Feature Article

JazzInOrlando Newz!
Two new CD's from Michael Andrew ...
and another OMA nomination!
By Carla Graham Rindge

Michael Andrew's self-built and ultra-cool recording studio at Swingerhead Central in Florida

Months ago, singer Michael Andrew was sincerely humble when talking about his nomination in the jazz category of the Orlando Music Awards (OMA's). He admits to feeling both honored and awkward being nominated alongside musicians like Orlando's jazz-great Sam Rivers. After all, Rivers received a Grammy nomination in 2001.

When the OMA's took place in mid-October, Rivers took the award in the jazz category ... and no one could be happier about it than Michael Andrew. Well, except maybe Sam Rivers himself!

Right along with simultaneously releasing two new CD's , vocalist Michael Andrew had something else to celebrate ... his fifth Orlando Music Awards (OMA's) nomination.

In the past five years the OMA’s, an annual event sponsored by the Orlando Weekly, gave Andrew the nod for five nominations ... and Orlando music fans gave him four consecutive wins to date.

Earlier this year, when the OMA nominations were freshly announced, Andrew had precious-little time. He’d just returned from a working vacation and was arranging multiple celebrations for the simultaneous release of two new CDs ... one solo titled “Michael Andrew Pays Tribute to Frank Sinatra”, and one with his big band, Swingerhead, titled “Destination Moon”.

Still, he opened his newly remodeled recording studio for a conversation about the new releases.

It’s unusual to release two CD's at the same time, and Andrew says the diversity is both appealing and challenging.

The projects started two years ago when he played the Coconut Club in Los Angeles regularly. Originally, he planned to record live performances at the venue and release a diverse CD of cha-cha, mumbo, and swing music. When reality got in the way ... in the form of the Coconut Club closing ... Andrew adjusted his approach and moved forward with what became “Destination Moon”.

Around the same time a fortunate event influenced the “Tribute” project.

Andrew and Swingerhead recorded tracks for the movie “Heartbreakers” a year before ... at a grueling pace of 12 songs in three days ... but the producer wanted to re-record some tracks. Incredibly, the re-recording took place in Capitol Studio, the same studio where Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Johnny Mercer, and other music legends recorded.

The idea for “Tribute” was developing anyway ... so, in spite of the challenges of working on two CD's at the same time, Andrew moved forward with “Michael Andrew Pays Tribute to Frank Sinatra”.

Both “Destination” and “Tribute” have deep technical detail with close attention given to beats, pitches, quarter notes, and style. Transitions from instrument to instrument are sometimes so seamless it’s almost as though one instrument actually becomes the other.

“Tribute” has some very special touches of it’s own. Al Viola, Sinatra’s guitarist in the day, plays on three tracks. "I used him as a benchmark," says Andrew. Indeed, having an original Sinatra band member play on the recording speaks of the level of quality of this tribute.

Of the quality challenge, Andrew says, "One of two CD's. of the challenges is that I didn’t want to be cliché. I wanted all the songs to have that element of surprise where you go ‘oh, that’s Michael Andrew’s twist to it!’ ... I wanted to put my signature on it."

Continuing, he adds, "This [style of music] is different from rock where everyone’s trying to find things that have never been done before. This style has to be handed down, that’s something a lot of guys neglect now and I think it’s a big mistake." Talking through the song selections Andrew says “Goody Goody” and “Angel Eyes” are two of his favorites. He feels his rendition of “Night and Day” sounds just like Sinatra, although he added bongos to change it up a little. “The House of Bamboo”, on “Destination”, is the most kitschy and produced. And then there’s “My Way”.

“"My Way” has kind of a punk, rock rhythm. Anyone can listen to it and not be offended," Andrew comments. "But the horns are more like the original style ... loungy, big band," he adds.

Commenting on his choice of music style ... and of singing instead of playing an instrument ... Andrew explains, "I was never patient enough to master an instrument, and I didn’t really find the style of music I love now until college. I love the feel of the music, it’s [like today’s] popular music ... just from another era.

Continuing, Andrew says, "Swing is a predecessor to rock, but that concept seems unnatural to players now." Expounding on the concept he says the sounds of Bill Haley and the Comets, whose influences are still present in rock today, were basically swing.

Even after finding his style, Andrew chose not to major in music in college, but he still focused on the arts. "I was an artist, and I knew it," he says.

He started college with an undeclared major, was eventually drawn to theater, and then added a self-declared minor in promotions ... knowledge he's now able to use in his current work. He still acts occasionally, appearing recently in Orlando’s Mad Cow Theater production of “As Thousands Cheer”, and combines the best of acting and music in his present work. "I wanted to be an actor or performer of some sort, and being a bandleader combines that," he explains. "I have a kind of a romantic view of being a singer, it’s easy to think of myself as an actor playing the part of a singer," he adds.

There’s another talent Andrew incorporates into his work. A gifted graphic artist (he considered majoring in art in college) Andrew often does much of the design of his promotional material as well as some of the artwork on his CD’s. In fact, he created a spacesuit over a photograph of himself for the cover of “Destination Moon”.

It may be because he can incorporate so many other talents into it that music remains his first choice. "Singing came more naturally to me than any other instrument, I didn’t have the personality to sit in a room and practice. With singing, I felt I could quickly express ideas through music ... and I was bold about it!" he says of his primary work.

With his two CDs out, and four OMA's on his mantle, Andrew reflects, "I’m proud of “Destination Moon” and “Tribute”. I worked hard for two years with some incredible musicians. It’s not just about the vocals though, I enjoyed the process and that they get the sounds they get from their instruments ... I’m just trying to combine modern recording techniques and equipment with old style music. I tried to put out two albums that appeal to the masses and are fun music."

So, here’s your invitation to give “Destination Moon” and “Michael Andrew Pays Tribute to Frank Sinatra”, a listen. You’ll likely agree that Michael Andrew achieves his goals!

Note: Jazzin Orlando nominated Michael and the band with the 2002 JazzinOrlando Awards: Show or Performer of the Year - Michael Andrew & Swingerhead and as Vocalist of the Year - Michael Andrew