The Jazz Guitar of

Andy Brown

Biography

Andy Brown is a musician based in Chicago who specializes in what he calls “old-school jazz guitar.” Born in New York in 1975, he has played professionally for thirty years. He has had a varied performing career that has included stints in Cincinnati and New York City. He has been called a “superior mainstream guitarist” in Downbeat magazine.

Since coming to Chicago in 2003, Andy has been fortunate to work at many of the area's finest jazz venues with his own bands, as well as playing his unique brand of solo jazz guitar. He has... read more →

Press

"Inspiring music-making isn't necessarily loud, aggressive, self-aggrandizing or heavily promoted. Consider what happens early every Wednesday night at Andy's Jazz Club, where the superb but serenely understated Chicago guitarist Andy Brown leads a quartet. Like him, his band mates speak softly but poetically. Brown's pastel tones, softly stated melody lines and delicately rolled chords conveyed remarkable intimacy and the guitarist's solo on "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" made a strong, soulful case for melodic simplicity... read more →

News [updated December 2024]

This Wednesday (12/12) I'll be performing my last trio gig of the year at Winter's Jazz Club. It will be a special night, the theme of the evening will be "Six-String Santa," and I'll be joined by the amazing Joe Policastro on bass and the ever-swinging Bob Rummage on drums. We'll do a mix of holiday classics and some more off the beaten path fare. I always love performing for the great listening audience at Winter's!

Speaking of trio at Winter's, I just posted a 70 minute concert video of Duke Ellington-associated music. The concert was filmed live at Winter's in October of this year. It features my trio with legendary Chicago jazz artists Dennis Carroll on bass and George Fludas on drums. The concert was filmed in Ultra high resolution 4K with multiple camera angles, and has amazing studio-quality sound. My friend who filmed it (local piano phenom Joey Skoch) made us look and sound amazing, and Winter's looks beautiful as well. The video can be found on my YouTube page.

I'm also fortunate to play these three Steady Gigs every week that are continuing into 2025, thanks to so many of you who come by and make them special!!

Thursdays - Solo Jazz Guitar at Chicago's famed Green Mill Cocktail Lounge. I play behind the bar for the cocktail hour show from 5PM - 7:15PM. No cover, tasty drinks, and I take requests. So many great friends come every week!

Sundays - Andy Brown Quartet at Andy's Jazz Club. Sets at 6PM and 8:15PM. With drummer Phil Gratteau, bassist Joe Policastro and pianist Jeremy Kahn. Celebrating 12 years together every week, come see how much fun the Swingin' Sundays are at this venerable club!

Wednesdays - Petra van Nuis/Andy Brown voice/guitar duo at Hemmingway's Bistro in Oak Park from 6PM-9PM. Hemmingway's is a fantastic restaurant and Petra and I are happy to perform for their Wednesday jazz nights. (I'll be absent 12/11)

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