Meet Andrew Spadafora | Saxophonist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Andrew Spadafora and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Andrew, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
In a creative environment like the Music Industry, risk-taking is a necessary tool. Though a musician can spend an entire career replicating work that has already been presented – Think a cover band project, or a tribute act – To create something new requires risky and sometimes novel techniques.

There exist many examples throughout history of brave risk-taking artists who broke the mould and created new movements, like John Coltrane on the tenor saxophone reinventing musical harmony as we know it, or John Cage who’s piece entitled “4’33” pushes the boundaries between music and performance art. There are artists like Yoko Ono and Tom Waits who explore avant-garde concepts in texture and composition. Immensely informative writers like Frank Zappa and John Zorn create mind-bending musical ideas through wildly clashing harmony, time-feel, and style.

All of these artists have risked their career on the altar of creation and have been greatly rewarded, forming new musical pathways for the rest of us to follow. By taking risks through inventive means a musician can create a unique perspective, fusing new ideas with old ideas and breaking down boundaries. In my career as a saxophonist I have found that retaining the playing traditions of early Rock and Roll and R&B music from the 40’s and 50’s can be fused with more modern playing styles from the 90’s and beyond, creating a saxophone sound that contains a husky and heavy tone from days of old with the speed and fluidity of melodic concepts commonly found in more modern playing. This has produced a somewhat unique sound that has aided me in many fields including Jazz, Blues, Rock, and Popular Music.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I feel fortunate to have a career that has taken me through many different styles of music. I am always energized by the opportunity to create original music and also enjoy playing roots and heritage music from the USA. Difficulties can arise from specialization in niche-types of music that are not widely commercial, though I have always found that following passion with hard work and positive networking can lead to success for just about anyone! The music industry is certainly not for the faint of heart as it can be grueling work, requiring round-the-clock correspondence availability and an often-inconsistent schedule, but if the arts are a personal passion and one carries a consistent work ethic success seems to always be in reach.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Nashville has SO much to offer! From history to entertainment there is so much to do.

I would recommend people check out some of these places:

-The 5-Spot is a fantastic bar for original music
-Dino’s is just down the street and is good for a classic cheeseburger
-The Parthenon in Centennial Park is awe-inspiring!
-Broadway is pretty cool if you like bright lights and loud music
-Printer’s Alley is a must-see, the flip-side of the coin from Broadway
-Tone Central Station is one of the coolest music shops in the USA; It’s a must-see!

If you’re looking for live bands, some of my favorites to watch are Hillbilly Casino, Shotgun Baby, and pretty much any band at Robert’s Western World or Rudy’s Jazz Club. Skull’s Rainbow Room is tons of fun if you like live burlesque entertainment with a great band.

I personally *love* performing with Mary Rodgers’ Menagerie, Jinx the Band, and Toddzilla’s Jones World – Keep your eyes out and come say hello if you see us around town!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to offer a big shout-out to my friends in Jinx the Band, PitchBlack Studio Orchestra, Todzilla and Jamie Jackson from Tone Central Station, and to my good friend Mary Rodgers who is a fantastic Bari Sax player, muti-instrumentalist, and educator in the Nashville are. All these people make the music industry a brighter and more interesting place to exist and I feel so fortunate to have them all in my life and career.

Website: https://spadaforamusic.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spadasaxophone/

Image Credits
LeeAnn Flynn
Philippe Maquet
Paul Jehasse
Marc Bouillon