Andy Laster

Alto/baritone saxophonist and composer Andy Laster was created in 1961, was raised on Long Isle, and studied jazz in Seattle’s Cornish Institute before moving to NEW YORK in 1985. His initial documenting, Hippo Stomp, made an appearance over the Sound Aspects label in 1989. This record was accompanied by two even more Sound Aspects produces, Twirler (1990) as well as the initial eponymously named Compact disc by Hydra (1994), among Laster’s essential ongoing projects. Through the 1990s Laster surfaced as a distinctive and significant tone of voice over the so-called “NY downtown music picture” which has also offered as a introducing pad for music artists like Dave Douglas, Tim Berne, and John Zorn. In 1995 the Songlines label released Polyogue, the next Hydra recording; following emerged another Songlines Compact disc by Laster’s Lessness music group in 1997. Soft Shell implemented three years afterwards. While leading both of these groupings Laster also made an appearance in collaborative ensembles Orange After that Blue and New and Used, in addition to Erik Friedlander’s Topaz; the Julius Hemphill Sextet; the Green Sound Saxophone Quartet; Bobby Previte’s Climate Clear, Monitor Fast; and Ballin’ the Jack port. He in addition has performed with Tag Helias, Hank Roberts’ Wild birds of Victim, and Lyle Lovett. In his “jazz-based” functions, Laster is rolling out a distinctive compositional design that often attracts from techniques used in contemporary traditional chamber music, with extremely have scored passages that serve as a backdrop for or intertwine with soloists. While frequently complicated, the music can be spacious, rhythmically open up and expressive, with significant appeal to supporters of well-executed modern jazz and innovative improvisation. Laster produced the step into outright contemporary traditional chamber music over the 2011 Tzadik label discharge Riptide, where he offered as composer just — not showing up as a new player — for several chamber works which range from single piano to trio groupings, the last mentioned of which had been recorded at NY City’s Roulette place this year 2010 and 2011.