not prevent him from revealing a lot of talent. To listen to him is to adopt him. ROUGE 1650, September 7, 1995 Discovered in Belgium in the group The Fensters, Middleton also leads his own group, of which "Terra Infirma" is a convincing testimony. In keeping with his affinity for Rollins/Coltrane (powerful sound, melodic ease without being overly notey), he navigates the somewhat murky waters of neo-bop, which on occasion provide more adventurous moments. The other soloist, who takes on as much importance as the leader, is the pianist Renee Rosnes, ever more self-assured as time goes on. On a few cuts, the quartet is joined by three horn players who play voicings which thicken the texture of the ensemble. The repertoire, written by Middleton, avoids clichés and challenges the listener. BERNARD LEGROS Jazz Around No. 8, January 1997 Middleton shows signs of being more than "just any" improviser. Middleton ... writes in a broadly euphonious harmonic language, with a natural tunefulness that engages the ear with exotic airs, but never strays too far from home. Bill Bennett JazzTimes (USA), September 2000 Middleton, like Jan Garbarek, has a talent to really emote on reeds by caressing individual notes rather than laying down a smokescreen with sheets of sound. Middleton's compositional skill is also on par with [Ralph] Towner. www.minor7th.com (USA), September/October 2000 Andy Middleton develops a truly personal approach, like that of Ralph Towner, freeing up modes and models, opening the work to the vibrations of the planet (easternism, traditional Afghan revisted) and igniting, along side his partners, a fertile interaction. Fara C. Jazzman (France), November 1999 Middleton ...(has) perfect control of the entire spectrum of jazz improvisation, from the swing riffs of Duke Ellington's "Dancers in Love" to abstract free excursions. Jurgen Schwab Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany), November 10, 1994 ANDY MIDDLETON is a New York City-based saxophonist and composer who has recorded 4 CDs as a leader ("Reinventing the World", Intution Music and Media 2003, "Nomad's Notebook", Intuition Music and Media, 1999; "Terra Infirma", Owl Records/EMI France, 1995; "Acid Rain", Owl Records 1991) that have featured Kenny Wheeler, Dave Holland, Ralph Towner, Renee Rosnes, and Joey Calderazzo, as well as a "play-along" CD of his original compositions ("Jazz Player Magazine", August/September 2000). He has also performed and/or recorded with Lionel Hampton, Randy Brecker, John Abercrombie, Bob Mintzer, Adam Nussbaum, Maria Schneider, Marc Copland, Barbara Dennerlein, and Don Sebesky, among others. As a member of the band "The Fensters" Andy recorded 2 acclaimed CDs - "Jazz Music Vol. I" for Arta Records in 1991, and "Jazz Music, Vol. X" for A-Records in 1996, and can be heard as a sideman or guest soloist on many CDs, dance, theatre, and other recording projects in the US and Europe. He has toured Europe as a leader and sideman more than 30 times since 1990, performing at many of the major jazz festivals and in clubs in almost every European country. As a clinician he has presented workshops in Austria, Belgium, Germany, France and Norway, as well as in the US. Middleton won the First Prize and Best Soloist Awards at the 13th Europe Jazz Contest in 1991, and was awarded a National Endowment for the Arts Performance Grant (USA) in 1996. In the words of David Liebman: "Andy Middleton represents the best of a new generation of jazz musicians." QUOTES ABOUT ANDY MIDDLETON JOE LOVANO "Andy Middleton is the kind of musician to keep your eyes and ears on. It's a pleasure for me to hear such an inspired creative young saxophonist for today." MICHAEL BRECKER "Here is the sax player with the courage to pursue his own voice. Here is improvising and writing in its best form - really pretty amazing!" DAVID LIEBMAN "Andy Middleton represents the best of a new generation of jazz musicians." JOHN ABERCROMBIE "Totally contemporary playing and writing with a real sense of the jazz tradition. Excellent!" RANDY BRECKER "Andy Middleton is one of the strongest tenor and soprano saxophonists on the scene. Check him out!: