Seen twice in the Brewhouse Theatre, Taunton, at Glastonbury 2000, at Pizza Express Dean Street in 2001 and at Glastonbury 2003



Andy is my favourite jazz musician (in fact, probably the only jazz musician that I like). When I saw him in the Brewhouse as a child, he was promoting his self titled album, and on the second occasion playing tunes from In-Co Motion - funky, fun, and notable for Steve Lodder's keyboard solos, and the percussionist who kept dropping drumsticks, bashing his elaborate range of instruments, and doing lines from the back of his hand.

At Glastonbury in 2000, Andy hit the jazz stage. The atmosphere was unique - people dancing at the front, and mellowing throughout the rest of the field. listening and eating picnics. However the best performance to date was at the jazz club below Pizza Express Dean Street - where our dinner was served as Andy played in front of us. After a chilled out performance, he joined us in a corner to talk and sign CDs (which were for sale on site). My partner and I picked up Learning to Wave and Dancing Man and Woman, thanked Andy for a great night, and headed home.

I've seen Andy more times than any other artist now, although I prefer industrial metal, and as he is playing Glastonbury 2003 I look forward to another mellow afternoon in the jazz field.

Footnote: Andy brought his daughter onstage in a highlight of the Glastonbury 2003 show, but the rest was spent playing to a backing track - like a busker on the Tube - and was surprisingly disappointing. He played as well as ever, but it lacked the spark of a fully live show. Bring back Steve Lodder and the rest!