Teaching Philosophy:
Andy Bianco has studied/worked/performed with some of the world’s finest guitarists, musicians & artists. He has developed a teaching philosophy that incorporates a vast array of approaches that are tailored to the needs & goals of each individual student. During the first lesson Andy perform a detailed assessment & together with the student creates an action plan that is based on student’s objectives & strengths. That way time & learning experience is maximized . The goal identification/progression/completion of the student & the achievement of their objectives are what is paramount to me as a teacher (& also that they have fun!).I prefer to utilize holistic approaches to learning such as meditation, self reflection, breathing/stretching/injury prevention techniques, personal care/health & wellness, playing together, imitation, call & response, musical games/challenges, Eastern/Western historical approaches & attitude/confidence cultivation.

Biography

Andy Bianco, a jazz artist, composer, educator, and advocate hailing from New York City, boasts an impressive career that spans performances with renowned artists such as Angie Stone, Deborah Cox, Kandace Springs, Ray Chew, Elle Varner, and Bob Moses. His musical journey has graced esteemed venues worldwide, including ABC Television’s Good Morning America, Billboard Live Osaka/Tokyo, The Howard Theater, Blues Alley, and The Blue Note, among others.

As the guitarist for Grammy-winning R&B artist Elle Varner, Andy has toured extensively across the USA and Japan, leaving an indelible mark on stages like the Essence Festivals in New Orleans, the BET Awards, and the Richmond Jazz Festival. His prowess as a performer extends to prestigious jazz hotspots, including Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Smoke Jazz Club, and The Zinc Bar.

A three-time finalist in the USA Songwriting Competitions, Andy has garnered domestic and international critical acclaim for his three official jazz album releases. Downbeat Magazine, Elsewhere New Zealand, Bop-N-Jazz, and The New York City Jazz Record are among the publications praising his work. His latest album, “NYC Stories,” received accolades for its dynamic jazz compositions and triumphant narrative.

In addition to captivating audiences with his music, Andy’s advocacy for music and education is evident in his creation of the Phillip Bianco Memorial Music Scholarship. In honor of his late father, this scholarship, awarded annually through the Keynotes Foundation Scholarship Competition in Pittsburgh, supports young adult music students.

Andy’s impact extends beyond the stage; his music has been licensed for use in Hollywood films and prime-time network television. He has completed a 6-month tour of New Zealand and Japan as the guitarist for the critically acclaimed stage production “Empire.” As a private instructor with New York Jazz Workshop and a teaching artist with Wingspan Arts and Midori & Friends in NYC, Andy shares his passion for music with aspiring talents.

Highlighted by press reviews praising his “deliciously dynamic jazz” and the triumph-over-adversity theme in “NYC Stories,” Andy continues to craft stories through his music. His guitar work has been described as having a “fantastic sound & boundless imagination & fire” by jazz guitar masters Peter Bernstein and Ben Monder.

Endorsed by ESP Guitars, Godin Guitars, Reunion Blues Cases, and Dean Markley Strings, Andy Bianco stands as a compelling force in the world of jazz, leaving an indelible mark on stages, classrooms, and scholarship programs alike.

PRESS:

“Deliciously dynamic jazz Andy Bianco – NYC STORIES: This is actually my first listen to Andy’s perfectly performed jazz guitar work… what he presents on this album is some of the most deliciously dynamic jazz you will ever listen to…”-Dick Metcalf,  “NYC Stories” review, Contemporary Fusion Reviews, November 2020. 

“NYC Stories aims at depicting a sense of triumph over adversity, which comes through on album opener ‘For Those Who Battle Demons’….New York might be the most written about city in the country, but Bianco still has stories of his own.”-Chris Barton, “NYC Stories” review, Downbeat Magazine, June 2020.

“Judging by the jut of his shoulders, clench of his jaw and verve of his writing and playing, Bianco will soon be back with some more stories.”-Tom Greenland, “NYC Stories” review, New York City Jazz Record, April 2020. 

“One wishes McLaughlin would hire Bianco as his tonal guru, as the latter’s sound is closer to the Mahavishnu Orchestra than anything McLaughlin is doing these days…”-Stanley Zappa, “Forces of the Wild” review, New York City Jazz Record, August 2013

“A terrifying and intense journey.  Love it!” -Jazz guitar master Ben Monder (referring to “Forces of the Wild”)

“Andy Bianco is an amazing guitarist. He has great ideas, a fantastic sound & boundless imagination & fire!”-Jazz guitar master Peter Bernstein

“Andy Bianco is a very fine guitarist with a natural spark. His playing embodies strong elements of the past and the future.”-Jazz drumming master Bob Moses