andrew neu's career highlights + more
Career Highlights:
• Toured and recorded with Bobby Caldwell: 2007-2020
• Sub with Smokey Robinson: 2008-present
• Toured with Diane Schuur: 2012-2014
• Current host of The Andrew Neu Radio Show on WXVU and WNJL.com
• Music director of the Berks Jazz Fest All Star Big Band:
Brian Bromberg, Bobby Lyle, Gil Parris, Rick Braun, Randy Brecker, Aubrey Logan, Eric Marienthal, Gerald Albright, Everette Harp
•Grammy Nomination – Best Latin Jazz Album 2024, Bobby Sanabria (arrangement written for Janis Siegel, vocals)
Featured Live Guest Soloist:
Carol Albert, David Benoit, Rick Braun, Brian Bromberg, Alex Bugnon, Adam Hawley, Incognito, Marcus Johnson, Chuck Loeb, Jeff Lorber, Keiko Matsui, Brian Simpson, Gerald Veasley, Peter White
Noteworthy Top 5 Billboard Recordings:
Blake Aaron, Lisa Addeo, Carol Albert, Brian Bromberg, Adam Hawley, Dave Koz, David Sanborn, Peter White
Other Recordings (as a performer, composer, arranger):
Regina Belle, Bowman (Country Artist), Paul Brown, Tommy Davidson, Freddie Fox, Maggie Heron, Manhattan Transfer, Steve Oliver, Michael Paulo, Minas (Brazilian Jazz), Najee, Roberto Restuccia, Jeff Ryan, Sister Sledge, Richard Smith, Roberto Vally, Rob Zinn
Notable Performance Venues:
• BB Kings – NYC
• Berks Jazz Festival – Reading, PA
• Bermuda Jazz Fest
• Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club – Bethesda, MD
• Billboard Live – Tokyo & Osaka, Japan
• Birchmere, Alexandria, VA
• Birdland – NYC
• Blue Note – NYC, Hawaii, Milan
• The Bottom Line – Nagoya, Japan
• Catalina Island Jazztrax - Avalon, CA
• Catalina Jazz Club – Hollywood, CA
• City Winery, Chicago, NYC, Philadelphia, St. Louis
• Cotton Club – Tokyo, Japan
• Fairmount Hotel Jazz Series, Shanghai, Beijing, China
• Funky Biscuit – Boca Raton, FL
• Greater Hartford Jazz Festival - Hartford, CT
• Hard Rock Casino, Etess Arena – Atlantic City, NJ
• Hollywood Bowl – Hollywood, CA
• Idlewild Jazz Fest, CA
• Iridium – NYC
• Jazz Alley – Seattle, WA
• Jazziz – Boca Raton, FL
• Jazz Legacy Foundation Gala Weekend - Hampton, VA
• Kimmel Center, Philadelphia
• Loews O’Hare Hotel – Chicago, IL
• Mackinac Island Jazz Fest, MI
• Mountain Winery, CA
• Newport Beach Jazz Fest, CA
• Rams Head – Annapolis, MD
• Rhazz Room – San Francisco, CA
• Scullers – Boston, MA
• The Soiled Dove – Denver, CO
• Smooth Cruise Summer Series – NYC
• Sony Hall, NYC
• South Kitchen Jazz Bar – Philadelphia, PA
• Spaghettini’s – Seal Beach, CA
• St. Croix Jazz Fest
• Thornton Winery – Temecula, CA
• Uptown Jazz Festival - Tampa, FL
• Venetian, Las Vegas
• Yoshi’s – Oakland, CA
Singles – Contemporary Jazz
• Take It Home – 2022
• Lean Into It – 2023
• After Party – 2023
• Keep It Real – 2024
• Living Your Best Life – 2024 - #1 Urban Influencer Smooth Jazz Chart
• Rubberband Man – 2025
• Bring It On (featuring Rick Braun) – 2025
Discography
• Inspire – 2000
• In Clear View - 2007
• Try Something Neu – 2009
• Everything Happens for a Reason – 2013
• Catwalk (The Big Band Side of Andrew Neu) - 2018
• Catwalk – Special Vinyl Edition - 2021
Abbreviated Quotes:
Andrew is a talented arranger with interesting ideas. He is someone to watch in the large ensemble scene.
-- Bob Mintzer
This is one swinging big band! Great arrangements and soloing. A winner!
-- Randy Brecker
There’s a million smooth jazz sax players but none of them can do this!
--Brian Bromberg
Andrew should be very proud of this project. All the writing is fantastic.
--Wayne Bergeron
Andrew has a very nuanced understanding of the big band world. Similarly to my aesthetic, he’s breaking down the barriers between styles and opening things up a little more.
--Gordon Goodwin
YOU absolutely crush it! You are a beautiful player Andrew—an absolute genius on the saxophone.
—Dave Koz
Smooth Jazz Reviews:
• “If Everything Happens for a Reason, then Neu’s emergence as a bona fide leader…is something that the contemporary jazz gods have ordained.” – Jonathan Widran, jazzmonthly.com
• “Andrew Neu’s Everything Happens for a Reason will be his breakout album. It’s got all the ingredients in place – strong songs, world-class musicianship, brilliant production…this is a monster of a hit! ” – Scott O’Brien, smoothjazz.com
Big Band Reviews:
“Neu's music dazzles listeners who long for the golden age of jazz.”
--SusanFrancesNY (Seattle Pi)
“As a composer, Andrew Neu does not disappoint. His arrangements are full of spunk and beauty. Every cut on this project is a sparkling stone set in a crown of musical achievement.”
–DeeDee McNeill, Jazz Journalist
“… all the density, smooth harmonies, and rhythmic excitement of the great swing bands of the past, plus some ventures into the unexpected.”
-- Jon Sobel, BlogCritics.org
“Big-band side Andrew Neu demonstrates the outstanding leadership qualities of a musician from Philadelphia and his desire to write fresh ideas into the long history of jazz big bands.”
-- Grady Harp, Amazon Top 100 reviewer
“These musicians know one thing, and that's how to hang loose while playing tight.”
– The Vinyl Anachronist blog
“No matter where The Big Band Side of Andrew Neu has been hiding, it's a real kick and genuine pleasure to have it in plain sight and within earshot, especially as Neu has at his side a number of the Los Angeles area's most accomplished sidemen and no less than seven superlative guest artists who lend this already charming debut album even greater allure. “ –Jack Bowers, All About Jazz
I give Andrew and his excellent players a MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, with an “EQ” (energy quotient) rating of 4.99 for this superb album. –Dick Metcalf, editor, Contemporary Fusion Reviews