Andy Egert
Encyclopedia
Andreas "Andy" Egert is a Swiss blues
guitarist
, harmonica
player and singer.
Andy, who started his career around 30 years ago as a street musician, is mainly a live performing artist making around 100 live performances a year.
He has also made exhibitions in Germany
, Italy
, The Netherlands, Austria
, Lithuania
, United States
and Poland
, as well as collaborations with blues singers like Bob Stroger, Robert Lucas
and Dallas Hodge.
Andy Egert was rewarded in 2010 with the Swiss Blues Award.
, Switzerland
as the fifth of eight brothers and sisters. He started to play guitar at the age of 19. In his first group however, Andy played the bass (a local band known as "The Cool“, from 1980). At that time his music was mainly oriented towards rock groups (Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Cream). His interest to blues came only a bit later, almost by accident, through a Swiss Radio music program called "Just the blues“.
In 1982, Andy challenged himself and tried his own way to a professional music career. He left the band to start a tour as a street musician, only
equipped with an acoustic guitar. Despite difficulties and bad experiences, such as being robbed of everything except the guitar, he carries on. He finally travels two years long through the streets of Europe.
Back in town, he plays again as a bass player and bandleader of a Blues-Rock band ("Express“, 1984–1987). In 1985, he definitively switched back to guitar. In these years he performed intensively, mainly touring through Switzerland and Italy. In 1988, with the band "No Comment“ he made his first studio recording. In 1989, he created the “Andy Egert Blues Band”, his final band. One year later he recorded his first LP (1990, “Andy Egert Blues Band”).
In the following years he has toured again, this time mainly in Netherlands and Germany. In 1994, he counted more than 70 exhibitions in a year. During the 1990s, Andy has more frequent solo appearances, besides the band. In addition, he started a purely acoustic bass-guitar duet project, from which he recorded the album Blues with a Feeling in 1998. His fourth album (Live, Brambus Records, 1999) is an internationally published CD.
In the following years Andy became a known artist: he appeared at several famous music festivals in Italy (“Mantova Jazz Festival“), Poland (“Suwalki Blues Festival”) and Switzerland (Blue Balls Festival
Lucerne, “Piazza Blues Festival”, Bellinzona).
In 2000, Andy performed with Bob Stroger, a legendary bass player from Chicago (Otis Rush
, Jimmy Rogers
) his first “Chicago Blues Tour”. Many other Chicago Blues Tours will follow, mainly through Switzerland. In addition, he started a second collaboration with Robert Lucas, the slide guitarist and singer from Canned Heat: tours and performances in the years 2000, 2007 and 2008. Unfortunately Robert died in November 2008, unexpectedly.
In 2010, Andy played the first time with Dallas Hodge (a second band member of Canned Heat).
In March 2010, Andy got invited to the Basel Blues Festival where he was awarded with the Swiss Blues Award.
, Robert Johnson
, Alvin Lee
and Eric Clapton
.
His guitar style however has been mostly influenced by Freddie King
. In fact his way of playing, a powerful but clean guitar sound, the variability and dynamics of his sound (from 100 to 0 and back to 100) recalls a bit some recordings of Freddie King.
In general Andy is a very versatile blues artist, who can adapt his style according to the actual performing band: Texas Blues/British Blues when he tours with his Andy Egert Band, Delta blues when he plays alone with acoustic guitar and harmonica, Chicago blues for his duet performances with Bob Stroger.
Beside all those aspects, Andy, who developed his own unique feeling for old blues songs by just listening to records and experimenting with the guitar, is first of all a great live performer: for example when, with his Gibson ES-335 guitar, he puts the audience back in the 1970s by playing his own version of "Red House
" or when, in the middle of a concert he performs a 10 minute virtuoso blues harp solo.
Finally, the best description of his style is the one given by Andy himself: "Blues with a feeling".
Marine Band blues harps, a semi acoustic Gibson ES-335 and a Marshall
JCM-800 top-box amplifier.
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, harmonica
Harmonica
The harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes...
player and singer.
Andy, who started his career around 30 years ago as a street musician, is mainly a live performing artist making around 100 live performances a year.
He has also made exhibitions in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, The Netherlands, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, as well as collaborations with blues singers like Bob Stroger, Robert Lucas
Robert Lucas
Robert Lucas may refer to:* Rob Lucas , Liberal member of the South Australian Legislative Council* Robert Lucas, 3rd Baron Lucas* Robert Lucas, Jr. , economist...
and Dallas Hodge.
Andy Egert was rewarded in 2010 with the Swiss Blues Award.
Biography
Andy Egert was born in MelsMels
Mels is a municipality in the Wahlkreis of Sarganserland in the Seeztal, canton of St. Gallen, Switzerland.-History:Mels is first mentioned in 765 as Maile though this comes from a later copy of the original document. In 1018 it was mentioned as Meilis.-Geography:Mels has an area, , of...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
as the fifth of eight brothers and sisters. He started to play guitar at the age of 19. In his first group however, Andy played the bass (a local band known as "The Cool“, from 1980). At that time his music was mainly oriented towards rock groups (Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, Cream). His interest to blues came only a bit later, almost by accident, through a Swiss Radio music program called "Just the blues“.
In 1982, Andy challenged himself and tried his own way to a professional music career. He left the band to start a tour as a street musician, only
equipped with an acoustic guitar. Despite difficulties and bad experiences, such as being robbed of everything except the guitar, he carries on. He finally travels two years long through the streets of Europe.
Back in town, he plays again as a bass player and bandleader of a Blues-Rock band ("Express“, 1984–1987). In 1985, he definitively switched back to guitar. In these years he performed intensively, mainly touring through Switzerland and Italy. In 1988, with the band "No Comment“ he made his first studio recording. In 1989, he created the “Andy Egert Blues Band”, his final band. One year later he recorded his first LP (1990, “Andy Egert Blues Band”).
In the following years he has toured again, this time mainly in Netherlands and Germany. In 1994, he counted more than 70 exhibitions in a year. During the 1990s, Andy has more frequent solo appearances, besides the band. In addition, he started a purely acoustic bass-guitar duet project, from which he recorded the album Blues with a Feeling in 1998. His fourth album (Live, Brambus Records, 1999) is an internationally published CD.
In the following years Andy became a known artist: he appeared at several famous music festivals in Italy (“Mantova Jazz Festival“), Poland (“Suwalki Blues Festival”) and Switzerland (Blue Balls Festival
Blue Balls Festival
The Blue Balls Festival is an annual music festival held in Lucerne, Switzerland. It has featured many famous musicians within the last few years, including KT Tunstall, Jonny Lang, UB40, Van Morrison, Jeff Healey, Jimmy Cliff, Bobby McFerrin, Billy Idol, Tracy Chapman, Joey DeGraw, Jethro Tull, BB...
Lucerne, “Piazza Blues Festival”, Bellinzona).
In 2000, Andy performed with Bob Stroger, a legendary bass player from Chicago (Otis Rush
Otis Rush
Otis Rush is a blues musician, singer and guitarist. His distinctive guitar style features a slow burning sound and long bent notes...
, Jimmy Rogers
Jimmy Rogers
Jimmy Rogers was an American Chicago blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player, best known for his work as a member of Muddy Waters' band of the 1950s.-Career:...
) his first “Chicago Blues Tour”. Many other Chicago Blues Tours will follow, mainly through Switzerland. In addition, he started a second collaboration with Robert Lucas, the slide guitarist and singer from Canned Heat: tours and performances in the years 2000, 2007 and 2008. Unfortunately Robert died in November 2008, unexpectedly.
In 2010, Andy played the first time with Dallas Hodge (a second band member of Canned Heat).
In March 2010, Andy got invited to the Basel Blues Festival where he was awarded with the Swiss Blues Award.
Style
Andy has been influenced by famous American and English blues players such as Johnny WinterJohnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
, Robert Johnson
Robert Johnson
Robert Leroy Johnson was an American blues singer and musician. His landmark recordings from 1936–37 display a combination of singing, guitar skills, and songwriting talent that have influenced later generations of musicians. Johnson's shadowy, poorly documented life and death at age 27 have given...
, Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee
Alvin Lee is an English rock guitarist and singer. He began playing guitar at the age of 13, and with Leo Lyons formed the core of the band Ten Years After in 1960...
and Eric Clapton
Eric Clapton
Eric Patrick Clapton, CBE, is an English guitarist and singer-songwriter. Clapton is the only three-time inductee to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: once as a solo artist, and separately as a member of The Yardbirds and Cream. Clapton has been referred to as one of the most important and...
.
His guitar style however has been mostly influenced by Freddie King
Freddie King
Freddie King , thought to have been born as Frederick Christian, originally recording as Freddy King, and nicknamed "the Texas Cannonball", was an influential African-American blues guitarist and singer. He is often mentioned as one of "the Three Kings" of electric blues guitar, along with Albert...
. In fact his way of playing, a powerful but clean guitar sound, the variability and dynamics of his sound (from 100 to 0 and back to 100) recalls a bit some recordings of Freddie King.
In general Andy is a very versatile blues artist, who can adapt his style according to the actual performing band: Texas Blues/British Blues when he tours with his Andy Egert Band, Delta blues when he plays alone with acoustic guitar and harmonica, Chicago blues for his duet performances with Bob Stroger.
Beside all those aspects, Andy, who developed his own unique feeling for old blues songs by just listening to records and experimenting with the guitar, is first of all a great live performer: for example when, with his Gibson ES-335 guitar, he puts the audience back in the 1970s by playing his own version of "Red House
Red House
-Places and buildings:in England*Red House , a house in Bexleyheath in the southern suburbs of London, designed/owned by William Morris*Red House, former name of Swinden House in Rotherham, South Yorkshire, a listed Victorian building...
" or when, in the middle of a concert he performs a 10 minute virtuoso blues harp solo.
Finally, the best description of his style is the one given by Andy himself: "Blues with a feeling".
Equipment
Andy's main equipment consists of a set of HohnerHohner
Hohner Musikinstrumente GmbH & Co. KG is a company specialising in the manufacture of musical instruments. Founded in 1857 by Matthias Hohner , Hohner is identified especially with harmonicas and accordions. The Hohner company has invented and produced many different styles, and most of the...
Marine Band blues harps, a semi acoustic Gibson ES-335 and a Marshall
Marshall Amplification
Marshall Amplification is a British company, founded by drummer Jim Marshall, that designs and manufactures music amplifiers, brands personal headphones/earphones , and, after acquiring Natal Drums, drums and bongos. Marshall amplifiers, and specifically their guitar amplifiers, are among the most...
JCM-800 top-box amplifier.
Discography
- Andy Egert Blues Band, 1990
- Rough and Ready, 1994
- Blues with a Feeling, 1998
- Live, 1999
- Andy Egert Blues Band feat. Bob Stroger, 2002
- Fire on the crossroad, 2005
- I'm a bluesman - Live 2008
Further works
- ANOTHER RAINY DAY (1993), Various Swiss Rock & Blues Bands
- 7 .INT. DIXIE-& JAZZ FESTIVAL SARGANS (1998), VA: Louisiana Red, Eroll Dixon, Oscar Klein, Lillian Boutté & others
- ROCKIN`ALL OVER KEY NORTH (2004), Various Swiss Rock & Blues Bands
- LUCERNE BLUES FESTIVAL (2005), VA: James Cotton, Ronnie Baker Brooks, Bob Stroger, Billy Boy Arnold & others
- PIEKARSKIE WIECZORY BLUESOWE VOL.1 (2006),VA: John"Broadway"Tucker, Ian Paice, Earl Green, Carl Palmer, Vance Kelly & others
- PIEKARSKIE WIECZORY BLUESOWE VOL.2 (2008), VA: Phil Guy, Rob Tognoni, Candye Kane,Steve Fister, Alan Withe & others
- BOB STROGER AND FRIENDS (2009), VA: Bob Stroger, Billy Flinn, James Wheeler, Ken Saydak & others