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Take Five With Andy Farber

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By AAJ Staff
October 25, 2010
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Meet Andy Farber:

Andy Farber is an award-winning jazz composer, arranger and saxophonist and has spent years performing with the likes of

Jon Hendricks

vocals
1921 - 2017

" data-original-title="" title="">Jon Hendricks and

" data-original-title="" title="">Wynton Marsalis. Since 1994, Farber has been part of the Jazz @ Lincoln Center stable of writers and performers.

Through J@LC, Farber has toured with the J@LC Orchestra, written originals compositions and arrangements and been a guest artistic director. Farber has written arrangements for people like Wynton Marsalis, Jon Hendricks,

Shirley Horn

piano
1934 - 2005

" data-original-title="" title="">Shirley Horn,

Bobby Short

piano
1926 - 2005

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Short, Ann Hampton Calloway,

Frankie Laine

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Frankie Laine,

Alan Harris

bass

" data-original-title="" title="">Alan Harris,

Cynthia Scott

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Cynthia Scott,

Billy Stritch

piano

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Stritch,

Stevie Wonder

vocals
b.1950

" data-original-title="" title="">Stevie Wonder,

B.B. King

guitar, electric
1925 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">B.B. King,

Bob Dylan

guitar and vocals
b.1941

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Dylan,

Ray Charles

piano and vocals
1930 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Charles,

Joe Lovano

drums
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Lovano,

Lee Konitz

saxophone, alto
1927 - 2020

" data-original-title="" title="">Lee Konitz, Joe Piscopo,

Joe Cocker

vocals
1944 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Joe Cocker,

George Benson

guitar
b.1943

" data-original-title="" title="">George Benson, Robert Downey Jr, Kevin Spacey, Wynona Judd, Fantasia, Ernestine Anderson, Vanessa Williams, and

Roseanna Vitro

vocals
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Roseanna Vitro.

Farber's arrangements have been performed by The Boston Pops Orchestra, the Philly Pops Orchestra, the Boca Pops Orchestra and several symphony orchestras throughout Europe. Farber has been a guest conductor of the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, and, in 2004, made his symphonic conducting debut with the Bronx Arts Ensemble. In April 2010, Farber was the guest music director for Jazz @ Lincoln Center's "The Music of Fats Waller." His work as an arranger, conductor and instrumentalist can be heard on numerous recordings, commercials and television/film scores.

As a leader, Farber leads an eight-piece band (Andy Farber & His Swing Mavens) and a 17-piece big band, Andy Farber & His Orchestra. The orchestra enjoyed a two-year residency at Birdland in NYC. A new CD with the orchestra is due out in the fall of 2010.

When he's not playing jazz, Farber composes music for TV and film and is a staff composer at Duotone Audio Group. Farber also teaches jazz composition and arranging at The Juilliard School in New York City.

Instrument(s):

Saxophones, clarinet, flute, arranger.

Teachers and/or influences? Saxophone teachers and/or mentors:

Budd Johnson

saxophone, tenor
1910 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Budd Johnson,

Chris Woods

violin
b.1925

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Woods,

Arnie Lawrence

saxophone
b.1938

" data-original-title="" title="">Arnie Lawrence,

Billy Mitchell

synthesizer
1926 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Mitchell and Jesse Farb.

Composing/arranging teachers and/or mentors:

David Berger

band / ensemble / orchestra
b.1949

" data-original-title="" title="">David Berger,

Mitch Farber

" data-original-title="" title="">Mitch Farber, Carl Strommen, Mike Abene.

Influences: Arranging/composition:

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington,

Billy Strayhorn

piano
1915 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Strayhorn,

Ernie Wilkins

arranger
1922 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Ernie Wilkins,

Mary Lou Williams

piano
1910 - 1981

" data-original-title="" title="">Mary Lou Williams,

Benny Carter

saxophone, alto
1907 - 2003

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Carter,

Quincy Jones

arranger
1933 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Quincy Jones,

Thad Jones

trumpet
1923 - 1986

" data-original-title="" title="">Thad Jones,

Tadd Dameron

piano
1917 - 1965

" data-original-title="" title="">Tadd Dameron,

Neal Hefti

trumpet
1922 - 2008

" data-original-title="" title="">Neal Hefti,

Billy Byers

trombone
b.1927

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Byers, Marion Evans,

Jimmy Mundy

saxophone
b.1907

" data-original-title="" title="">Jimmy Mundy,

Gerald Wilson

composer / conductor
1918 - 2014

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerald Wilson,

Al Cohn

saxophone, tenor
1925 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Al Cohn,

Sy Oliver

arranger
1910 - 1988

" data-original-title="" title="">Sy Oliver,

Don Redman

arranger
1900 - 1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Redman, Skain,

Fletcher Henderson

arranger
1897 - 1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Fletcher Henderson,

Frank Wess

saxophone, tenor
1922 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Wess,

Gerry Mulligan

saxophone, baritone
1927 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Gerry Mulligan,

Clare Fischer

piano
1928 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">Clare Fischer, Don Costa,

Billy May

composer / conductor
1916 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy May,

Oliver Nelson

saxophone
1932 - 1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Oliver Nelson,

Janice "Ms. JJ" Johnson

vocals
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Janice "Ms. JJ" Johnson, many others;

Saxophone: Hawk, Prez, Bird,

Benny Carter

saxophone, alto
1907 - 2003

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Carter,

Ben Webster

saxophone, tenor
1909 - 1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Webster,

Don Byas

saxophone, tenor
1912 - 1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Don Byas,

Lucky Thompson

saxophone
1924 - 2005

" data-original-title="" title="">Lucky Thompson,

Zoot Sims

saxophone, tenor
1925 - 1985

" data-original-title="" title="">Zoot Sims,

Paul Gonsalves

saxophone, tenor
1920 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Paul Gonsalves,

Gene Ammons

saxophone, tenor
1925 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Gene Ammons,

Johnny Hodges

saxophone, alto
1907 - 1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Johnny Hodges,

Frank Wess

saxophone, tenor
1922 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Frank Wess, Billy "the Sloth" Mitchell,

Budd Johnson

saxophone, tenor
1910 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Budd Johnson,

Sonny Stitt

saxophone
1924 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Stitt,

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins,

Jim Pepper

saxophone, tenor
1941 - 1992

" data-original-title="" title="">Jim Pepper (yes, that's right!)

John Coltrane

saxophone
1926 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">John Coltrane,

Dexter Gordon

saxophone, tenor
1923 - 1990

" data-original-title="" title="">Dexter Gordon, Wardell,

Stan Getz

saxophone, tenor
1927 - 1991

" data-original-title="" title="">Stan Getz,

Rahsaan Roland Kirk

woodwinds
1935 - 1977

" data-original-title="" title="">Rahsaan Roland Kirk,

Jackie McLean

saxophone, alto
1932 - 2006

" data-original-title="" title="">Jackie McLean,

Cannonball Adderley

saxophone
1928 - 1975

" data-original-title="" title="">Cannonball Adderley,

Sonny Red Kyner

b.1932

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Red Kyner, Hank,

Charlie Mariano

saxophone, alto
1923 - 2009

" data-original-title="" title="">Charlie Mariano,

Marshal Royal

saxophone, alto
1912 - 1995

" data-original-title="" title="">Marshal Royal,

Skeets Herfurt

b.1911

" data-original-title="" title="">Skeets Herfurt, Willie Smith,

Jerry Dodgion

saxophone, alto
b.1932

" data-original-title="" title="">Jerry Dodgion,

Jerome Richardson

woodwinds
1920 - 2000

" data-original-title="" title="">Jerome Richardson, got to stop now...getting tired!

I knew I wanted to be a musician when...

I was four years old.

Your sound and approach to music:

Play and write music that is fun to play and write. As long as you're true to yourself, don't worry about what other people think.

Favorite venue:

Birdland, NYC!

Your favorite recording in your discography and why?

The latest one because it's the new baby.

The first Jazz album I bought was:

I had grown up with my father's jazz record collection of classic albums of the '50s and '60s. The first record I bought with my own money was Oliver Nelson's The Blues and the Abstract Truth.

CDs you are listening to now:

Dan Block, Dan Block Plays the Music of Duke Ellington: From His World to Mine (Miles High Records);

Sherman Irby

saxophone
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Sherman Irby Quartet, Live at the Otto Club (Black Warrior Records);

Ernie Wilkins

arranger
1922 - 1999

" data-original-title="" title="">Ernie Wilkins, Top Brass and Trumpets All Out (Fresh Sound).

Desert Island picks:

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington & His Orchestra, Such Sweet Thunder (Columbia);

Donald Byrd

trumpet
1932 - 2013

" data-original-title="" title="">Donald Byrd, Blackjack (Blue Note);

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie, April in Paris (Verve);

Gene Ammons

saxophone, tenor
1925 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Gene Ammons/Sonny Stitt, Boss Tenors (Verve);

Ernie Wilkins, The Everest Years (Empire Music Group Inc).

How would you describe the state of jazz today?

I wouldn't dare say.

What are some of the essential requirements to keep jazz alive and growing?

Don't forget to swing and play the blues.

What is in the near future?

About to start a "two tenors" record with Dan Block. (Tribute to Zoot and Al) Next big band project will be jazz arrangements of Louis M. Gottschalk music.

By Day:

Staff composer at Duotone Audio Group. I also teach jazz composition and arranging at the Juilliard School.

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be a:

classical musician?

Photo Credit

Courtesy of Andy Farber

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